Believe it or not, the Steelers have improved their roster in the early stages of free agency
To anyone who read the headline to this article and immediately chuckled, I get it.
As I write this on Thursday, there is no resolution to Pittsburgh’s quarterback situation. The football world waits for Aaron Rodgers to emerge from wherever he is and hand out his final rose. Maybe it will go to the Steelers. Maybe the Giants. Maybe there will be no rose at all. Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick….
In the meantime, Pittsburgh has signed Mason Rudolph as a fallback plan. More on that in a moment. Theories have emerged the past few days suggesting the team is allowing free agents to walk so they can stockpile compensatory picks that can be used to move up in next year’s draft to make a play for one of the quarterbacks in that deep class. Say whatever you want about that plan. Either way, it’s a 2026 solution. For now, Rodgers remains the target.
The quarterback drama has sucked much of the attention away from other aspects of this first week of free agency, where Pittsburgh has quietly strengthened several areas of its roster. They are in position now to be a better football team than they were a year ago, regardless of who plays quarterback. Here’s how:
OFFENSE
The big news was the D.K. Metcalf trade, which solves several problems offensively. As I wrote about in the article below, signing Metcalf makes life easier for both the run and the pass. The Steelers can expect better run looks, which will help with an attack that ranked 25th in the league last season in yards-per-attempt. And, with Metcalf and Pickens outside, Pittsburgh now has two elite vertical threats that should open the middle of the field, where both Rodgers and Rudolph operate better than either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields.
The Steelers claim the star WR they’ve been missing
In the backfield, the loss of Najee Harris is significant because Harris was a workhorse. He had more touches than any back in the league over the past four years. But volume and efficiency are two different stories. Harris was 40th among qualifying backs in yards-per-attempt last season. The stacked boxes were an issue, but he was never a great fit in Pittsburgh’s zone-heavy scheme. Giving some of Harris’s reps to Jaylen Warren will benefit the run game. Warren is quicker and more decisive, and is better suited for a zone-based attack. Adding Kenneth Gainwell to the mix in free agency was a smart move, too, given Gainwell’s change-of-pace quickness and aptitude as a receiver. I expect the Steelers to acquire a bigger back at some point to round out the position group. It could be Pittsburgh’s deepest and most versatile running back room in years.
The line should be better, too. Yes, they lost two starters in Dan Moore Jr and James Daniels. But Moore played poorly last season, and Daniels went down with an injury in Week 3 and never returned. Moore will be replaced by last year’s top draft pick, Troy Fautanu. Fautanu looked like a star in training camp before an injury shut him down for the year. He should be a significant upgrade over Moore. The two other rookies from last year’s draft class, Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick, started 31 games combined. Both struggled at times, particularly McCormick, but played well enough to suggest they will be better in their second seasons. The continuity of the line, and the upgrade Fautanu represents, has this group poised to make a leap.
As for the quarterback, Rodgers would represent an upgrade over both Wilson and Fields. He will be 42 next season, but can still play the position at a reasonably high level. Rudolph would likely be an upgrade, too. He did some good things in Tennessee last season, completing 64% of his passes and leading a dreadful Tennessee offense to 20.2 points per game in five starts. His play down the stretch in Pittsburgh in 2023 was much better. Rudolph started the final three games of the regular season, completed 74.3% of his passes and averaged 27 points per game in rallying Pittsburgh to a playoff berth. Suggesting Rudolph would give the Steelers better quarterback play than what they received from Wilson towards the end of last season is not disingenuous.
One thing to like about the Steelers bring back Mason Rudolph and the possibility of him becoming their starter next season is his ability to throw the ball between the numbers, something PIT wasn’t willing or able to do last season.
Look at how comfortable the 6’5 Rudolph is… pic.twitter.com/fLndFIaytf
— Kevin Smith (@KTSmithFFSN) March 13, 2025
There has been some addition by subtraction on the offense, and some addition by addition. Much of its potential hinges on the Rodgers’ decision. But it’s a better unit already than the one that ended 2024 with five straight games of scoring 17 points or less. If Rodgers jilts Pittsburgh, and Rudolph becomes the starter, I still anticipate improvement.
DEFENSE
The area of the roster that may be the most suspect is the defensive line. Cam Heyward is still playing tremendous football, even at age 36, and Keeanu Benton has the makings of a future Pro Bowler. But the release of veteran Larry Ogunjobi has left them thin otherwise. It’s a deep draft for defensive linemen, however, and many expect Pittsburgh to target this group with their top pick. They’ll look to add veteran depth in the second wave of free agency as well. This is not a group that appears better on paper today than they were when last season ended. But the league year is young, and the Steelers have both the time and resources to fortify it.
