Quarterback

The Steelers moved on from long-time head coach Mike Tomlin this off-season. Tomlin had famously never had a losing season in 19 years as the Steelers’ head coach, but he also just as famously had not won a playoff game since 2016, losing his final 7 playoff games as Steelers head coach. With Tomlin gone, it looked possible that the Steelers might look to rebuild this off-season, with a younger coach and a younger roster, after ranking 2nd in snap adjusted age on offense and 3rd in snap adjusted age on defense last season. 

Instead, the Steelers replaced Tomlin with an even older, more experienced head coach in Mike McCarthy, brought back most of their older players, including quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who will once again be the oldest quarterback in the league in his age 43 season, and supplemented their roster with more veterans added in free agency and via trade. The Steelers went 10-7 last season, but benefitted from a 7-3 record in one score games and a +12 turnover margin, two things that tend to be inconsistent year-to-year and that would have been especially unlikely to continue with a new head coach. They ranked 22nd in schedule adjusted efficiency and overall were starting from a lower base point than their record a year ago suggested. 

However, their off-season moves improved this team, while their decision to move on from Mike Tomlin allowed them to replace defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, whose schemes were hurting this defense, with Patrick Graham, who has consistently gotten the most of his talent in his seven years as an NFL defensive coordinator. Because of those moves, the Steelers should be better in terms of schedule adjusted efficiency this season than last season and should remain in the playoff mix even if they don’t have the same success in close games or in the turnover margin. The end result should be a familiar one for this team, 9-10 wins and a potential playoff spot, but no playoff wins.

Rodgers returning this season was never a given and he did not officially sign until mid-May, but it always seemed like the most likely option, as the Steelers never seriously pursued other veteran options, while Rodgers lacked an alternative that would have allowed him to continue starting for a playoff caliber team, ultimately choosing the Steelers over retirement. Last season, Rodgers was simultaneously a far cry from his prime self, but also good enough for the Steelers to justify bringing him back this off-season over all other veteran alternatives. He made 16 starts and completed 65.7% of his passes for an average of 6.67 YPA, 24 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions, giving him a passer rating of 94.8 that was actually his best since 2021. At his age, there is always the possibility that he drops off completely in 2026, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he remained a decent, albeit low upside option at the quarterback position.

With this season expected to be Rodgers’ final season, the Steelers are at least trying to prepare themselves for the future, using a 6th round pick in last year’s draft on quarterback Will Howard and a 3rd round pick in this year’s draft on Drew Allar. The Steelers also still have veteran backup Mason Rudolph, who is probably best equipped to be the backup in the short-term in his age 31 season, with a career 84.7 passer rating in 19 starts, but the Steelers will probably want to keep both young development quarterbacks on the roster, meaning Rudolph could be on the outside looking in for a roster spot, unless the Steelers opt to keep four quarterbacks, which would be unusual. 

Of the two young quarterbacks, Howard is probably the best suited to be a backup this season, but it is tough to know what to expect from a quarterback that wasn’t drafted highly and that didn’t take a snap as a rookie and he is only the best suited to be a backup by default, as Allar has the tools to be a starter long-term, but fell to the 3rd round because of how much development he needs to reach his potential. This is overall a subpar quarterback room, but the re-signing of Rodgers at least keeps this team in the mix for another playoff berth.

Grade: C+

Receiving Corps

The biggest off-season addition the Steelers made on offense was trading for Colts receiver Michael Pittman. Wide receiver was a desperate need for the Steelers going into this off-season because five of their seven leading receivers last season were either tight ends or running backs, while nominal #2 receiver Calvin Austin, who had a 31/372/3 slash line on 1.22 yards per route run, was not retained as a free agent. With Mike McCarthy coming in and instituting a more traditional offense than the tight end and running back centric one that ex-offensive coordinator Arthur Smith preferred, wide receiver help was needed. Pittman was sent to Pittsburgh in essentially a salary dump, but he was a good value for the price of a late round pick swap and a 3-year, 59 million dollar extension. 

Pittman has averaged a 87/940/4 slash line per 17 games and 1.67 yards per route run in 6 seasons in the league. He doesn’t have much explosiveness, with a 10.8 career yards per catch average, but he has caught 68.4% of his targets in his career, despite inconsistent quarterback play and he is a good complement for DK Metcalf, who has averaged a 75/1089/8 slash line per 17 games (14.4 yards per catch) with 1.89 yards per route run in 7 seasons in the league. Both Pittman and Metcalf should remain close to their usual selves, with both going into their age 29 season. The Steelers also used a second round pick on Germie Bernard and a fourth round pick on Kaden Wetjen to further add to their wide receiver depth. Bernard figures to be the Steelers’ #3 wide receiver in a rookie, in a position group that is much better than a year ago.

