Steelers Analysis
Credit: Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
With the Baltimore Ravens making a splash acquiring superstar edge rusher Maxx Crosby, the pressure is on the Pittsburgh Steelers to crush the offseason in order to repeat as division champs. With over $40M in effective cap space and plenty of avenues to create more room, general manager Omar Khan and company have plenty of resources at their disposal. This begs the question—what is the best use of those funds? Today, we’ll build the ideal free agency haul to open up the Mike McCarthy era.
WR Romeo Doubs
PFF projection: 3 years, $45M ($24M guaranteed)
The Steelers receiving corps has been a punch line around the league over the last couple of years, making this a top priority. Doubs turns 26 next month and has steadily developed into a very useful player due to his route-running chops and toughness. He’s mostly operated as the X in the Packers passing attack over the years, but his crisp footwork and attention to detail make him a candidate for more responsibility from different alignments. The Nevada product is not a super explosive athlete but is a good enough separator to punish teams for doubling DK Metcalf in obvious passing down situations. Doubs will have a bunch of suitors, so Pittsburgh will need to work quickly to secure his services.
LG David Edwards
PFF projection: 3 years, $35M ($21M guaranteed)
With the Buffalo Bills inking Connor McGovern to a new deal, the odds of Edwards hitting the open market certainly rise. That’s good news for the Steelers, too. This is a multi-year starter for one of the most potent rushing attacks in the league, while also finishing 12th in pass block win rate among 65 qualifying guards in 2025, according to ESPN. The selling point here is that Edwards is 3.5 years younger, with fewer injury concerns than Isaac Seumalo, while offering some similarities in how they excel at sorting out stunts, twists, and games up front. Rolling with Dylan Cook at left tackle seems like the most likely outcome for the Steelers next season, but they need to provide some insulation on the interior to solidify things.
CB Montaric Brown
PFF projection: 1 year, $4.5M ($3.75M guaranteed)
Which direction the organization goes at cornerback could tell us a lot about the style of defense that Patrick Graham wants to run next fall. Coming off a career-best campaign, Brown provides good size on the boundary, showcases impressive spatial awareness for route combinations developing in his vicinity, and does his best work playing with vision on the quarterback. Anthony Campanile asked him to execute a myriad of assignments in their roll-based defense, such as dropping into the deep half of the field, which allowed them to disguise their coverages. By pairing Brown with a man-coverage specialist in Joey Porter Jr., Pittsburgh would have complementary skill sets on the outside and plenty of intriguing slot corner targets to pursue in April’s 2026 NFL Draft in their hometown.
RB Rachaad White
PFF projection: 2 years, $11M ($8M guaranteed)
In a multitude of ways, White is the ideal backup tailback in the modern NFL because of his consistency, versatility, and reliability. Even though the Bucs offensive line took a step back as a unit due to injuries, he still managed an eye-popping 50% rushing success rate, second-best among qualifying rushers last season. His hands are reliable for checkdowns underneath, but his most valuable trait is his awareness and technique in pass protection. In short, we’re talking about a player that keeps everything on the menu for an offense and never really needs to come off the field regardless of circumstance. He’s not an explosive play generator by any means, but he offers dependable insurance for Jaylen Warren and can help keep the tread off his tires moving forward.
Was really excited to see Rachaad White get a senior bowl invitation. Talked w @DonnieDruin about him the other day.
Can do a little bit of everything for you, tough runner with plus vision. Get this dude out in space and he can make plays in the passing game as a receiver. pic.twitter.com/3L1mKWld5Z
— Derrick (@Steelers_DB) November 18, 2021
QB Malik Willis
PFF Projection: 2 years, $40M ($30M guaranteed)
Anyone with a lick of common sense knows that the Steelers’ quarterback options are pretty grim this cycle, but with the Kyler Murray/Minnesota Vikings connection picking up steam, Malik Willis is the next best option. The physical tools were evident coming out of Liberty; his arm is live, and his mobility is a legitimate plus, both as a designed runner and a threat to scramble out of the pocket. Simply put, Willis looked like a completely different player under Matt LaFleur in Green Bay due to improved mechanics that allowed him to be more precise as a passer when pushing the rock downfield. The small sample size is truly terrifying, but Mike McCarthy was hired for his ability to develop the position after all, right? The best-case scenario is that they finally find a young starter worth building around, but even if the experiment goes poorly, this investment won’t prevent them from taking another big swing in 2027.
Malik Willis with a strike down the middle on four verts, hitting the bender away from the pole runner vs. Tampa 2.
Appreciate the timing on this, zero fat in his footwork, which was something that needed work as a prospect. pic.twitter.com/BWhU4CoiB3
— Derrick (@Steelers_DB) December 30, 2025
S Dane Belton
PFF projection: 1 year, 4.25M ($3M guaranteed)
Safety depth is an underrated need for Pittsburgh entering the spring, with DeShon Elliott working his way back from a significant injury and four of their backups hitting free agency. Belton is a special teams ace that amassed a whopping 16 tackles in that phase last season, making him a prime replacement for Miles Killebrew. During his tenure in New York, his defensive deployment was evenly split between the box and deep safety, with some slot work sprinkled in throughout. Some of his best plays from last season included running down Jahmyr Gibbs from behind, stonewalling Courtland Sutton on the goal line, and picking off Geno Smith as the pole runner in a cover-2 look.