At linebacker, they allowed popular thumper Elandon Roberts to leave, which created some head-scratching. But they acquired Baltimore’s Malik Harrison to replace him. Harrison offers some of the run-stuffing prowess of Roberts, and is a solid special teams player as well. The Steelers also welcome back Cole Holcomb, who has a clean bill of health after a nasty knee injury sidelined him for all of 2024. Holcomb and Harrison add quality depth to a unit that features two strong starters in Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson, both of whom should improve in their second season in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers remain sound on the edge, where the trio of T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig comprises one of the best units in the league.
In the secondary, swapping Donte Jackson for Darius Slay in free agency is a major upgrade. Slay was an integral starter for Philadelphia’s championship defense last season, while Jackson struggled down the stretch. Slay is a crafty veteran with scheme versatility who should remedy some of the communication issues that plagued the secondary. The addition of veteran corner Brandin Echols provides depth and versatility, too, giving the team an alternative to Beanie Bishop in the slot, and solid special teams play as well. The Steelers could use depth at safety, but the secondary is better now than it was in January.
Steelers fans, as we await a decision on the team’s QB next season, let’s take a moment to applaud the (reported) acquisition of Darius Slay. Veteran CB with scheme versatility, toughness, and a nose for big-plays who will provide an upgrade opposite Joey Porter Jr.
I love this… pic.twitter.com/izmgnv15r2
— Kevin Smith (@KTSmithFFSN) March 12, 2025
OVERALL
Have the Steelers improved enough to challenge for the AFC title? Maybe not, especially with the quarterback situation still unsettled. But they have solidified themselves in important areas while gathering resources to potentially land the elusive franchise quarterback they’ve needed since Ben Roethlisberger retired. That player may not arrive until 2026. In the meantime, Pittsburgh is building a roster that should be better than the one that went 10-7 last season.
Honestly, the only one I wasn’t a big fan of was Malik Harrison. Besides him, I think they have done a dang good job so far.
I know they aren’t all the sexy names, but like you said in one of the podcasts this week, it’s not position, but it’s depth that they need, which is exactly what they’re doing. I see maybe one or two more acquisitions before the draft then filling out the rest of the roster from there.
a true Pittsburgh Steelers fan, since the 70’s getting D.K. Metcaf and bringing back Mason Rudolph improved the offense as for the Steelers defense I can wait and see
It sounds like the writer expects Broderick Jones to remain at right tackle rather than his “natural” position on the left……even though he has played a lot more snaps on the right than on the left at this point in his career. Finally, some sanity. Jones has arguably been the Steelers’ worst offensive the last two years. It makes no sense to put him at the most important position on the line in the hopes that he will be better there.
I don’t know what they’re going to do with Jones. Haven’t heard any reports one way or the other. But yes, I agree with you. I’m hoping they keep him at RT and put Fautanu on the left. Jones’s regression last season was both surprising and alarming. I’m not ready to give up on him — he’s only 24 — but nothing he did suggests a move to LT would be wise.
I am still skeptical about Rudolph. I would like to really look at tape of him as an extended starter for Tennessee. The numbers aren’t great but it does give you a look at him when he knows he was starting for a while. Adding Metcalf is pretty big. I do have to say that I am not crazy about a lot of talk about moving Pickens. They really need to think about adding talent not swapping talent. Gainwell is a guy that I don’t love. I would have rather had more of a RB1 than him to pair with Warren. If the plan for Gainwell is RB3/KR I would like it better. It will be interesting to see what else they do at RB.
Defensive moves have been solid if not spectacular. Harrison gives you a replacement for Roberts and Dirty Red. I am never a fan of signing a CB to year 13 but hopefully they think they have a starter in Trice and Slay is more insurance. Not too worried about Ogunjobi. They need to get better at that spot and keeping him kind of blocks it. Echols is pretty much meh for me. Good to have another slot capable CB.
Tennessee Titans Film Breakdown: Mason Rudolph was ROUGH in Week 7 vs. Buffalo Bills
I’m going to do a film breakdown on Rudolph in Tennessee over the weekend. Look for that on Tuesday.
I do believe the plan for Gainwell is as RB3, and a role on passing downs. I’ll be shocked if they don’t draft a RB, most likely Round 3. It’s a deep draft for RBs and the Steelers have shown a lot of interest in them through official visits, pro days and the Combine.
Slay’s age is a concern for sure. But if you watched him in Philly last year, he’s still a baller. I think he can give the Steelers a really good year opposite Porter until Trice is ready to assume take over.