Jan. 26 is the NFL’s Championship Sunday — one of the better football days of the year, but one that’s once again without the Steelers.
Still, if you want something to keep your mind on the black and gold while watching the games, I’ve singled out one pending unrestricted free agent from every team who will be playing on Sunday, highlighting names that could make sense for Pittsburgh.
So, while you enjoy watching the best teams in football duke it out for a chance at a Super Bowl, you can start scouting for the offseason:
NFC Championship: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Commanders
How to watch: FOX, 3 p.m. ET
Eagles DT Milton Williams
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
View every pending Eagles free agent on Spotrac.
Williams meets a couple of important criteria for the Steelers: he fits a huge position of need for Pittsburgh, and his odds of landing back in Philadelphia aren’t great given the Eagles’ embarrassment of riches on the D-line.
Williams has recorded five sacks this season to go along with seven tackles for loss. He’s been durable, playing 67 regular season games in his four years in Philadelphia, and he’s only 25 years old coming off the best season of his career. The 6’3, 290-pound interior lineman is a good pass-rusher who could provide some juice to an aging Steelers defensive line.
Milton Williams ranked 2nd in pressure rate among NFL DTs this season, per @NextGenStats. He also ranked 6th in positive rush rate among all qualifying DTs.
Here he is winning against Elgton Jenkins to get a 3rd down pressure yesterday. pic.twitter.com/c7CSK6Wh7v
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) January 13, 2025
Williams isn’t going to be cheap as one of the top defensive linemen set to hit the open market, but the Steelers and former Eagles Vice President of Player Personnel Andy Weidl might have some interest.
Also considered: RB Kenneth Gainwell, CBs Isaiah Rodgers and Avonte Maddox, RG Mekhi Becton.
Commanders CB Noah Igbinoghene
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
View every pending Commanders free agent on Spotrac.
Igbinoghene is a likely candidate to re-sign with Washington, but if he doesn’t, he’d be an immediate free agent target for the Steelers. A former first-round bust with the Miami Dolphins, Igbinoghene has developed into a starting caliber slot cornerback in Dan Quinn’s Washington defense.
Igbinoghene hasn’t had much interception production, but he played in all 17 regular season games in 2024, starting 10 and recording 55 total tackles and seven passes defensed. Targeted 71 times, he allowed a passer rating of 86.4 and just 397 yards.
His tape shows a player who’s sticky and aggressive in man coverage while still struggling at times in zone. But at just 25 years old with 4.48 speed, his career is on an upward trajectory. Outside of the cream of the crop at cornerback in this year’s free agent class, Igbinoghene would give the Steelers a young upgrade in the slot while not breaking the bank.
Also considered: WRs Dyami Brown and Noah Brown, RB Jeremy McNichols, OT Cornelius Lucas.
AFC Championship: Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs
How to watch: CBS, 6:30 p.m. ET
Bills WR Amari Cooper
Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images
View every pending Bills free agent on Spotrac.
Cooper hasn’t done much with the Bills since being traded to Buffalo from Cleveland midseason. That could be a cause for worry, but it also drives Cooper’s price down as an impending free agent, and it speaks volumes of his character considering how Cooper hasn’t seemed to care one bit about his limited role in the Bills’ offense. He just wants to win.
Even more surprising? Cooper is just 30 years old and still has plenty of good football in front of him even if it seems like he’s been in the league forever. And he’s just one year removed from back to back 1,200-plus yard seasons in 2022 and 2023 with struggling Browns’ offenses. While the Steelers need to get younger in many aspects this season, pairing a proven veteran WR2 like Cooper with George Pickens might be a great fit for the Pittsburgh offense.
Also considered: CB Rasul Douglas, DT Jordan Phillips.
Chiefs OG Trey Smith
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
View every pending Chiefs free agent on Spotrac.
We’ll be ending this list with one of the priciest players in 2025’s free agent class. Smith, also just 25, is coming off a career year and his first ever Pro Bowl selection. He’s a rising star and an absolute road grader in the run game at right guard.
With the Steelers seemingly set to let right guard James Daniels walk in free agency, it seems unlikely that they’d turn around to pay big money to another free agent guard. But Mason McCormick didn’t run away with the starting job in 2024, and if Pittsburgh wants to continue to build up the trenches and have a successful, run-first offense, Smith is the guy.
Also considered: WR Marquise Brown, OLB Josh Uche, OG Mike Caliendo, DT Mike Pennel.
Which players will you be watching closely on Championship Sunday? Let us know in the comments!
