Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk in a playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 12, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers were fairly active on the first day of the 2026 NFL free agent contact period, making one trade and signing two starters to big-money contracts.
But they certainly aren’t done yet. What positions does Omar Khan still need to address going forward and what are some realistic free agent targets for him to work with on the second day of free agency and beyond?
Let’s dive in:
SLOT WIDE RECEIVER
The Steelers took care of their Z wide receiver position with the acquisition of Michael Pittman Jr. on Monday, and the X had already been locked up by DK Metcalf. What they still need is a slot and a player that can be a backup outside.
They do have Roman Wilson in the fold, but with just 12 career catches, I doubt the Steelers staff is counting on him being a major contributor.
So who are some fits in the slot that remain in free agency?
Deebo Samuel
San Francisco 49ers wid receiver Deebo Samuel against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sept. 12, 2023. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Deebo Samuel had a bit of a bounce-back year in 2025 with the Washington Commanders, after struggling in his final season with the San Francisco 49ers in 2024. His catch percentage jumped from 63% to 73%, and while his average depth of target also dropped, that’s not necessarily a deal-break for a player that does his best work along the line of scrimmage.Â
At 30 years old, Samuel is probably transitioning from bona fide star to bit-part player, but with Metcalf and Pittman in the pecking order ahead of him, that’s all he’d have to be in Pittsburgh.
Tyreek Hill
Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill (10) runs during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
Nobody knows if or when Tyreek Hill will be healthy again after a gruesome knee injury ended his 2025 season in Week 4. He said at Super Bowl LX that he was in his second week of walking with out a brace on, so it is possible that he is ready to play by the beginning of the season.
If that turns out to be the case, Hill could be a steal. Even though he hasn’t lived up to his previous video-game numbers the last two seasons, he’s still averaging a 1,000-yard season pace over his last 21 games.
Christian Kirk
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 30, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The Steelers have always seemed to have a fondness for signing players that performed well against them in the recent past, and wounds left behind by Christian Kirk from the Steelers’ Wild Card playoff loss to the Houston Texans are still fresh.
The Steelers tried to trade for Kirk in 2024 and likely would have if not for a broken collarbone that he suffered just before the trade deadline. He played 73% of his snaps in the slot for the Texans last year
Jalen Tolbert
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert celebrates during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 6, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Much like Rico Dowdle, Tolbert was a player that was spotted by Mike McCarthy in Dallas. He joined the Cowboys as a third-round pick in 2022 and immediately became one of the team’s top receiving threats. Tolbert saw his role in Dallas reduced in 2024 with George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb slotted ahead of him, but that also meant he got some additional experience playing the slot, where he could also be a god fit for the Steelers, who liked him coming out of South Alabama in 2o22, but he ended up falling in between the two slots the Steelers used on a wide receiver in that draft class.
Calvin Austin III
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III in a game against the Baltimore Ravens on Jan. 4, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Speaking of which, the Steelers could also opt to bring back the second receiver from that draft class, Calvin Austin III. Things have been quiet for Austin so far in free agency, although that doesn’t always signify a lack of interest.
The Steelers couldn’t necessarily know what kind of wide receiver they were going to be able to land early in free agency — the Pittman move couldn’t happen until the Colts locked up Alec Pierce, and that was far from guaranteed to take place — but now that they have, it sure looks like Austin is going to be a pretty good fit as a third wide receiver in the Pittsburgh offense in 2026.Â
STARTING LEFT GUARD
Isaac Seumalo departed for the Arizona Cardinals on a three-year deal that the Steelers somewhat understandably chose not to match for the oft-injured 32-year-old. But it’s one thing to say it’s a good idea to pass on a deal, it’s another to find one that fits.
Here are some options for the Steelers in free agency:
Dillon Radunz
Tennesse Titans tackle Dillon Radunz blocks Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt on Nov. 2, 2023. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
A former second-round pick of the Tennessee Titans, Dillon Radunz spent the 2025 season with the New Orleans Saints, where he played with current Steelers assistant offensive line coach Jahri Evans.
