The Steelers haven't won fewer than eight games since 2003, yet they also haven't captured a playoff W since the 2016 season. It's tough to look at last season's results and conclude this was anything other than an average football team that (once again) probably overachieved.

• 2025: 10-7 (+10 point differential, preseason win total: 8.5)
• Points per game: 23.4 (15th)
• EPA per pass: +0.05 (19th)
• EPA per rush: -0.001 (7th)
• Points per game against: 22.8 (17th)
• EPA per pass against: +0.06 (16th)
• EPA per rush against: -0.04 (24th)

The good news is the team is fairly well positioned to improve the roster this offseason: Pittsburgh has the 13th-most effective cap space to work with and also boasts five picks across the first two days of the draft—tied for the most in the league. It'd make a lot of sense if the bulk of those resources are devoted to the offense considering the Steelers boast the league's second-most expensive defense in 2026 dollars … and the second-cheapest offense.

What Do Pittsburgh Steelers Need To Address In The 2026 Offseason?

Need 1: Quarterback

The 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers needs to be re-signed, and if not this QB room will be left with career backup Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard. Overall, only the Saints have fewer 2026 dollars devoted to their quarterback room than the Steelers at the moment.

Packers backup QB Malik Willis is probably the best option available on the open market assuming Daniel Jones re-signs with the Colts. Making a splash for a disgruntled former franchise QB like Kyler Murray or Tua Tagovailoa could also be on the table. Unfortunately, once again, the team's best path to improving the position specifically for next season likely rests in free agency or in the trade market due to the Steelers continuously being just good enough to not land an early enough draft pick to realistically take one of the position's top talents.

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Need 2: Offensive line

Second-year C Zach Frazier, RG Mason McCormick, and RT Troy Fautanu have helped fortify the interior and right side of the team's front, but LG Isaac Seumalo is an unrestricted free agent, and LT Broderick Jones is coming off a season-ending neck injury.

Kudos to the group for allowing a league-low 25% pressure rate in 2025, although at least some of that is thanks to old man Rodgers generally getting the ball out quicker than just about anyone. Ultimately, the offensive line as a whole is the single-cheapest group in the NFL entering 2026—adding more resources to this front is probably the Steelers' best chance of having at least one position group be something close to elite on offense.

Need 3: Wide receiver

DK Metcalf is locked in as the Steelers' No. 1 WR of the present and future, but far more work needs to be done: Calvin Austin is an unrestricted free agent, 2024 third-rounder Roman Wilson hasn't managed to get anything going through two seasons, and it's safe to say Marquez Valdes-Scantling shouldn't be relied upon as a legit contributor in the year 2026.

Only the Giants, Browns, and Jets received a worse PFF team receiving grade than the Steelers in 2025. The team's once-formidable draft history at the position has fizzled in recent years, with George Pickens and Diontae Johnson being the only meaningful "hits" since JuJu Smith-Schuster back in 2017.

Adding one of free agency's top-tier field-stretchers like Alec Pierce or Rashid Shaheed in addition to a Day 1 or 2 pick at the position could quickly help turn around what currently looks like one of the most depressing depth charts in the league.

Honorable mention

Midseason addition S Kyle Dugger is hitting free agency, and the Steelers will also need some reinforcements at cornerback if they plan on fully featuring Jalen Ramsey as a safety in the future … Longtime stud defensive linemen TJ Watt and Cameron Heyward will be 32 and 37, respectively, next season … Team MVP/leader in receptions Kenneth Gainwell is hitting free agency.

If I were GM …

As much as Aaron Rodgers can still sling the rock when given the benefit of a clean pocket, new HC Mike McCarthy was brought in to find Pittsburgh’s first long-term solution at QB since Ben Roethlisberger retired. Rodgers has yet to decide his fate for next season, and McCarthy has talked up Howard’s potential. This is very much a fluid situation.

I'd use the team's first-round pick on a wide receiver–USC's Makai Lemon would be a dream to draft at No. 21–and then attempt to finally reset this roster for the future. The Steelers have eight players with a cap number in the 10 figures ahead of 2026, and four of them—Watt, Ramsey, Heyward and Jonnu Smith—are on the wrong side of 30. The time to attempt to get some draft capital for their services is NOW, especially if that could mean loading up on 2027 assets for a chance to get a crack at what could be an awfully good QB class.

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