The Pittsburgh Steelers moves so far in free agency have been all about raising the floor at key positions. After making major splashes a year ago with the DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey trades, general manager Omar Khan has taken a more measured approach to help flesh out the roster for new head coach Mike McCarthy.
With that in mind, it would be easy to overlook what the Steelers have accomplished in the early portion of the offseason, but ESPN's Aaron Schatz clearly recognizes Pittsburgh's calculated plan.
The Steelers were among the five teams he named as the most improved in the early goings of free agency, and it's easy to see why after taking a closer look at what the moves could mean for the 2026 season and beyond.
ESPN's Aaron Schatz praises the Pittsburgh Steelers for their offseason thus far
First, let's look at what Schatz named as his best signing (or trade, in this case) made by Pittsburgh so far. Former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was picked up in a trade for a late-round pick swap, specifically pick 214 for 230. That might as well be nothing in the grand scheme of things, and they were able to immediately extend him for $59 million over three years.
Schatz had this to say about Pittman's outlook in the Steel City.
"Pittman still had a positive receiving DVOA last season in what otherwise seemed like a down year, as he dropped from 11.7 to 9.8 yards per reception. But he's just 28 years old, so there's room for a rebound. He'll be more of a midrange target, while DK Metcalf stretches the field."
That last sentence about his fit next to Metcalf is the biggest reason why the move made sense. The Steelers routinely suffered offensively last season when Metcalf was able to be bottled up, with players like Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson unable to make a big impact opposite of him.
More pieces still need to be added to the receiving room, but their biggest weakness is already in a better spot.
Schatz also pegged Jamel Dean as the Steelers' most underrated signing, and his thoughts on him as a player make it very apparent why.
"Dean led the NFL in my cornerback coverage DVOA metric last season, ahead of superstars such as Derek Stingley Jr. and Quinyon Mitchell. Cornerback statistics are notoriously inconsistent from season to season, so you can't count on Dean to have another outstanding season in 2026. But he was above average in 2024 as well and will turn 30 years old in October."
Dean signed for a very reasonable $36.75 million over three years, and his average salary of $12.25 million ranks him just 25th among corners. There are some concerns about him entering his 30s, but he was excellent a year ago and plays with a physical demeanor that should help him age rather gracefully.
Other signings, like Rico Dowdle, Sebastian Joseph-Day, and Jaquan Brisker, have infused the roster with veteran talent that they needed if they want to compete again next season. So far, so good.