The Steelers also still have a pair of solid tight ends, Pat Freiermuth, who is more of a pass catcher, and Darnell Washington, who is more of a blocker. Freiermuth has averaged a 57/583/5 slash line per 17 games with 1.42 yards per route run in his career, while Washington has seen his yards per route run average increase from 0.44 to 1.29 to 1.72 in three seasons in the league. That only led to a 31/364/1 slash line on 43 targets last season because he blocked on 59.0% of his snaps, while Freiermuth had a 41/486/4 slash line on 54 targets and blocked on just 32.4% of his snaps, but Washington has shown he can be a capable receiver when needed, while Freiermuth is also a decent blocker. They are a solid tight end duo and, even with a better wide receiver group, they should still be heavily involved in this offense with fellow tight end Jonnu Smith (54 targets) no longer on the roster. This is now a solid overall receiving corps.

Grade: B

Running Backs

The Steelers also added Rico Dowdle in free agency this off-season, to replace free agent departure Kenneth Gainwell. Dowdle is a different kind of running back than Gainwell, as Gainwell is a receiving back (73/486/3, 1.47 yards per route run in 2025), who can also run the ball on occasion (4.71 YPC, 55.3% carry success rate on 114 carries in 2025), while Dowdle is a solid runner who also can contribute as a receiver. In the two past seasons as a starter, including 2024 with Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys, Dowdle has totaled back-to-back 1000+ yard seasons on an average of 4.57 YPC, with 3.22 yards per carry after contact, a 50.7% carry success rate, and a 16.8% missed tackle rate, while averaging 1.02 yards per route run. Still in his relative prime in his age 28 season, I would expect similar effectiveness from him in 2026.

Dowdle might not get the same carry total as the last two seasons though (235 and 236), as the Steelers still have Jaylen Warren, who led this team with 958 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns on 211 carries (4.54 YPC) last season. Warren is a solid receiver (1.44 yards per route run in his career) and will move more into Gainwell’s old role, with Dowdle in Warren’s old role, but Warren also has averaged 4.73 YPC with 3.26 yards per carry after contact, a 52.1% carry success rate, and a 27.6% missed tackle rate in his career, so he should be more involved as a runner than Gainwell was last season. Dowdle and Warren form a solid duo. If either of them miss time, the backup would either be 2025 3rd round pick Kaleb Johnson, who only played 51 offensive snaps as a rookie, but could still have potential, or 7th round rookie Eli Heidenreich.

Grade: B

Offensive Line

One aging veteran the Steelers didn’t bring back is left guard Isaac Seumalo, who was an above average starter last season, but was not retained ahead of his age 33 season in 2026. He will be replaced by either Spencer Anderson, a 2023 7th round pick who has been below average across 11 career starts, veteran free agent addition Brock Hoffman, who has been decent in 16 career starts (7 at guard and 9 at center), or third round rookie Gennings Dunker, all of whom would be a significant downgrade from Seumalo. 

Fortunately, the Steelers should have one upgrade on the offensive line, as they used their first round pick on tackle Max Iheanachor. Iheanachor is likely to begin his career at right tackle, which will move incumbent right tackle Troy Fautanu to left tackle. Fautanu was a first round pick in 2024 and was an above average starter at right tackle last season, after missing almost all of his rookie year with injury. Moving him to another position is a bit of a risk, but he has the upside to play left tackle and left tackle is a more valuable position, so it makes sense to have their best tackle there, especially since it would allow Iheanachor to stay at his collegiate position. Incumbent left tackle Broderick Jones was a liability last season, so Iheanachor being added and starting as a rookie will benefit this offensive line.

Jones is also a former first round pick, back in 2023, but his career has not gone according to plan, as he has mostly struggled across 38 career starts. Making matters worse, he is coming back from a serious neck injury that could sideline him for the start of the season. Even if he is ready to play by week 1, he could face competition for the swing tackle job from Dylan Cook, who was an upgrade by default in four starts in place of an injured Jones last season. Cook went undrafted in 2022 and has never played outside of that brief stretch last season, so he is still an unknown, but he could ultimately end up being a better option than Jones. Cook and Jones will provide depth, along with whichever two of the three options at left guard do not win the starting job.

Mason McCormick and Zach Frazier remain the starters at right guard and center respectively, both going into their third season in the league, on what is now an overall very young offensive line. McCormick, a 4th round pick, was decent as a rookie in 14 starts, before taking a step forward last season and playing at an above average level in 17 starts, while Frazier, a 2nd round pick, has been above average in both seasons. Frazier is more likely than McCormick to continue playing at an above average level in 2026, due to his more proven track record and his higher draft status, but McCormick could have permanently turned a corner and could easily remain above average in 2026 and beyond. This is a young offensive line, but a decent unit overall, with its only true weakness being left guard.

Grade: B

Interior Defenders

The Steelers brought back all of their aging veterans on defense too, with the oldest of the bunch being Cameron Heyward, who is set to go into his age 37 season. Heyward has not looked his age though, finishing last season with 3.5 sacks, 6 hits, and a 9.9% pressure rate, while playing at a high level against the run. Heyward could decline in 2026, perhaps significantly, but even a significant decline from him could still result in him being an above average interior defender, given how high of a base point he is starting from.

