The Pittsburgh Steelers have already had a busy offseason with the departure of former head coach Mike Tomlin and the hiring of Mike McCarthy as his successor. Things will be busy for a while before they slow down in Pittsburgh. Free agency starts next month with the draft happening at the end of April. McCarthy now has to work with general manager Omar Khan on a plan of attack to address the roster.
So, what positions will the Steelers prioritize in free agency versus the draft? Insider Gerry Dulac offered insight in his weekly chat for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Thursday.
‘”Gerry, what positions do you think the Steelers will look to add via free agents versus the draft?”‘
“DT, OG, CB”
It makes sense that Mike McCarthy would prioritize the offensive line. He discussed his roots in the West Coast offense after the Steelers hired him, focusing on the need for a strong running game. Behind (or rather, in front of) every good rushing attack is a good offensive line.
Now, the Steelers’ offensive line wasn’t necessarily bad in 2025. In fact, Pro Football Focus listed the Steelers’ offensive line as the eighth-best unit in the league by the end of the season. However, you’ll notice in the write-up that the focus was entirely on the Steelers’ pass-blocking. There was no mention of the run game.
That’s because almost all five of the end-of-year linemen were considerably worse in PFF’s run-blocking grades than in pass-blocking. Three of the offensive linemen (T Dylan Cook, LG Isaac Seumalo, and C Zach Frazier) ranked top-10 at their positions in pass-blocking. Only Frazier was even close to the top-10 in terms of run-blocking (11th). He was the only offensive lineman to receive a 70+ grade in both run-blocking and pass-blocking.
The Steelers need to upgrade their offensive line, either by infusing talent or by improving coaching and scheme, to improve their run game in 2026. Plus, they are likely letting LG Isaac Seumalo leave in free agency. Perhaps the Steelers will want to add another veteran offensive guard on the line to help boost performance.
As for defensive tackle, when our very own Alex Kozora broke down new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Graham said he focuses on “building a wall” when it comes to defending the run. That starts up front, especially at the tackle position. The Steelers have struggled to consistently stop the run, so adding someone up front, especially as DT Cam Heyward continues to age, makes sense.
Finally, adding a cornerback in free agency makes sense. We saw issues defending the pass throughout the season. Now, CB Joey Porter Jr. had arguably his best season yet. CB James Pierre also played well, but he’s a pending free agent and could depart. Regardless, the Steelers could use more talent at the position. Adding a veteran to the position would likely mean they hit the ground running, rather than relying on a fresh rookie.
Notably, Dulac doesn’t mention wide receiver. We know the Steelers need to add talent there. Perhaps they’ll be more focused on the draft in that regard.
With free agency fast approaching, the Steelers certainly have their work cut out for them. Perhaps these three positions are where they start their talent acquisition process this offseason.
