Steelers Free Agency Shopping List: Premium And Value Targets

Come this time next week NFL Free agency will be in full effect, and this year the Steelers are poised to have the ability to spend on some more luxury players this year while also still completing their annual tradition on finding budget acquisitions to fill out their roster.

Diving into a potential shopping list for how Khan and company could look to spend their budget at different price points on key positions to get the most out of the foundational pieces the Steelers have on the roster going into the draft and 2025 season.

Cornerback:

Premium:

Charvarius Ward – 3 year 45 Million per Spotrac:

Charvarius Ward brings both Super Bowl and All-Pro pedigree to the cornerback room as he enters his age-30 season. 2024 was a rough year for Ward on the field due to personal tragedies faced, which makes me think putting any stock into his 2024 production doesn’t do the former All-Pro any justice.

Looking back at his 2022 and 2023 tape, you see the player Ward truly is—a long, athletic outside corner who thrives in press coverage against top receivers. In 2022, he allowed just 18 completions on 46 man coverage targets, ranking second in the league in that metric. He followed that up with a strong 2023 season, recording five interceptions and 17 pass breakups while allowing an NFL passer rating of just 63.7 per PFF. These back to back seasons show Ward is not just a sticky man corner but someone with real splash production and ball skills.

Ward would provide the Steelers with a steady outside presence alongside Joey Porter Jr., allowing the young corner to continue developing without having to shadow opposing No. 1 receivers on every snap.

Value:

Stephon Gilmore – 1 year 5.3 Million per Spotrac:

This is more of a stopgap option, as Gilmore is already 34 and has been in the league since 2012, mirroring the Patrick Peterson deal from two years ago. However, Gilmore has still been playing solid football and continues to produce on the outside, which is rare for a corner of his age. He would bring Defensive Player of the Year pedigree and invaluable experience to an otherwise young and inexperienced room, serving as a mentor to Joey Porter Jr. and Cory Trice as they develop.

That said, regression is evident in Gilmore’s play, as his passer rating allowed has steadily increased since 2019, and his ball production has declined. Because of this, he is best suited as a third option on the outside, meaning that if the Steelers were to sign him, they would still need to add another outside corner through free agency or the draft.

Defensive Line:

Premium:

Milton Williams – 3 year 53.3 Million per Spotrac:

Another product of the Eagles’ defensive line pipeline, Milton Williams has quietly put together three consecutive seasons of steady improvement. This was amplified in the Eagles’ recent Super Bowl win, where he posted two sacks, one forced fumble, and a fumble recovery—flashing all of the pass-rushing chops he has refined as a rotational lineman.

In 2024, Williams put the NFL on notice by racking up six sacks and earning a 90.4 pass-rush grade per PFF, cementing himself as one of the better interior pass rushers in the league. However, he is not a finished product, as his run defense could use some work. Additionally, he benefited from playing in a deep Eagles defensive line rotation, which took some attention off him as the third or fourth guy.

Coming to Pittsburgh on a deal like this would likely make him the No. 2 interior lineman behind Cameron Heyward. That means Williams would have to prove he can produce at a high level in both pass rush and run defense while being a focal point in opposing scouting reports.

Value:

Poona Ford – 1 year 6.6 million per Spotrac:

Ford experienced a bounce-back season in 2024 for the Chargers, showing the form he once had during his time with the Seahawks. He provided Los Angeles with both serviceable pass rushing and run defense throughout the season but, most impressively, displayed some ball skills—collecting five pass deflections and one interception. This is a skill set the Steelers have historically valued in their defensive linemen.

Ford would seemingly take on the Larry Ogunjobi role as the third lineman in the rotation behind Cameron Heyward and Keeanu Benton. Additionally, signing Ford wouldn’t necessarily prevent the Steelers from drafting a first-round defensive lineman, which might be one of the most appealing aspects of bringing him in.

Wide Receiver:

Premium:

Darius Slayton – 3 years 37.5 million per Spotrac:

He may not be a flashy, high-profile signing, but that’s simply the nature of the 2025 free-agent wide receiver class. The players ranked above him either seem unrealistic targets or don’t fit the mold of what the Steelers should be going after to pair with their young receiving room.

Slayton would be a significant upgrade over Van Jefferson, offering a legitimate NFL skill set and proving capable of producing despite spending most of his career in less-than-ideal situations. His numbers aren’t eye-popping, but his production doesn’t fully reflect his talent due to the quarterbacks he’s played with during his time with the Giants.

Beyond his on-field ability, Slayton appears to be a steady veteran presence—something the Steelers’ receiver room currently lacks. However, while his skill set and experience would be welcome additions, he alone wouldn’t be enough to completely transform the unit.

“You need chunk plays to score in this league.” Darius Slayton ⁦@Young_Slay2⁩ anticipates “a lot of interest” in free agency. I’m told teams like the Chargers, Panthers and Steelers are among the likely suitors for the consistent #Giants receiver https://t.co/fLZ9Pi593y

— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) March 4, 2025

Value:

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine – 2 year 7.8 million per Spotrac:

Once again, due to the underwhelming wide receiver market, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine stands out as one of the more viable second-wave free agency options for the Steelers. At 6’2″, 211 pounds, he brings size to the receiver room, making him a strong asset in both run blocking and contested catch situations.

In 2024, he put together a solid season with 497 yards on 32 receptions, but the most impressive stat was his nine touchdowns—good for the eighth-most among wide receivers. Beyond his production, he also has familiarity with Arthur Smith’s system from their time together in Tennessee, making for an easier transition. While he wouldn’t be a game-changing addition, Westbrook-Ikhine would provide proven depth and valuable experience at a reasonable cost in this limited free-agent market.

With the Steelers having cap space available this offseason, they have the flexibility to target players at various price points in free agency. These names represent just a few potential options Pittsburgh could pursue to address key positions and bolster the roster heading into 2025.

What are some of the names you think the Steelers should bring in? And if you miss out on your main targets who would be your back up plans at those positions?