The offseason arrived earlier than the Pittsburgh Steelers, or their fans, wanted. However, it’s here nonetheless, and that means it’s already time to start thinking about reloading for the upcoming season.

Without further ado, I’ve ranked the Steelers’ biggest roster holes ahead of the 2025 offseason:

1. Quarterback

Do the Steelers have a good shot at fixing their quarterback woes this season? Not really. I’ll repeat the same reasons that have been floating around the Pittsburgh mediasphere all week: Russell Wilson and Justin Fields don’t look like long-term options, and the 2025 free agent and draft classes do not look promising when it comes to the quarterback position.

But regardless of how likely it is to be fixed, quarterback remains the Steelers’ biggest roster weakness. Expect this position to stay atop this list for a while.

That being said, the Steelers still need to bring in someone at quarterback for the upcoming season. It’s the most important position in football, and the only passer currently under contract for 2025 is Skylar Thompson.

2. Interior defensive line

Now for the first position the Steelers have a real shot at fixing in 2025: interior defensive line. It’s not the only position group worthy of the No. 2 spot, but we’ll give D-line the nod here due to positional value.

Cam Heyward had an All-Pro year in 2024, but he’s still inching closer to retirement. He was also Pittsburgh’s best interior defender by a mile in his age-35 season — the lone highlight on a unit that was bullied in the playoffs by the Ravens’ rushing attack.

Isaiahh Loudermilk is the Steelers’ only defensive lineman scheduled to hit free agency this offseason, but Larry Ogunjobi is a likely cap casualty following a disappointing 2024 and Keeanu Benton hasn’t quite developed into the long-term answer the Steelers drafted him to be.

Montravius Adams and Dean Lowry are solid depth pieces, but it’s clear that this position group needs an infusion of starting-caliber talent, especially when it comes to stopping the run. Pittsburgh would be wise to add multiple names to this group over the offseason, with at least one being a high-round draft pick or big-name free agent.

The good news is the Steelers are likely to address this roster hole. If the team continues to follow Andy Weidl’s trench-heavy approach, some investments on the D-line are due after two years of resources being poured into the offensive front.

3. Wide receiver

Wide receiver could’ve easily ranked higher on this list as it was the Steelers’ biggest roster deficiency in 2024. George Pickens remains a WR1/high end WR2, but the rest of the room is shockingly low on talent. Mike Williams, Van Jefferson, Scotty Miller, and Ben Skowronek are all slated to hit free agency as well, further drying up the Steelers’ resources at the position.

Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson will be around in 2025, but despite the former outperforming expectations in 2024, neither receiver looks like a future WR2. Like defensive line, the Steelers need a lot of new talent here over the offseason.

Given the Steelers’ repeated attempts to upgrade this position last year, chances are general manager Omar Khan will be trying again in 2025. Expect a big addition or two here over the offseason.

4. Defensive back

Putting defensive back so low on this list feels dismissive of how much the Steelers need to upgrade here in 2025. However, the top four spots are all essentially tied for first — Pittsburgh needs to spend significant resources on overhauling the secondary in the upcoming months.

Donte Jackson was a serviceable CB2 for much of 2024, but he fell apart down the stretch. Cam Sutton, brought in to upgrade the play in the slot and as a safety hybrid, was one of the worst cornerbacks in football. Both players are scheduled to hit free agency, but that also opens up two starting positions on the defense.

James Pierre and C.J. Henderson are also both free agents, while Cory Trice Jr. remains intriguing but equally unproven and injury-prone entering the 2025 season. Third safety Damontae Kazee, who was a consistent rotational player on defense, is also scheduled to be a free agent.

The Steelers need a starter on the boundary and in the slot, plus additions at depth positions just about everywhere in the secondary entering the offseason.

5. Running back

Here is where we (presumably) get out of possible first-round pick territory. Still, Najee Harris is a free agent and the chances of the Steelers bringing him back don’t look great given how the team declined his fifth-year option last year. Jaylen Warren is a restricted free agent, and much more likely to be back even if it isn’t guaranteed.

Warren is an exciting talent, but the Steelers are still in need of a feature back — especially if the team continues to pursue Arthur Smith’s run-first philosophy. It’s not a great free agent class at the position, but the second round of the draft could be a prime spot to pick up the team’s next starting running back. If Harris doesn’t return, expect the Steelers to prioritize another big runner with a bit more burst to excel in a zone run system.

6. Offensive line

With how poorly the Steelers’ offensive line performed in 2024, you’d expect this position group to rank as a higher priority. However, the Steelers spent the last two seasons adding somewhat spendy free agents and high-pedigree draft picks at this position. They could move in a different direction in 2025, especially as the starting lineup for the upcoming season is likely already on the roster: Broderick Jones, Isaac Seumalo, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, and Troy Fautanu.

Still, Dan Moore Jr., Calvin Anderson, James Daniels, Nate Herbig, and Max Scharping are all scheduled free agents, meaning the Steelers will absolutely have to update the depth across the board. There are still plenty of questions everywhere except center, meaning there’s a chance Pittsburgh could be looking at future starters as well (I’m not the most confident in Mason McCormick as a year 2 starter). However, there are just too many needs elsewhere to make O-line a top roster priority in 2025.

7. Inside linebacker

Now we get to roster needs that are closer to luxury picks. Is inside linebacker a huge roster need entering 2025? Not really. But that doesn’t mean the Steelers should ignore it, either.

Pittsburgh seems to have its starting duo of the future with Patrick Queen playing nearly every defensive snap in 2024 and Payton Wilson having a promising rookie season.

Still, depth is a question. Run-stuffer Elandon Roberts and special-teamer Tyler Matakevich are both free agents, while Cole Holcomb, who missed all of 2024 with an injury, is a possible cap casualty — his health status remains unclear as well.

Fortunately for the Steelers, the run-stuffing linebacker market isn’t overly expensive. It remains to be seen who Pittsburgh adds or re-signs, but the team should have a solid inside linebacker room in 2025.

8. Tight end

The Steelers’ top two tight ends don’t look bad at all on paper with Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington providing solid skillsets in the receiving game and run game, respectively.

But Arthur Smith uses more than just two tight ends, with MyCole Pruitt and Connor Heyward both seeing notable snaps in 2024. Heyward had a rough season while Pruitt is a free agent. A depth upgrade could be coming in 2025.

9. Outside linebacker

The Steelers’ pass rush disappointed in 2024, but it’s still far from a weakness with T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig all under contract for the upcoming season.

Still, injuries were a problem at outside linebacker last season, meaning depth at this position group is something to monitor. OLB4 Preston Smith was underutilized in 2024 and is a likely cap casualty. OLB5 Jeremiah Moon is an ERFA who is likely to return, but he offers far more on special teams than on defense. The Steelers could look for a bottom-of-the-depth-chart upgrade this offseason.

10. Specialist

If this article wasn’t listing every position group on the Steelers, there’d be no reason to include the specialists. Kicker Chris Boswell, punters Cameron Johnston and Corliss Waitman, and long-snapper Christian Kuntz are all under contract for the upcoming season, and all performed well in 2024. The Steelers have a decision to make a punter considering how well Waitman played and Johnston’s health, but Pittsburgh’s specialist room is in good shape entering the new season.

In your opinion, which position groups are the Steelers’ biggest needs ahead of the offseason? Who should the team prioritize in free agency? Let us know in the comments!