Going into the offseason, the Steelers must reasonably assess their needs. Quarterback remains the top concern both now and into the future. They must address that before the draft even comes into frame. Beyond that, they have needs on both sides of the ball at receiver, both lines, running back, and multiple spots in the secondary.
It'll be tricky for Pittsburgh to have an active offseason compared to last year. They have a path to open cap space and spend it once free agency begins. They could re-sign some of their pending free agents if they choose. Some options and avenues could give the Steelers no roster holes once the draft comes.
To spend money, The Black and Gold must get some cap space.
Creating cap space: Preston Smith (+13.4 million), Larry Ogunjobi (+7 million), Cordarrelle Patterson (+2.8 million), Cole Holcomb (+6 million), Dean Lowry (+2.5 m), Extend T.J. Watt (+10)
Some big names make the cap casualty list here. Preston Smith, Larry Ogunjobi, and Cole Holcomb make too much to stick around. Releasing their contracts opens 26.4 million bucks to spend elsewhere. None of them are worth keeping at their current rate. Unless they return on a cheaper deal, they will find homes elsewhere.
Pittsburgh decides to continue to clean houses after their major hitters. They let go of Cordarrelle Patterson after a season to forget. He just never caught on as a dynamic kick returner. They signed Dean Lowry last off-season as a depth defensive lineman, but it never worked out. Both Patterson and Lowry open nearly five and a half million in cap space.
Wrapping up the contract maneuver portion of the article with extending T.J. Watt, which provides ten million in relief.
Re-sign: Justin Fields (2-years, $16 million), Nate Herbig (1-year, $1.2 million), Jaylen Warren (2-years, $12 million), Elandon Roberts (2-years, $8 million), Mike Williams (1-year, $2 million), MyCole Pruitt (1-year, $1.4 million)
The Steelers head into the re-signing phase of this mock offseason with over 82 million to spend.
Most Steelers fans will be relieved to see Justin Fields return on a two-year deal. He gets a handshake agreement to be the starter next season. Other than Fields, Elandon Roberts is the other name that sticks out. He re-signs with Pittsburgh on a two-year deal that pays him four million each season. Jaylen Warren also gets a nice pay raise that will make him happy.
Nate Herbig returns on the veteran minimum to prove he can be a depth piece in the middle of the trenches next year. MyCole Pruitt showed some good things this past season as a blocker, and his connection with Arthur Smith keeps him around. A shocker off this list is Mike Williams's willingness to take a cheap prove-it deal to try and reset his career with the Steelers.
Free agency offense: Drew Lock (QB), Kenneth Gainwell (RB), Kelvin Beachum (OT), Amari Cooper (WR)
Free agency opens, and the Steelers want to secure an upgrade at the receiver position. They brought back Williams, but they know he's not the answer. They signed Amari Cooper to a two-year contract that pays him over 14 million per season. He is a legit starter in the NFL, even though he is over 30. He should still have a good couple of years left in the tank.
They go and sign Drew Lock to be the backup of Fields. He has a lot of starting experience and has mobility in his game. That should fit into Smith's offense in case Fields misses time. Kenneth Gainwell is someone assistant general manager Andy Weidl knows well and brings him on board. Kelvin Beachum returns to the Steelers to add depth and stability to their tackle spots.
When it comes down to it, they added $23.7 million in cap spending on offense during free agency.
Free agency defense: Marcus Maye (S), Kristian Fulton (CB), Marcus Davenport (EDGE), Milton Williams (DT), Nate Hobbs (CB)
Pittsburgh goes out and adds another Weidl connection from his days in Philadelphia. They signed Gainwell earlier, and now they make a splash by bringing on Milton Williams. The defensive tackle is only 26 and has improved with more playing time. He will help the team transition into a youth movement. They sign Marcus Davenport to help secure depth.
To the secondary now, and they remain active in free agency. The Steelers sign Marcus Maye to provide depth at safety with Damontae Kazee out the door. They bring in Nate Hobbs, who is familiar with Pittsburgh's new defensive backs coach. Hobbs is a quality slot cornerback. Finally, they add Kristian Fulton, who can challenge Cory Trice for the starting cornerback void.