Heyward figures to start opposite Derrick Harmon, who had a solid rookie year, playing at an average or better level both against the run and as a pass rusher (7.8% pressure rate). The 2025 1st round pick could easily take a step forward and be even better in year two. Keeanu Benton also will remain in the mix for a significant role. The 2023 2nd round pick is a bit of a liability against the run, but he has totaled 7.5 sacks, 22 hits, and a 6.9% pressure rate in 51 career games and could still improve as a run defender, only going into his age 25 season.

Yahya Black is another young interior defender the Steelers have and the 2025 5th round pick played 416 snaps as a rookie, but he was a liability against the run and as a pass rusher as a rookie (3.2% pressure rate). He could be better in year two, but it doesn’t seem like the Steelers are giving him a chance to prove it, opting instead to sign veteran Sebastian Joseph-Day. Joseph-Day is going into his age 31 season, but he has been a capable run defender and pass rusher (career 6.5% pressure rate) throughout his career, while averaging 501 snaps per season, and, even if he declines in 2026, he should still be better than Black was last season. This is a deep and talented position group.

Grade: A-

Edge Defenders

If the Steelers were to start to rebuild this off-season, one player who likely would have been moved is edge defender TJ Watt. Watt could have generated a significant return for the Steelers via trade this off-season, but this might be the last off-season that would be the case, as he is going into his age 32 season and has declined a little in recent years from his Defensive Player of the Year peak. On top of that, the Steelers would be in good shape at the edge defender position even without Watt, as Alex Highsmith, going into his age 29 season, is a high level starter opposite him, while Nick Herbig, going into his age 25 season, is a high level reserve who seems ready for a larger role.

Watt finished last season with 7 sacks, 14 hits, and a 9.9% pressure rate, while playing at an above average level against the run, but that is a far cry from just two years ago, when he had 19 sacks, 20 hits, and a 15.6% pressure rate, while playing at an elite level against the run. Another year into his 30s in 2026, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him decline even further in 2026, though he has a good chance to at least remain an above average starter overall.

Highsmith is also an above average all-around player, totaling 37 sacks, 36 hits, and a 13.1% pressure rate in 58 games over the past four seasons, while consistently playing at an above average level as a run defender. Still in his prime, he should remain an all-around above average player in 2026. Herbig, meanwhile, has generated a 12.5% pressure rate in three seasons in the league since going in the 4th round in 2023. 

Last season, Herbig saw a career high 610 snaps, more than his first two seasons in the league combined (607 snaps), in part because Highsmith and Watt missed four games and three games respectively, but Herbig also averaged 32.8 snaps per game in games in which he did not start, so the Steelers made an effort to get him on the field more, even at the expense of Watt and Highsmith. Herbig did not disappoint, finishing the season with 7.5 sacks, 13 hits, and a 13.3% pressure rate, while also playing at an above average level against the run. Watt, Highsmith, and Herbig were arguably the best edge defender trio in the league last season and should remain that this season.

With a top-3 like that, there isn’t much need for anyone else, but the Steelers also have 2025 4th round pick Jack Sawyer, who played 295 snaps as a rookie, mostly when Watt or Highsmith were out due to injury. Sawyer wasn’t bad, recording a 9.6% pressure rate and providing adequate run defense. He won’t see much of a role this season unless more injuries strike, but he could be better this year than he was as a rookie, which makes him better than a lot of teams’ 4th edge defender option. This is a loaded position group.

Grade: A

Linebackers

The Steelers’ linebacking corps was the weakness of their defense last season. Patrick Queen (1,112 snaps) and Payton Wilson (733 snaps) were their top-2 linebackers in terms of snaps and both were liabilities. Queen has had some decent years in the past and is still only in his age 27 season, so he could bounce back, but this is now back-to-back below average seasons for him. Wilson, meanwhile, showed more promise in a smaller role (493 snaps) as a 3rd round rookie in 2024, so he at least has upside, but, like Queen, there is no guarantee he is any better this season. Top reserve Malik Harrison (295 snaps) also struggled, as he has throughout his six seasons in the league, on an average of 258 snaps per season. 

The only Steelers linebacker who did not struggle last season was Cole Holcomb, who played 198 snaps in 8 games and was at least a solid run defender, while also being decent in coverage. Holcomb used to be an above average linebacker before tearing everything in his knee midway through the 2023 season and missing over a season and a half. He’s also now going into his age 30 season and his solid play last season came in limited action, but there is at least some hope he could be a solid situational player for the Steelers this season, even if he isn’t what he once was. Holcomb should at least beat out Harrison for the #3 linebacker job. With Holcomb potentially playing a bigger role, Queen at least having some bounce back potential, and Payton Wilson being young and having some upside, it is possible the Steelers’ linebacking corps is better in 2026 than 2025, but largely by default, as this is still a below average unit.

Grade: C+

Secondary

Another aging veteran the Steelers kept this off-season is Jalen Ramsey, who is heading into his age 32 season. Ramsey was a high level cornerback in his prime and an above average cornerback as recently as 2024, but his play fell to a league average level in 2025 and there is a good chance he never bounces back, given his age. The Steelers moved him to safety midway through the season to try to get more out of him as he ages. That didn’t seem to help, but perhaps that move will have some benefit in his first full season at his new position in 2026.

