Behind the Steel Curtain
Four potential free agent targets for the Steelers will be playing on Sunday.
Jan. 26 is the NFL’s Championship Sunday — one of the better football days of the year, but one that’s once again without the Steelers.
Still, if you want something to keep your mind on the black and gold while watching the games, I’ve singled out one pending unrestricted free agent from every team who will be playing on Sunday, highlighting names that could make sense for Pittsburgh.
So, while you enjoy watching the best teams in football duke it out for a chance at a Super Bowl, you can start scouting for the offseason:
How to watch: FOX, 3 p.m. ET
View every pending Eagles free agent on Spotrac.
Williams meets a couple of important criteria for the Steelers: he fits a huge position of need for Pittsburgh, and his odds of landing back in Philadelphia aren’t great given the Eagles’ embarrassment of riches on the D-line.
Williams has recorded five sacks this season to go along with seven tackles for loss. He’s been durable, playing 67 regular season games in his four years in Philadelphia, and he’s only 25 years old coming off the best season of his career. The 6’3, 290-pound interior lineman is a good pass-rusher who could provide some juice to an aging Steelers defensive line.
Williams isn’t going to be cheap as one of the top defensive linemen set to hit the open market, but the Steelers and former Eagles Vice President of Player Personnel Andy Weidl might have some interest.
Also considered: RB Kenneth Gainwell, CBs Isaiah Rodgers and Avonte Maddox, RG Mekhi Becton.
View every pending Commanders free agent on Spotrac.
Igbinoghene is a likely candidate to re-sign with Washington, but if he doesn’t, he’d be an immediate free agent target for the Steelers. A former first-round bust with the Miami Dolphins, Igbinoghene has developed into a starting caliber slot cornerback in Dan Quinn’s Washington defense.
Igbinoghene hasn’t had much interception production, but he played in all 17 regular season games in 2024, starting 10 and recording 55 total tackles and seven passes defensed. Targeted 71 times, he allowed a passer rating of 86.4 and just 397 yards.
His tape shows a player who’s sticky and aggressive in man coverage while still struggling at times in zone. But at just 25 years old with 4.48 speed, his career is on an upward trajectory. Outside of the cream of the crop at cornerback in this year’s free agent class, Igbinoghene would give the Steelers a young upgrade in the slot while not breaking the bank.
Also considered: WRs Dyami Brown and Noah Brown, RB Jeremy McNichols, OT Cornelius Lucas.
How to watch: CBS, 6:30 p.m. ET
View every pending Bills free agent on Spotrac.
Cooper hasn’t done much...