Altogether, Pittsburgh adds 21.5 million in cap spending to their defensive investment.
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Steelers 2025 Mock Draft
With free agency finished in this mock offseason, the Steelers will head into the draft with no glaring holes. They have to starting capable players at each position. Some spots could use upgrades, but they don't have to feel desperate going into this event. They could pick the best player available if they choose to.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 1: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
Since it is labeled a "weak" class of receivers in this class, the Steelers decide to address that problem early. Matthew Golden has gotten a lot of praise in recent weeks. His draft stock is on the rise after an incredible year at Texas. He never eclipsed 1,00 receiving yards in a season, but he has a ton of speed, and his explosiveness will be a great addition to their offense.
Accumulating depth is something the Steelers should set out to do this offseason. They now have a receiving core of George Pickens, Cooper, Williams, Calvin Austin III, Golden, and Roman Wilson. It is a group deep with talent. It would give Pittsburgh countless options going into training camp. There will be battles for snaps both in the slot and outside.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 2: Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
If there is a glaring need for Pittsburgh going into this mock draft, it's at running back. Najee Harris is gone, but they re-signed Warren and brought in Gainwell during free agency. He is more of a backup player who can bring special teams abilities with him. They still need to find a bell cow. The good news is that these prospects are stacked.
With Round 2 rolling around after taking Golden, their fans rejoice as another weapon on offense joins the club. Kaleb Johnson rumbles into the fold after getting selected. He can do it all at running back. Despite defenses knowing he would be their featured piece, Iowa's star back stayed consistent. Johnson is terrific value here and shores up their stable of backs.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 3: Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
Everything is pointing to the Steelers picking a defensive lineman in this draft. They have expressed plenty of interest in the position during the early days of the pre-draft process. The Senior Bowl is where they tipped their cap to the idea. One player that Mike Tomlin chatted with on the sidelines at the All-Star event was Deone Walker.
The defensive tackle would be a great addition here. Walker would join a group in the defensive trenches filled with Cam Heyward, Williams, and Keeanu Benton. This incoming rookie has been terrific, but he is coming off a down year. He needs to work on consistency, but his size cannot be taught. The future looks bright in the trenches.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 4: Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas State
His best year was in 2023, but he still produced a solid encore. Jacob Parrish is a nice developmental cornerback who could become a starting-level defensive back. He does lack size, which could make things difficult at the next level. He isn't afraid to get in a guy's face and make some moves. Parrish would have time to develop behind Trice and Fulton.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 5: Emery Jones Jr., OT, LSU
Philadelphia just showed you must continuously invest in the trenches and Pittsburgh better take notice. The Steelers take Emery Jones Jr. in the fifth round to develop behind Jones, Fautanu, and Beachum. This LSU product is still very young coming into the NFL, so his best days should be in front of him. Hopefully, Jones can develop into a starting option in case Broderick doesn't pan out.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 7: Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville
The Steelers enter the final round of this mock draft hoping to address some needs. They have Fields and Lock on their roster at quarterback, but they need at least three. They select Tyler Shough out of Louisville as a wild card. He only has one year of starting experience as he enters the NFL as a 25-year-old rookie. Shough could turn out to be a solid backup in another year or two.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 7: Aubrey Burks, S, West Virginia
Bringing Maye onto the team in free agency helped a lot with depth at safety. They still address the need as they try and provide competition at the bottom of the roster. Aubrey Burks is a possible diamond in the rough. He is coming off an injury-riddled campaign. He has played multiple spots at safety and even got work in the slot this past year.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 7: Moliki Matavao, TE, UCLA
Adding a tight end isn't a need in this mock draft, but Smith cannot help himself. He loves the position, and they could use an extra player to compete at camp. They select Moliki Matavao with their final pick. He is more of a receiving threat, but he showed he is a good athlete to try and make an NFL roster. Matavao has to show he can make the club through special teams and improved blocking.