The Pittsburgh Steelers have a daunting offseason ahead of them after another year went by without a playoff win. We know Mike Tomlin will be returning, but what of the roster? How can they build a team that can win games in January? Well, here’s 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 cut

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

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

Notable players to sign

QB Justin Fields: 2 years, $30 million
CB D.J. 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

Trades

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 has played his last down with the Steelers. The constant drama and immaturity is more than he is worth, frankly, and they can reunite Justin Fields with his college teammate and one of the most talented receivers in football who is ready for a change of scenery in Garrett Wilson.

In terms of Sutton, the Steelers tried to acquire the Broncos wideout on multiple occasions last offseason, and he was seeking a new contract. Ultimately, he stayed in Denver and didn’t hold out, but he is entering the final year of his deal. The Steelers send the second-round pick they got in exchange for Pickens to land Sutton, and tack on a short-term extension to spread out that cap hit.

Ultimately, loading up the offense is the most important task this offseason. You can’t give a middle-of-the pack quarterback bottom-tier weapons and expect greatness. Give Fields multiple go-to targets and see if he can take advantage of it. If he can’t, he isn’t the guy. If he can, then your search for a quarterback is over. Either way, you’ll know and have a good group of weapons in place for whomever 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 great balance of downhill power and shifty, breakaway speed. The trades for receivers also give the Steelers 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 backup quarterback to Fields, and maybe give him a shot in 2026 if Fields isn’t the guy.

Overall, this offseason should be about aggression and getting as much firepower as possible. If they do that, they’ll be in position to get a better grasp on their quarterback situation going forward and have a great group of weapons in place for whomever that will be.