Predicting the future of Pittsburgh Steelers free agents

The 2025 NFL league year begins next Monday, March 10th with the start of the legal tampering period. In other words, the league will pretend tampering hasn’t started since the Senior Bowl, and deals will start to become public. While the deals in place won’t become official until the league year begins on March 12th, the free agent frenzy is about to begin next week!

As it pertains to the Pittsburgh Steelers, it’s important to take a look at their own free agents and predict whether they’ll stay or go. On top of that, if they’ll be sticking around, when might that happen?

Time to predict the future for the Steelers pending free agents…let the games begin!

Unrestricted Free Agents

QB Justin Fields

While we’ve heard a myriad of reports from all different sources suggesting who the Steelers do, and don’t, want at quarterback in 2025, I predict Fields will return and be the quarterback from 2025. What will the contract terms and details look like? I have no clue, but I think Fields will be the man the Steelers build around next season.

QB Russell Wilson

If, for some reason, the Steelers can’t lock in Fields, I believe they’ll try to bring Wilson back on a team-friendly deal. Will Russ be willing to take such a deal? Only if other offers have dried up. If I’m sticking with my Fields prediction, I predict Wilson will be playing for his third time in three seasons in 2025.

WR Mike Williams

I firmly believe what Omar Khan said at the NFL Scouting Combine when it comes to the wide receiver position being based on who the quarterback is. In this regard I think Williams would be better suited for Wilson being the quarterback, but I can see him returning to the Steelers if he doesn’t get any serious offers from other teams in free agency. Ultimately, I predict Williams goes elsewhere in 2025.

WR Van Jefferson

To me this is a pretty simple prediction. I don’t think Jefferson fits into what the Steelers are trying to build at the wide receiver position. With other receivers likely to be brought in both in free agency and the NFL Draft, Jefferson just doesn’t have enough value for me to predict him staying.

TE MyCole Pruitt

Pruitt was serviceable in 2024, but the team going out and signing another free agent tight end likely spells the end of the road for Pruitt in Pittsburgh.

RB Najee Harris

One of the toughest decisions in this prediction game. I’d be fine with Harris returning, but it better be at a deal which has his 2025 cost less than $7 million dollars, the cost of what the 5th year option would have been. If the Steelers bring Harris back at a bargain, I’m all for the move. Harris has been durable and productive, but he hasn’t shown he is an elite back in the league. Therefore, he shouldn’t get elite running back money. If I’m predicting his future, I think Harris signs elsewhere with a team who is willing to pay him more than the Steelers are willing to pay.

OG James Daniels

Coming off a ruptured Achilles tendon makes this one dicey. If Daniels doesn’t get much of a look outside of Pittsburgh, I could see the Steelers extend a contract to him to have him return. However, quality linemen are rare, even those coming off injury, so I see Daniels finding a home elsewhere, even though I’d love to see him stay. This is all about his health.

OL Nate Herbig

Herbig provides valuable interior offensive line depth to play both guard and center. While I like what the Steelers have in Ryan McCollum as their back up center, Herbig’s versatility could have him return. With the Steelers love for family ties on their roster, I think Herbig returns on a cheap deal. It doesn’t mean he makes the 53-man roster, but I predict he returns.

CB Donte Jackson

If Donte Jackson is signed back as a CB3 or CB4, I’d be all about it. However, Jackson will view himself as a CB2 and want to be paid accordingly. While Jackson got his hands on the football a lot this past season, he likely priced himself out of Pittsburgh. I think it would be too expensive to keep him, and he seems as if he can’t stay healthy. I predict Jackson finds a better deal elsewhere.

S Damontae Kazee

Kazee has been serviceable for the Steelers the past few seasons, but I think this is an opportunity for the Steelers to get younger at the safety position, but also to move some money off the defensive side of the ball. I think Kazee plays somewhere else in 2025.

ILB Elandon Roberts

A lot of my questions surrounding Elandon Roberts will be based on Cole Holcomb’s health, and the plan the team has for him. If Holcomb is kept, and is healthy to play, will the team need Roberts in 2025? I think they do, and I think he’ll stay on a cheap two-year deal. Roberts combined with Holcomb, Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson would make for quite the ILB room. I think Roberts stays.

WR Scotty Miller

Scotty Miller had his moments in 2024, but I look at Miller and feel like the Steelers already have that type of player on the roster with Roman Wilson and Calvin Austin III. Barring injury, I think Scotty Miller moves on with his life’s work.

ILB Tyler Matakevich

The Steelers coverage units could benefit from getting younger, and Matakevich wouldn’t be a part of that youth movement. With Matakevich not providing much as a linebacker, I don’t see a spot for him on the roster this season. I think he signs elsewhere.

QB Kyle Allen

I heard Art Rooney II and his desire to have a back-up quarterback which is similar to the starter, so the future of Allen in Pittsburgh might be reliant on who they sign as their starter. If it’s Fields, I actually think Allen could be a quality back-up or QB3. If it’s Wilson, it might be best to find another back-up. I like Allen as a veteran back-up, but his future hangs in the balance. Since I predicted Fields to be retained, I will predict Allen stays too.

DB Cam Sutton

Remember when we were excited about the Sutton signing? We waiting eight weeks to see him in the lineup, and when he returned it was a dud. Sutton has lost a step, and was a big reason for the communication issues in the back end of the defense last season. Sutton’s best years might be behind him, and the Steelers should let him move on. I predict he goes somewhere else this season.

DL Isaiahh Loudermilk

Is there a market for Loudermilk? I don’t think there will be much of a market, so I could see the Steelers waiting on a player like Loudermilk. If they don’t get a free agent defensive lineman, or draft a lineman, they might see if Loudermilk is available. He knows the system, but that’s the earliest I would sign him is one of those pre-training camp additions. Otherwise, if another team covets Loudermilk, good luck. I predict Loudermilk goes to another team with the Steelers addressing the position this offseason.

OT Dan Moore Jr.

While Moore was a scapegoat for the Steelers fan base during his time as a starter, he absolutely will have a market in free agency. The Steelers can’t invest in bringing Moore back, and someone will pay him plenty for his services at left tackle. Moore is gone, and if I’m being honest, was never as bad as many fans thought he was when he played in Pittsburgh.

Restricted Free Agents

RB Jaylen Warren

It has been reported the Steelers are planning on placing a tender on Warren to keep him in house for 2025, unless another team tries to poach him from the Steelers roster. In this case, the team would have the right of first refusal, and could get draft compensation if they lose him after placing the tender on him. What does all this mean? To me it means Warren will receive a pay raise, and will be a member of the Steelers in 2025.

Exclusive Rights Free Agents

OLB Jeremiah Moon & C Ryan McCollum

I couldn’t tell you the last time an Exclusive Rights Free Agent went to another team, but I’ll say I like what Moon brings as depth at OLB and special teams, and McCollum was a big surprise filling in for Zach Frazier last season when he was injured. These players aren’t going anywhere.

What do you think about these predictions? Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comment section below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the new league year next week.

If you want to hear a further explanation of these predictions, check out my Wednesday “Let’s Ride” podcast in the player below: