Leading the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Perfect Offseason in 2025

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a daunting offseason ahead of them after another year without a playoff victory. We know Mike Tomlin will be back, but what about the roster? How can they build a team capable of winning games in January? Well, here is my suggestion. From free agency to the draft, this is how I would attack the Steelers offseason.

Starting cap space: $55.218 million (per Spotrac)

Players to remove

• DL Larry Ogunjobi (save $7 million)
• RB/KR Cordarrelle Patterson (save $2.8 million)
• OLB Preston Smith (save $13.4 million)
• LB Cole Holcomb (save $6 million)

In addition to letting these players go, a restructuring of Minkah Fitzpatrick’s deal should be done. Convert about $4.425 million of his base salary into prorated bonuses.

Notable players to sign

• QB Justin Fields: 2 years, $30 million
• CB DJ Reed: 3 years, $47 million
• WR Darius Slayton: 2 years, $13.5 million
• LB Elandon Roberts: 2 years, $7.5 million
• RB Jaylen Warren: 3 years, $20 million

Professions

WR George Pickens to Chargers

• Steelers receive: Second-round pick (No. 54), fifth-round pick (No. 159)

• Chargers receive: WR George Pickens

WR Garrett Wilson

• Jets receive: First round pick (No. 21)
• Steelers receive: WR Garrett Wilson, third round pick (No. 96)

WR Courtland Sutton

• Broncos receive: Second-round pick (No. 54, via LAC)
• Steelers receive: WR Courtland Sutton

It feels like Pickens played his last game with the Steelers. The constant drama and immaturity is more than it’s worth, frankly, and they may reunite Justin Fields with his college teammate and one of the most talented receivers in football who’s ready for a change of scenery in Garrett Wilson .

As for Sutton, the Steelers attempted to acquire the Broncos several times last offseason, and he was looking for a new contract. Ultimately, he stayed in Denver and didn’t stick out, but he’s entering the final year of his contract. The Steelers send out the second-round pick they got in exchange for Pickens to land Sutton and opt for a short-term extension to stretch that cap space.

Ultimately, loading the offense is the most important task this offseason. You can’t give a middle-of-the-pack quarterback low-level weapons and expect greatness. Give Fields several can’t-miss targets and see if he can take advantage of them. If he can’t, it’s not him. If he can, then your search for a quarterback is over. Either way, you’ll know it and have a good group of weapons for whoever the next quarterback is.

2025 NFL Draft

• Round 2, pick 53: RB Cam Skattebo, Arizona State
• Round 3, pick 85: S Andrew Mukuba, Texas
• Round 3, pick 96: LB Kobe King, Penn State
• Round 4, pick 120: DT Shemar Turner, Texas A&M
• Round 4, pick 121: OT Chase Lundt, UConn
• Round 5, pick 159: CB Domani Jackson, Alabama
• Round 5, pick 163: WR Tai Felton, Maryland
• Round 7, pick 225: QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
• Round 7, pick 248: TE Bryson Nesbit, North Carolina

Having a backfield of Warren and Skattebo would be a good balance of downhill power and shifty breakaway speed. Trading for receivers also gives the Steelers the freedom to get ahead of future defensive needs at safety and linebacker with Mukuba and King. And getting Jaxson Dart on day three would give them a potential quarterback for Fields, and maybe give him a chance in 2026 if Fields isn’t the guy.

Overall, this offseason should be all about being aggressive and getting as much firepower as possible. If they do, they’ll be able to better understand their quarterback situation going forward and have a great group of weapons in place for whoever that may be.