Ramsey will start at safety next to free agent addition Jaquan Brisker, a decent, but unspectacular starting option. The more impactful free agent addition the Steelers made on defense this off-season was cornerback Jamel Dean, who came over from the Buccaneers on a 3-year, 36.75 million dollar deal. Dean is another aging veteran, going into his age 30 season, but he isn’t totally over the hill yet and hasn’t shown any signs of decline yet, arguably coming off of the best season of his career. Dean probably won’t repeat his career best year again in 2026, but the 7-year veteran has been an above average starting cornerback for years, with his only weakness being durability, as he has missed 21 total games due to injury in his career. Even with age and injury concerns though, he should be a welcome addition for a cornerback room that needed help.

Dean will start opposite Joey Porter, a 2023 2nd round pick who has developed into an above average starter and who could still have room for further growth, only going into his age 26 season. The third cornerback job will probably go to Asante Samuel, who the Steelers took a flier on mid-season last year as he worked his way back from a serious neck injury that ended his 2024 season early. Samuel played decently across 222 snaps last season and, prior to his injury, he was starting to develop into an above average starter. Still only going into his age 27 season, Samuel still has time to develop into what it looked like he was becoming before the injury if he can stay healthy. As far as #3 cornerbacks go, Samuel is an above average option.

The Steelers also used a third round pick on Daylen Everette to give them more insurance at cornerback in case injuries strike, which is a higher than average possibility for Samuel and Dean. The Steelers could also use three safeties together in some sub packages, with DeShon Elliott, who is likely to be a backup with Brisker being added, being an experienced reserve who has mostly been a decent starter across 69 career starts. This is an above average secondary overall.

Grade: B+

Kickers

Chris Boswell had a down year by his standards in 2025, but he still counted for 2.92 points above an average kicker, down from 8.12 points above average in 2023 and 14.63 points above average in 2024. Boswell is going into his age 35 season, so perhaps he is starting to decline, but kickers can kick at a high level into their mid to late 30s and it is very possible that his relative struggles last season were more the result of the year-to-year variance inherent at the kicker position than age. He should remain at least an above average kicker in 2026 and has the upside to be among the best kickers in the league.

Grade: A-

Conclusion

The Steelers were not as good as their 10-7 record last season, going 7-3 in one-score games and finishing with a +12 turnover margin, two things that are not consistent year-to-year. In terms of schedule adjusted efficiency, which is more consistent year-to-year, they ranked just 22nd. They were also one of the oldest teams in the league last year, with several aging veterans who could be worse this year than last year. However, they also upgraded this offense by adding wide receiver Michael Pittman and running back Rico Dowdle, while upgrading their defense by adding cornerback Jamel Dean and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, who has always gotten the most out of his talent and now gets to work with the most talented defense he has ever worked with. It might not be enough for the Steelers to make the post-season again this year, but they should at least be in the mix for a playoff spot.

Prediction: 9-8, 3rd in AFC North

Quarterback

Since Ben Roethlisberger retired at the end of the 2021 season, the Steelers have started five quarterbacks in three seasons, none of whom have established themselves as a long-term starter. Add in the fact that Roethlisberger either struggled or was injured in his final three seasons in the league and it’s been six seasons since the Steelers last had good quarterback play. The Steelers have still finished .500 or better in all six of those seasons though, with four playoff appearances, on the strength of their defense. However, in all four of those playoff appearances they have been one and done, with their quarterback play being a significant limiting factor once they make the post-season.

This off-season, the Steelers started over at the quarterback position again, letting both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, who made starts for them last season, leave as free agents. To replace them, their first move was to bring back Mason Rudolph, who spent 2018-2023 with the Steelers, but who was mostly a backup during that stretch, making just 13 starts, with just a 86.9 QB rating in those starts. Rudolph spent last season in Tennessee, making another 5 starts, but faring even worse with a 80.1 QB rating. The Steelers then used a 6th round pick on a developmental prospect in Will Howard, but their most notable quarterback addition was their third addition, as they signed future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers, who will start for them this season, with Rudolph as the backup and Howard as the third string.

The Steelers’ strategy is to hope Rodgers will put them over the top after all of their recent first round exits. There are a few problems with that strategy, however. For one, Rodgers is not nearly the quarterback he used to be. Rodgers played well into his late 30s, winning back-to-back MVPs in his age 37 and 38 seasons in 2020 and 2021, with PFF grades of 94.5 and 89.6 and QB ratings of 121.5 and 111.9 in those two seasons respectively, but he fell off pretty significantly in his age 39 season in 2022, with a QB rating of 91.1, the worst of his career as a starter, and a 77.7 PFF grade, the second worst of his career as a starter. 

In 2023, he missed all but 4 snaps with a torn achilles and then, upon his return in 2024, he continued playing at a similar level as 2022, with a PFF grade of 77.8 (15th among quarterbacks) and a QB rating of 90.5. Both of his 2022 and 2024 QB ratings are actually lower than the 94.8 QB rating the Steelers had as a team in 2024. Now in his age 42 season, Rodgers could easily continue declining and, in a best case scenario, he’ll probably play comparably to how he played in 2022 and 2024, which isn’t really an upgrade under center for the Steelers.