A converted tackle, Radunz is a better pass protector than a run blocker, allowing just one sack last season for the Saints, per PFF. That seems like an ideal fit for the new Steelers offense.
Elgton Jenkins
Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins (No. 74, center) in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 26, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
While he didn’t play for Mike McCarthy or James Campen during his time with the Green Bay Packers, Elgton Jenkins was a teammate of Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.
A two-time Pro Bowler at left guard, the Packers tried to move him to center in 2025. It didn’t necessarily go terribly, but he did not have the same impact he’s had in the past, and then had his season cut short due to injury.Â
Because he was released by the Packers, he won’t count against the compensatory draft pick formula.
Chris Paul
Another converted tackle, Chris Paul is another player that brings pass-protection expertise to Pittsburgh. He allowed two sacks last season, per PFF, and was also penalized only twice in a very efficient season. Assistant head coach Joe Whitt Jr. was in Washington with Paul the last two years.
Joel Bitonio
Cleveland Browns captain Joel Bitonio blocks for quarterback Dillion Gabriel in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 12, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
There’s no two ways around it, Joel Bitonio is old. He’ll turn 35 years old next season. But he’s also still been very productive, and as long as he’s not looking for a long-term commitment from a team, could be a very good fit.
Even though he’s older, Bitonio has been super reliable. He’s missed two NFL games since 2016, and he’s routinely graded as one of the best pass-blocking linemen in the league. It would definitely be a bit weird for a 12-year Browns player to join the Steelers, but it’s hard to argue he’d be a bad fit.
SOME KIND OF SAFETY
The Steelers made a big improvement in their station at cornerback on Monday, signing free agent starter Jamel Dean and also bringing back Asante Samuel Jr. When combined with Joey Porter Jr. and Brandin Echols returning, that’s a pretty solid cornerbacks room.
That also likely means that Jalen Ramsey will be playing safety in 2026, which is fine — the was probably best there in 2025 — but it’s only Ramsey, a returning-from-injury DeShon Elliott and former UDFA Sebastian Castro on the Steelers’ depth chart at safety right now.
With the current trend in the NFL being three-safety Nickel packages, the Steelers barely have enough bodies to roll one out. Here’s how they can add to the room.
Jaquan Brisker
Chicago Bears strong safety Jaquan Brisker during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 23, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
A Pittsburgh native and Penn State alum, Jaquan Brisker is probably the highest-priced and best free agent option left on the safety market after several top talents were plucked on Monday. That might make being the third wheel in the safety room a hard sell, but there’s no question that Brisker would be a solid upgrade for the Steelers.
Geno Stone
Baltimore Ravens safety Geno Stone in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 8, 2023. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Another Western Pennsylvania native — Geno Stone is from New Castle — the Steelers could do a lot with the ball-hawking Stone, who has already played in the AFC North for the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Donovan Wilson
Donovan Wilson has been a career-long member of the Dallas Cowboys, but with the Cowboys in a tough salary cap situation, even a team captain like Wilson could be on the way out the door.
The Steelers could capitalize on his familiarity with the coaching staff and experience, and the fact that he’s played both safety positions, which makes him an ideal fit alongside the expected-to-move-around Ramsey and still-recovering Elliott.
Kyle Dugger
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Kyle Dugger during a game against the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 2, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The Steelers added Kyle Dugger at the trade deadline and asked him to be a fill-in starter while Elliott was hurt. It didn’t go terribly, but it didn’t go well enough that people are going to be beating the door down to have Dugger be their starter in 2026, either. He could be a candidate to return to Pittsburgh in a lesser role this fall.
Mentioned In This Article: Calvin Austin III Chris Paul Christian Kirk Deebo Samuel Dillon Radunz Donovan Wilson Elgton Jenkins Geno Stone Jalen Tolbert Jaquan Brisker Joel Bitonio Kyle Dugger Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers top Tyreek Hill