The Pittsburgh Steelers are facing a key offseason. With a new head coach for the first time in 19 years, the roster should – and needs to – be refreshed. While we’ll spend time over the next eight weeks considering which free agents and draft prospects fit best, it’s important to zoom out and consider the types of players Pittsburgh needs in the first place. From there, they can better target specific players who fit those needs. Even more focused than just “receiver” or “corner,” here are buckets of needs that come to mind.

This isn’t a completely exhaustive list, but the ones that pop into my head when thinking about the archetypes of players GM Omar Khan and company should add.

1. Route-Running Receiver

Receiver is an obvious need. But they come in all shapes and sizes. There’s value in adding another power forward-looking receiver opposite DK Metcalf. But the Steelers need a route runner more. Someone capable of beating man coverage and winning 1v1 matchups.

Pittsburgh hasn’t had that type of player since Diontae Johnson, and hasn’t had an elite receiver with that skillset since Antonio Brown. Too often, the Steelers’ offense struggled against great cornerbacks and man-heavy teams who simply blanketed Pittsburgh’s wideouts. The Cleveland Browns in Week 17, without DK Metcalf, and the Houston Texans in the Wild Card game are two prime examples.

Mike McCarthy should offer more creative passing schemes than Pittsburgh has had in years. Still, there are times when receivers simply have to shake loose of their coverage, and the roster is missing that guy right now.

2. Pass Rushing DE

Even with Keeanu Benton’s 2025 breakout that saw him rack up 5.5 sacks, the Steelers need another pass rusher. It doesn’t have to be a high-end starter, but a fourth member of the nickel rotation behind Cam Heyward, Derrick Harmon, and Benton. And Harmon himself must improve here.

For depth and injury protection, the Steelers need to add someone who can get after the quarterback. Even as a decent athlete, that’s not going to be Yahya Black’s game, and there isn’t much on the roster. Esezi Otomewo flashed a bit and got looks in passing packages last year, but he’s probably not the guy. He’s also a pending free agent.

3. Run-Stuffing NT

I haven’t forgotten about the importance of run defense or its need. Pittsburgh can and should acquire a pass-rushing three-tech and run-stuff zero/one-tech. For a roster set to carry at least seven next year, there’s plenty of space behind Heyward, Harmon, Benton, and Black.

After losing Daniel Ekuale to a torn ACL, Pittsburgh was on the hunt for one ahead of last year’s trade deadline, but struck out trying to acquire one. It remains a need. Someone to eat blocks against teams like Baltimore and Cleveland (led by former Raven Todd Monken with ex-Raven Travis Switzer as the OC, in case you’re wondering what type of offense they’re trying to run) and a league cycling back towards bigger bodies and the run game.

Benton hasn’t proven he can be a space eater, and if his struggles continue, the Steelers should seek options. This player doesn’t need to be a starter, but has to be ready off the bench.

4. Speed In Secondary

From a broader view here, the Steelers’ secondary needs to get faster. Pittsburgh felt too slow a season ago and struggled to run with speedy receivers. It’s one reason why the defense allowed far too many big plays in the passing game, ranking 28th since 2022.

One stat that excites me about new #Steelers DC Patrick Graham. Even with lesser talent, he limited big plays in the passing game. Stats from 2022-2025:

Raiders: 185 (8th)
Steelers: 218 (28th)

Pittsburgh’s gotta keep a lid on things in 2026. Graham’s shown he can do that.

— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) February 16, 2026

New defensive coordinator Patrick Graham might help, but he needs the talent to do so. That means getting faster across the secondary. No more over-the-hill cornerbacks. No safeties unable to cover ground and is stuck solely in a box role. Speed isn’t the end-all, but when it’s absent, everything else feels irrelevant.

5. Youth Infusion

Even broader for this bucket, Pittsburgh’s roster must get younger. The second-oldest group last year, the Steelers have a chance to lower the mean age. A dozen draft picks and potential roster purges could make the team one of the youngest in a hurry. This is a box Khan should easily check, but it’s one worth revisiting before September’s slate of action kicks off.

6. Potent Kick/Punt Returner

Finally, a big need for Pittsburgh that isn’t being discussed enough. The Steelers’ return game, especially on kicks, hasn’t been good enough and is lagging under NFL rules that are welcoming to returns again. In the two years under the new model, Pittsburgh has finished 28th and 32nd in kick return average. The Steelers’ last kick-return score came during JuJu Smith-Schuster’s rookie season in 2017.

Punt returns have been a little better, but not where they should be. In 2025, the Steelers finished 21st at 8.8 yards per return with a “long” of 25. Since 2020, the team has finished in the top ten just once. Mike McCarthy knows the value of a good return man. KaVonte Turpin in Dallas, Randall Cobb and Will Blackmon in Green Bay.