The other problem is the Steelers’ defense isn’t quite what it has been in recent years, finishing the regular season 14th both in yards per play allowed and first down rate allowed last season. In fact, despite their 10 wins and their post-season appearance, the Steelers finished last season 23rd in yards per play differential and 26th in first down rate differential, which are much more predictive on a year-to-year basis than win/loss record. The Steelers primarily had success last season because they ranked 2nd in the NFL with a +16 turnover margin, but turnover margins have next to no correlation on a year-to-year basis. Because of that, the Steelers are starting from a much lower base point than their 2024 record suggests, so, even if Rodgers is an upgrade at quarterback, which is unlikely, the Steelers won’t necessarily win more games as a result of that. This is still an underwhelming quarterback room.

Grade: B

Receiving Corps

The Steelers made other significant changes on offense this off-season as well. At wide receiver, they traded for DK Metcalf and traded away George Pickens, opting to extend Metcalf on a 4-year, 132 million rather than giving a similar deal to Pickens, with both going into the final year of their contract. This is essentially a lateral move, even though the Steelers paid a 2025 2nd round pick for Metcalf and got back a 2026 3rd round pick for Pickens. Pickens has averaged a higher yards per target in his career (9.70 vs. 8.71), despite worse quarterback play, and is significantly younger, going into his age 24 season, while Metcalf is going into his age 28 season, but Metcalf has a slightly higher yards per route run average (1.90 vs. 1.83) and has received better PFF grades overall, finishing at 69.7, 82.7, 80.9, 75.3, 80.0, and 74.3 in six seasons in the league, while Pickens has finished at 68.8, 75.3, and 76.9 in his three seasons in the league.

For a while, it looked like the Steelers would keep both in 2025, which, though it would have been expensive, definitely would have benefited this offense, as the Steelers now still have the same wide receiver depth issues that they had a year ago, when their #2 wide receiver Calvin Austin had just a 36/548/4 slash line and 1.45 yards per route run on 58 targets. Their #3 wide receiver Van Jefferson was even worse, with a 24/276/2 slash line and 0.72 yards per route run on 40 targets. 

Austin, a 2022 2nd round pick who only averaged 0.79 yards per route run in his first two seasons in the league prior to last season, would be best as a #3 receiver, especially since he is only 5-8 162, but he will probably be their de facto #2 receiver by default again this season. Jefferson is gone, which is addition by subtraction, but his replacement Robert Woods is unlikely to be significantly better. Woods has a career 1.53 yards per route run average, but that has fallen to 1.14, 1.02, and 1.05 over the past three seasons respectively and he is now heading into his age 33 season. 

Woods will likely face competition for the #3 receiver job from Roman Wilson, who played just 5 snaps and didn’t catch a pass as a rookie, but who at least has upside as a 2024 3rd round pick. Also in the mix for a reserve role is Scotty Miller, who played 209 snaps last season and averaged just 0.77 yards per route run. He has been better than that in his career, but his career yards per route run average is still just 1.21 and he has just 453 receiving yards total over the past four seasons, so, even in a thin position group, he is best as a deep reserve.

With all of the Steelers’ issues at wide receiver last season, they ranked 8th with 26.4% of their targets going to tight ends and tight ends figure to remain a big part of the offense again in 2025. Unfortunately, that position group isn’t good enough in the passing game to make up for their issues at wide receiver. Pat Freiermuth, their starting tight end, finished last season with a 65/653/7 slash line on 78 targets with 1.46 yards per route run. That is largely in line with his averages through four seasons in the league, as he has averaged a 55/548/5 slash line on an average of 76 targets with 1.41 yards per route run, since being selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Freiermuth will continue being backed up by Darnell Washington, an above average run blocker who also added a 1.29 yards per route run average and a 19/200/1 slash line on 25 targets in a limited role last season. That was a big upgrade from his rookie season, when the 2023 3rd round pick only averaged 0.44 yards per route run. He’s still inexperienced, but could easily remain an above average #2 tight end, with the ability to block and also contribute a little bit in the passing game. The Steelers also have Connor Heyward, who played 206 snaps as the #3 tight end last season, but he averaged just 0.69 yards per route run and has just a 1.06 yards per route run average in three seasons in the league. This is still an overall underwhelming receiving corps.

Grade: B

Running Backs

Running backs were also a big part of the Steelers’ passing game last season, as they ranked 2nd in the league with 23.7% of targets going to running backs. Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris split targets pretty evenly, with 47 and 48 respectively, and Warren was slightly more productive, with a 38/310/0 slash line and 1.44 yards per route run, as opposed to a 36/283/0 slash line and 1.29 yards per route run for Harris. As runners, Harris led the team with 263 carries, as opposed to 120 for Warren, but Warren was the more efficient back, with 4.26 YPC and a 50.0% carry success rate, as opposed to 3.97 YPC and a 43.7% carry success rate for Harris. 

