Two Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers are among Over the Cap’s annual list of 100 cut candidates this offseason. Patrick Queen and Malik Harrison made Nick Korte’s list. While Korte acknowledges far fewer than 100 players will be cut this offseason, some who populate his list will be looking for new homes in 2026.

Korte’s list comes without player-by-player analysis, though he lists the contracts for every name. Queen signed a three-year, $41 million deal ahead of the 2024 season. A contract that remains the largest for any outside free agent signing in Steelers history, though WR DK Metcalf’s trade demanded a bigger payday.

Through two seasons, Queen’s play has been mixed. While he’s showed sideline-to-sideline range, improved team communication as the “green dot” wearer, and has gotten hot with a handful of impressive outings, he’s also struggled in coverage and failed to make consistent high-impact plays he was expected to provide. In 2024 and 2025 combined, Queen has three forced fumbles, two sacks, and zero interceptions. Missed tackles have been among his biggest problems, easily the team leader in aggregate and among the worst offenders in percentage.

While Queen hasn’t always met expectations, it’s hard to imagine Pittsburgh cutting ties with him. Payton Wilson isn’t trusted enough to play the run, and Harrison isn’t equipped to play in sub-packages.

Harrison is also on Korte’s potential chopping block. Signed to a two-year, $10 million contract ahead of 2025, he was added as a younger version of Elandon Roberts. A downhill thumper who, unlike Roberts, could play a heavy dose of special teams snaps. A knee injury cost Harrison time early in the year but he’s since returned to play in Pittsburgh’s base 3-4 and “big personnel” packages. He finished the season with 41 tackles in 11 games with a missed tackle rate even higher than Queen’s.

While his role is more narrow and a niche one, his contract is small and it’s doubtful the Steelers will feel motivated enough to cut him.

Notable names on Korte’s list from around the league include New York Jets QB Justin Fields, Tennessee Titans WR Calvin Ridley, Baltimore Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey, and Minnesota Vikings DL Javon Hargrave.

Free agency for the 2026 season officially begins March 11 at 4 PM/EST, though the legal tampering window opens 48 hours prior.