The NFL offseason is almost upon us as free agency opens next week, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have their battle plans set. In just a few days, there will be a frenzy of big moves that impact this team in 2026.
However, fans should have March 13th circled on their calendar instead.
While a seemingly ordinary Friday in the NFL calendar, the 13th is deadline day for the Steelers. As is customary in Pittsburgh, they have a slew of options and guaranteed money that kicks in if certain players are still on the roster come that day.
Names like Pat Freiermuth, Jalen Ramsey, DeShon Elliott, and Patrick Queen are all at the center of this. March 13th is decision day, and if any of these players are around after that day, they are almost certainly sticking around for the 2026 season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will make the final decision on these players soon
There are a total of five players with potential bonuses due around then. The only caveat is Cameron Heyward. He agreed to a deal last year that essentially would guarantee his 2026 salary, so if he regressed in 2025, he could have been cut easily.
His deadline is March 12th, but he doesn’t seem like a major factor, as he will be here unless he retires. That said, we should have that decision next week.
As for everyone else, that Friday will be decision time. Now, some of these decisions seem pretty clear. The Steelers have turned down trade talks for Freiermuth, so his bonus feels like a lock to get picked up.
Elliott is a similar story, albeit he is coming off an injury, which could muddy the waters slightly. That said, I fully expect him to be around.
Queen and Ramsey are a different story. While the team has claimed they want both to stay around, neither has lived up to their salaries. Friday will determine if they are staying in Pittsburgh or not.
The money isn’t a massive deal, as neither will see a huge amount of guaranteed money come their way on Friday, but the Steelers have shown in the past that they don’t want to pay that money for a player they don’t intend to keep.
The most recent example was Dionte Johnson, who had a similar bonus due. He was sent packing before he got those additional funds.
That means if Queen and Ramsey are both still on the roster on March 13th, they are here to stay. The Steelers aren’t holding out for a trade to materialize or for them to take a pay cut. Simply put, Friday determines if they remain with the team in 2026.
The expectation is that they will, but if they are cut, that creates a whole new issue to deal with. It will certainly be a critical day as the new-look Steelers take shape.