Harris wasn’t retained as a free agent this off-season and the Steelers will try to replace him with third round rookie Kaleb Johnson and veteran free agent addition Kenneth Gainwell. Johnson is a similar power back to Harris, but only caught 29 passes in his collegiate career, while Gainwell has a decent 1.00 yards per route run average as a passing down specialist in his career, but only has 280 carries in four seasons in the league. Even with Johnson and Gainwell both being added, it’s likely the Steelers will be giving a bigger role to Jaylen Warren, both as a rusher and a receiver.

Warren is a 2022 undrafted free agent and is a projection to a larger role, with 473 touches in three seasons in the league and a max of 210 touches in a season, but he has a lot of upside. In fact, last season was actually a down year for him as a runner, as he has a career 4.84 yards per carry average and a career 50.6% carry success rate. He figures to have a new career high in touches this season and has a good chance to be effective in that role, while Johnson will rotate in on some running downs, especially in short yardage, and Gainwell will rotate in on some passing downs. Overall, it’s a solid backfield that fits well together and that has a lot of upside if Warren can continue playing at the level he has played at throughout his career, now in a bigger workload.

Grade: B

Offensive Line

On the offensive line, the biggest change was the loss of left tackle Dan Moore in free agency, but he was a marginal starter with a 67.2 PFF grade in 17 starts and the Steelers have an obvious replacement in 2024 1st round pick Troy Fautanu, who missed all but 55 snaps in his rookie season due to injury, but has clear potential, now healthy going into his second season in the league. He comes with some downside, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he ended up being an upgrade over Moore.

Fautanu will start opposite another former first round pick, 2023 14th overall pick Broderick Jones. Jones hasn’t lived up to expectations yet, finishing with season-long PFF grades of 60.7 and 58.5 across 27 total starts in two seasons in the league, primarily at right tackle, and he actually started last season on the bench before Fautanu got hurt, but he still has upside going into his third season in the league and could easily take a step forward in 2025. 

It’s unclear which of Fautanu and Jones will start on the left side and which will start on the right side as both have the ability to play both positions, but, either way, they will be the starters at tackle this season. They have a high upside, as recent high draft picks, but both come with downside as well, as Fautanu is coming off of a major injury and has one career start, while Jones has been mediocre thus far in his career. Depth is also an issue behind them, as swing tackle Calvin Anderson has made just 14 starts in six seasons in the league, with just two seasons above 60 on PFF.

The Steelers also didn’t retain right guard James Daniels this off-season. He excelled with a 92.9 PFF grade last season, but he only played four games due to injury, so his departure isn’t a huge loss. In his absence last season, Mason McCormick made 14 starts and struggled with a 57.7 PFF grade. McCormick will remain a starter this season, due to the lack of a better option, and he could be better, as he was only a 4th round rookie last season, but his improvement is not a guarantee. If he continues to struggle, the only alternative the Steelers have is Spencer Anderson, a 2023 7th round pick who struggled with a 53.2 PFF grade in the first four starts of his career last season. It’s unlikely he would be an upgrade, even over the mediocre McCormick, and, even as a reserve option, Anderson is underwhelming.

Opposite McCormick at left guard, Isaac Seumalo remains as the starter. He had a solid 67.6 PFF grade in 13 starts last season, but that was actually the second lowest grade of the seven seasons he’s been a primary starter in his career and he’s now heading into his age 32 season, so he could decline further this season. He’s also had durability issues in his career, missing time in all but two of nine seasons in the league, with 37 games missed total. The odds of him declining and/or missing significant time in 2025 are fairly high.

The Steelers’ best starter who made it through the season healthy last season was another rookie, center Zach Frazier, one of three draft picks from the 2024 class expected to start for the Steelers in 2025. A second round pick, Frazier finished his rookie season with a 76.8 PFF grade in 15 starts and could easily have a similar or even better season again in 2025. He’s the highlight of an overall underwhelming offensive line.

Grade: B-

Interior Defenders

As I mentioned, the Steelers’ defense was solid, but not elite last season. Their personnel is largely the same in 2025, with just 3 of the 14 players who played at least 300 snaps on this defense last season no longer on the team. However, one concern is the age of a couple of their top players, most notably interior defender Cameron Heyward, who heads into his age 36 season. Heyward turned back the clock last season with a dominant year, finishing with a 90.3 PFF grade across 779 snaps, playing at a high level against the run and as a pass rusher, with 8 sacks, 14 hits, and a 11.7% pressure rate.

That was Heyward’s seventh season above 80 on PFF in his last eight seasons, but the one exception was a 71.9 PFF grade on 442 snaps in 11 games in 2023 and, given his age, it wouldn’t be a surprise if his 2025 season was more similar to his 2023 season than his 2024 season. With Heyward aging, the Steelers felt it was important to add a long-term replacement, using their first round pick on Derrick Harmon. In the short-term, Harmon figures to take over the role left behind by free agent departure Larry Ogunjobi and, considering Ogunjobi had just a 49.4 PFF grade across 495 snaps, it wouldn’t be hard for Harmon to be an upgrade, but Harmon might not be good enough as a rookie to offset a potential significant decline from Heyward.

