We're just weeks away from the start of the 2026 NFL free agency period, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to have some big decisions to make. General manager Omar Khan could take a proactive approach by releasing overpriced veterans on bad contracts. One looming NFL free agent has already been linked to the Steelers.
On Tuesday, ESPN's Matt Bowen listed the best team fits for the top 50 pending free agents. Bowen had Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker as an ideal match for Pittsburgh in free agency.
Bowen writes that Brisker, the 44th-ranked free agent by ESPN, could replace stopgap veteran Kyle Dugger in the secondary and be a disruptive box defender under the Steelers' new defensive coordinator, Patrick Graham.
"In Pittsburgh, Brisker would replace Kyle Dugger under new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. Brisker can play over the top in Cover 2, and he would be a disruptive box defender in Graham's single-high schemes.
In four seasons with the Bears, Brisker had four interceptions, seven sacks and 14 pass breakups. The Steelers could also target a cornerback in free agency as they try to clean up the secondary."
Jaquan Brisker to the Pittsburgh Steelers makes sense on multiple levels
The Pittsburgh Steelers going after Brisker makes too much sense to ignore. In addition to being a great scheme fit with a hard-hitting, downhill demeanor, Dugger is a pending free agent and is unlikely to return. Meanwhile, safety DeShon Elliott—who has two years remaining under contract—is coming off a season-ending knee injury.
Even if Elliott sticks around and is ready to go for the 2026 season, the Steelers could elect to cut bait with former Pro Bowler Jalen Ramsey. The cornerback-turned-free safety didn't come close to living up to his hefty pricetag.
Now Ramsey has a cap number of $19.5 million for the 2026 season, per Over the Cap, and with the guarantees in his contract already paid by the Dolphins, the Steelers could get out of his deal without losing a penny in dead money. Releasing Ramsey would leave Pittsburgh razor-thin at the safety position.
But besides all of this, there's a deeper connection with Brisker.
Brisker is a local product, born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After playing his high school ball at Gateway High School in Monroeville, Brisker started at safety for Penn State before being selected with the 48th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
We've seen the Steelers value local prospects in the past (both players and coaches). Jaquan Brisker is a scheme fit, would fill a positional need, and is from Pittsburgh. Don't be surprised if Omar Khan goes after the hard-hitting safety in free agency.