The free agency dust has settled, and teams now shift their attention to the upcoming NFL Draft. During the free agency period, the Pittsburgh Steelers landed some respectable talents like cornerback Darius Slay and running back Kenneth Gainwell. Unfortunately, their outgoing losses were much greater.
Because of this, the Steelers are left with no shortage of roster needs. General manager Omar Khan will attempt to fill many of these with just six selections in the 2025 NFL Draft (barring a trade), and adding more players in free agency is still on the table.
With the biggest offseason event in the league nearly upon us, here's a breakdown of every Steelers roster gap by position.
Pinpointing every positional need of the Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft
QB: Starting Quarterback
The first is not only the most obvious; it's also the most important. Very few teams in this league can compete with pedestrian quarterback play, and if the Pittsburgh Steelers are forced to deploy Mason Rudolph, this is what they will be getting. Aaron Rodgers is the plan, but don't be surprised if this team attempts to find a future starting quarterback in the draft.
RB: Starting Running Back
With Najee Harris gone, Jaylen Warren is the top running back on the roster. Warren offers burst, contact balance, and receiving ability out of the backfield, but he's proven that he can't stay healthy to carry the load on his own. Warren is an ideal RB2, but the Steelers still need a starting running back. This could come as early as the first round of the draft if they like a player like North Carolina's Omarion Hampton enough.
WR: Number Three Wide Receiver
Assuming George Pickens doesn't get traded this offseason, the Steelers are pretty well set with their top two receivers with Pickens and DK Metcalf. However, this team needs a legitimate third option who can run a full route tree and create separation at will. There's a chance this could be Roman Wilson or Calvin Austin, but there's a reason why Pittsburgh has their eye on Day 2 wide receivers during the pre-draft process.
TE: Tight End Depth Competition
With Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, and Connor Heyward, the Steelers have a bit of everything at the tight end position. Now, all they need is some added depth for competition.
OL: Swing Offensive Tackle
The Steelers could never justify paying Dan Moore Jr. the contract he received from the Tennessee Titans in free agency, but Pittsburgh's offensive tackle depth is suddenly razor thin. This becomes one of the sneakiest needs for this team in 2025, as an injury to Broderick Jones or Troy Fautanu could result in disaster.
DL: Starting Nose Tackle, Defensive line depth
When Cam Heyward retires, this is the positional group that will be in need of the biggest overhaul. Heyward will turn 36 years old shortly after the NFL Draft, and Keeanu Benton is the only bright spot for the future of this unit. The Steelers need a starting nose tackle that would allow Benton to move to 3-tech as well as D-line depth. This is a position Pittsburgh could double up on this April.
EDGE: Reserve Edge Rusher
With T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig leading the charge, this is already the strongest positional group on the team. At best, the Steelers could use a young developmental edge rusher who could compete for the final spot at the position.
LB: Reserve Linebacker
With Cole Holcomb on track to return and after the Steelers signed former Ravens linebacker Malik Harrison, all they need is a depth option who could play special teams and help round out the group. Patrick Queen and 2024 rookie sensation Payton Wilson are expected to handle a bulk of the work on defense during the 2025 season.
CB: Slot Cornerback, Long-Term Boundary Cornerback
The addition of Darius Slay fills a hole at cornerback for now, but that's only a short-term fix. Slay is 34 years old and only signed a one-year deal. Pittsburgh needs depth at boundary cornerback, however, their most pressing need is a nickel cornerback who can compete with Beanie Bishop Jr. for slot duties.
S: Safety Youth and Depth
The Steelers have a well-rounded group of savvy veterans at safety in Minkah Fitzpatrick, Deshon Elliott, Juan Thornhill, and Miles Killebrew. However, this group is getting up there in age, and they could use some younger talent at the position. Adding a depth safety on Day 3 of the draft isn't out of the question.