The Steelers also have Keeanu Benton, a 2023 2nd round pick who has shown some promise through two seasons in the league, with PFF grades of 74.8 and 68.2 across snap counts of 483 and 641 respectively. Benton had just 2 sacks in those two seasons, but he added 16 quarterback hits and a 6.9% pressure rate, while holding up well against the run. Still only in his age 24 season, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him have a career best year in his third season in the league in 2025.

With Heyward, Harmon, and Benton likely to play the vast majority of the interior defender snaps for the Steelers in 2025, additional depth is likely to only be needed in case of injury to one of their top-3, but that’s definitely a possibility. Outside of their top-3, the Steelers’ best interior defender is probably free agent addition Daniel Ekuale, who has finished above 60 on PFF in three straight seasons, including a 60.3 PFF grade across 723 snaps last season. He only had a 2.4% pressure rate last season, but played well against the run. He’s going into his age 31 season, but still has a good chance to be a capable reserve.

Additional reserve options include Isaiahh Loudermilk, a 2021 5th round pick who has finished below 60 on PFF in all four seasons in the league, on an average of 202 snaps per season, and 5th round rookie Yahya Black, but both would likely struggle and fortunately would only see significant snaps in case of emergency. This is a talented position group overall, but Cameron Heyward is highly unlikely to repeat last season’s dominant campaign.

Grade: A-

Edge Defenders

Along with Heyward, another Steelers defender who had an elite season last season was TJ Watt, with a 92.2 PFF grade across 939 snaps, but he too is getting up there in age, going into his age 31 season. His age isn’t nearly as big of a concern as Heyward, but he could still decline noticeably, which would have a negative effect on this defense as a whole. Watt is still likely to play at a pretty high level even if he declines though, as he’s starting from a very high base point. He’s finished above 80 on PFF in six straight seasons, including four seasons above 90. Also a high level run defender, Watt has totaled 88 sacks, 107 hits, and a 13.7% pressure rate in 90 games over the past six seasons, while winning the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year award. Even if he’s not at his peak form, he should remain one of the best edge defenders in the league.

Alex Highsmith, the Steelers’ other starting edge defender, is also coming off of a high level season, missing six games with injuries, but receiving a 89.5 PFF grade across 525 snaps in 11 games. Equally good as a pass rusher and a run defender, Highsmith had 6 sacks, 9 hits, and a 16.1% pressure rate last season, despite the missed time due to injury. That performance didn’t come out of nowhere either, as he had a 90.3 PFF grade across 909 snaps in 17 games in 2023, while compiling 7 sacks, 12 hits, and a 13.8% pressure rate. Still in his prime in his age 28 season, Highsmith should remain a high level edge defender in 2025 and, if Watt declines, Highsmith could potentially take over as the Steelers’ top edge defender.

With Watt and Highsmith being high level players who play every down, the Steelers don’t have much need for depth at the edge defender position, but top reserve Nick Herbig showed a lot of potential last season too, with a 81.9 PFF grade across 416 snaps in 13 games, including 236 snaps in five starts in Highsmith’s absence. As a pass rusher, he had 5.5 sacks, 6 hits, and a 11.9% pressure rate, despite the limited playing time. A 2023 4th round pick, Herbig also flashed a lot of potential in a very limited role as a rookie with a 80.7 PFF grade across 191 snaps. 

Herbig would be a projection to a larger role, but he has the talent to be an above average starter for most teams and, as a reserve, he is one of the best in the league. The Steelers also further added to their depth this off-season by using a 4th round pick on Jack Sawyer, though he would likely need an injury ahead of him on the depth chart to see more than a few snaps per game. This is a deep and talented edge defender group overall.

Grade: A

Linebackers

At linebacker, the Steelers were hoping for a big year out of Patrick Queen, who they signed to a 3-year, 41 million dollar deal last off-season. Queen was a first round pick by the Ravens in 2020 and finished with PFF grades of 70.0 and 73.1 in his final two seasons in Baltimore, while playing every down, with snap counts of 1,024 and 1,120 respectively. However, he regressed to his pre-2022 form in 2024, finishing with a 58.5 PFF grade across 1,091 snaps. Queen is only going into his age 26 season, so he has obvious bounce back potential, even if that’s not a guarantee.

Fortunately, the Steelers got good play at the other linebacker position from a platoon of Elandon Roberts (77.2 PFF grade across 478 snaps) and Payton Wilson (75.3 PFF grade across 493 snaps). Roberts was not retained as a free agent this season, so they are hoping Wilson, who was the passing down specialist last season, can continue playing well in an every down role. Wilson was a 3rd round pick in 2024 and received PFF grades above 60 both as a run defender and in coverage, so he has the potential to be a good every down player in his second season in the league in 2025, but he’s still a projection to that larger role. 

If Wilson proves incapable of being an every down player, the Steelers would likely turn to Cole Holcomb to replace Roberts in a situational role. Holcomb didn’t play a snap in 2024 while working back from a gruesome knee injury suffered in week 9 of the 2023 season, but he has finished above 60 in run defense on PFF in all five healthy seasons of his career and he’s still only going into his age 29 season, so he could be a useful situational player if he has recovered close to his old form, though that’s obviously a question mark, given the nature of his injury. The Steelers are hoping he can just be a reserve and that Wilson will be able to break out as an every down player in his second season in the league. 

