Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers have done a ton of work in two weeks of NFL free agency, but they still have a number of needs, both for the 2025 NFL season and the future, as the club turns the page from free agency and begins to focus on the 2025 NFL Draft.
Remaining: Quarterback
Filled: Wide receiver (DK Metcalf), cornerback (Darius Slay), defensive tackle (Daniel Ekuale), slot cornerback (Brandin Echols)
The Steelers came into the offseason with holes at quarterback, where Russell Wilson and Justin Fields were set to hit free agency, cornerback with Donte Jackson and Cam Sutton expected to depart, and at wide receiver, where they had yet to really fill the hole at outside receiver since trading Diontae Johnson last March.
Quarterback remains the one area where the Steelers are still pursuing a solution in free agency, with Aaron Rodgers favored to eventually land in Pittsburgh — though with his timeline questionable, when remains to be seen.
The rest of those needs got cleaned up through free agency, with the Steelers trading for outside receiver DK Metcalf and signing cornerbacks Darius Slay and Brandin Echols in free agency.
The also created and filled another hole in the first week of free agency, releasing defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, but replacing him with Daniel Ekuale.
Here are the Steelers current projected starters as of March 24, along with the games they started in 2024.
QB: Mason Rudolph (5)
RB: Jaylen Warren (0)
WR: DK Metcalf (12), George Pickens (12), Calvin Austin III (8)
TE: Pat Freiermuth (11)
LT: Broderick Jones (16)
LG: Isaac Seumalo (13)
C: Zach Frazier (15)
RG: Mason McCormick (14)
RT: Troy Fautanu (1)
DT: Cam Heyward (16)
NT: Keeanu Benton (14)
DT: Daniel Ekuale (16)
OLB: T.J. Watt (17)
OLB: Alex Highsmith (11)
ILB: Patrick Queen (17)
ILB: Payton Wilson (4) or Malik Harrison (7)
CB: Darius Slay (14)
CB: Joey Porter Jr. (16)
FS: Minkah Fitzpatrick (17)
SS: DeShon Elliott (14)
NB: Beanie Bishop (6) or Brandin Echols (4)
Jaylin Warren and Troy Fautanu will be stepping into starting roles for the first time. Beanie Bishop and Payton Wilson will have a chance to earn one, with a more-veteran backup ready in case. Other than that, the Steelers have pretty much taken care of things in terms of immediate starters.
Under contract: Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson
Unsigned free agents: Russell Wilson
Remaining trade/free agent targets: Aaron Rodgers, Joe Flacco
2025 NFL Draft targets: Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe, Will Howard, Tyler Shough, Dillon Gabriel, Riley Leonard, Quinn Ewers, Brady Cook
It seems very likely that Rodgers will eventually fill this slot. If he doesn’t, all bets are off. It could mean a Wilson return, a shot in the dark at an aging free agent like Joe Flacco, or a turn to a trade or the 2025 NFL Draft.
Remaining: Swing tackle, Z wide receiver
Filled: Backup quarterback (Mason Rudolph), running back (Kenneth Gainwell), inside...
