Steelers sign center Ryan McCollum and officially announced other moves
The Pittsburgh Steelers have the opportunity to keep some of their own players who are a specific type of free agents within their own organization. Those type of free agents would be Exclusive Rights Free Agents (ERFA) and Restricted Free Agents (RFA). What’s the difference between the two? See the description below:
Restricted Free Agent (RFA): A player with three accrued seasons and an expired contract. RFAs are free to negotiate and sign with any team, but their original team can offer them one of various qualifying offers (“tenders”) that come with the right of first refusal and/or draft-pick compensation. If the tender is withdrawn by a team, the RFA becomes an unrestricted free agent. In 2025, teams must submit these tenders before 4 p.m. ET on March 12. These amounts change annually.
Exclusive Rights Free Agent (ERFA): Any player with fewer than three accrued seasons and an expired contract. If his original team offers him a one-year contract at the league minimum (based on his credited seasons), the player cannot negotiate with other teams.
With the definitions out of the way, the Steelers have officially announced they have signed ERFA Ryan McCollum to a one-year deal while also announcing the restristed free agent tender for running back Jaylen Warren and the release of Larry Ogunjobi.
Appearing in 13 games in 2021 for the Detroit Lions, Ryan McCollum spent the next two years on the Steelers practice squad. Landing on the active roster in 2024, McCollum appeared in all 17 games on special teams and had two starts in place of the injured Zach Fraser.
Any easy decision to bring back for 2025, McCollum will give the Steelers depth of the interior of the offensive line, but must earn his roster spot in training camp.
Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the rest of free agency, and the 2025 NFL Draft.