The Steelers also signed Malik Harrison, a 2020 3rd round pick of the Ravens, but he has played just 250 snaps per season in five seasons in the league, with a max of 371 snaps played in a season and three seasons below 60 on PFF, so he was just signed to be a reserve. The Steelers have a high upside starting linebacker duo of Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson and an intriguing backup option in Cole Holcomb, but all three come with downside, with Queen coming off of a down year, Wilson never having played an every down role, and Holcomb having not played in a year and a half due to a brutal injury.

Grade: B+

Secondary

The Steelers also got solid play out of their safeties last season, with Minkah Fitzpatrick and DeShon Elliott receiving PFF grades of 68.4 and 70.2 in 14 starts and 17 starts respectively. For Fitzpatrick, last season was actually a down year, as he has finished above 70 on PFF in four of the past six seasons. Still in his late prime in his age 29 season, Fitzpatrick has a good chance to be better in 2025 than he was in 2024. Elliott, on the other hand, is coming off his 2nd best PFF grade in five seasons as a starter, but it wasn’t out of line with how he’s played in the past, finishing between 65.6 and 72.6 on PFF in those five seasons. Also relatively young in his age 28 season, I would expect more of the same from him in 2025.

The Steelers’ didn’t retain their top reserve safety, Damontee Kazee, this off-season, but he had just a 58.8 PFF grade across 290 snaps last season and the Steelers likely upgraded by replacing him with free agent addition Juan Thornhill. Thornhill has finished above 65 on PFF in five of six seasons in the league, while starting 74 of 87 games played over those six seasons. He has missed six games in each of the past two seasons respectively and is now heading into his age 30 season, but, as far as reserve safeties go, he’s a great option.

Cornerback was probably the Steelers’ biggest weakness on defense last season, as no cornerback played more than 200 snaps and finished with a PFF grade above 60. That includes Joey Porter, their de facto top cornerback, who had a 55.0 PFF grade. Porter was a second round pick in 2023 and has shown some promise, but he has also committed 27 penalties in two seasons in the league, including 15 last season, which was three more than any other cornerback. Porter was better as a rookie though, with a 65.2 PFF grade, and, only in his age 25 season, he could easily bounce back at least somewhat in his third season in the league, or perhaps even have his best year yet.

The Steelers also should get better play opposite Porter this season, parting ways with Donte Jackson, who had a 50.0 PFF grade across 780 snaps, and replacing him with veteran free agent addition Darius Slay. Slay comes with some risk though because, while he has finished above 60 on PFF in ten of the last eleven seasons, with seven seasons above 70 and four seasons above 80, he is also going into his age 34 season and could decline significantly in 2025. Even if he doesn’t decline, it’s hard to imagine him being significantly better than the 68.4 PFF grade he had in 2023 or the 67.6 PFF grade he had in 2024, though, again, it wouldn’t be hard for him to be better than Jackson was last season.

Unfortunately, the Steelers still have Beanie Bishop as their slot cornerback, after the 2024 undrafted free agent struggled with a 55.5 PFF grade across 549 snaps last season. He could be better in his second season in the league in 2025, but there’s also probably a good reason why he went undrafted and it’s very possible he never develops into even a capable slot cornerback. The Steelers do have Cory Trice as their top reserve and #4 cornerback and the 2023 7th round pick flashed potential with a 69.4 PFF grade last season, but he did so on only 194 snaps, the first 194 snaps of his career, so he’s very inexperienced and could easily struggle if injuries force him into a significant role. The Steelers have a solid group at safety and their cornerbacks should be better by default this season, but this secondary still has some concerns.

Grade: B

Kicker

Steelers kicker Chris Boswell was the best in the league last season, leading the league with 14.63 points above average, making 41 of 44 field goals and all 35 extra points. This was a career best year for Boswell, but it wasn’t out of the ordinary, as his 40.16 points above average over the past decade rank second in the league over that span, only behind Justin Tucker. Boswell is now in his age 34 season, but elite kickers can perform at a high level into their mid-to-late 30s, so I am not really concerned about his age. He probably won’t be quite as good again in 2025 as he was in 2024, just by default, but he should still be one of the top few kickers in the league.

Grade: A

Conclusion

The Steelers are hoping Aaron Rodgers upgrades their quarterback room, but the way he has played in his last two healthy seasons is not significantly better than what the Steelers got at quarterback last season and Rodgers is now heading into his age 42 season and could decline further. The Steelers are also starting from a lower base point than their 2024 record suggests, as they finished last season 23rd in yards per play differential and 26th in first down rate differential, which are much more predictive than win/loss records year-to-year. 

The Steelers also have the second oldest roster in the NFL, in part due to Rodgers, but also because of some other older players, including TJ Watt and Cameron Heyward, who were their best two defenders last season. The Steelers are well coached and could still compete for a playoff spot, but they have a tough schedule and there are at least seven better teams than them in the AFC, so they should find themselves on the outside looking in at the post-season when all is said and done.

Prediction: 5-12, 3rd in AFC North