Steelers' Unjustified Loyalty May Force Pittsburgh To Miss Out On Pair Of Alluring Free Agents

The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the more interesting teams going into the 2025 offseason. There are a lot of areas on the roster that are up in the air, and the quarterback situation is still a mystery. The Steelers have so many holes it is hard to tell which position the organization will be prioritizing the most throughout free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft. A few areas of concern for the Steelers are quarterback, wide receiver, cornerback, running back, and pretty much every position along the defensive line. It is nearly impossible to fix all of those problems in one offseason, but the Steelers will certainly try.

The Steelers will need to upgrade the roster one step at a time, and that starts with free agency once the new league year opens up in March. Free agency will open up on March 12th, and the Steelers are expected to be a bit aggressive as the organization is in the top 10 when it comes to cap space for the 2025 season. Every fan wants to know exactly how the franchise will spend that money, and what positions will be prioritized. 

Without being in the building, it is impossible to know the answer to that, but team insider Gerry Dulac was able to provide some insight for fans in his most recent chat.

"WR tops." Dulac wrote when asked which position would be the top priority in free agency.

General Manager Omar Khan tried throughout training camp in 2024 to land a top-tier wide receiver for the Steelers, but ultimately that dream never came to fruition. During the 2025 offseason he will be pursuing the position again in free agency, and the Steelers have money to spend. Dulac added some more reasoning as to why receiver is more of a priority than cornerback.

"I will tell you they like Cory Trice." Dulac wrote.

The secondary was a problem for the Steelers during the 2024 season, and it is likely that the team lets Donte Jackson walk in free agency. Pittsburgh desperately needs a quality cornerback to pair with Joey Porter Jr., as well as an upgrade in the slot. 

Cory Trice Jr. made his NFL debut in 2024, but he ended up missing the majority of the season after missing his entire rookie year in 2023. Cornerback is a position of extreme vulnerability in Pittsburgh. Relying on Trice at that spot after he has only been healthy and available for six games over two seasons is completely asinine.

It is great to know the front office is going to focus on getting another weapon in the passing game, but there also needs to be a focus to improve the secondary. Charvarius Ward and DJ Reed are both great cover corners, and neither player would break the bank. Each player has already said they plan to leave their former teams, and the Steelers would be a great fit for either corner.

Steelers Need To Spend Big In Free Agency

Pittsburgh has a ton of cap space moving forward, and the front office needs to be willing to spend. It is completely feasible for the organization to make a splash at wide receiver while also acquiring either Ward or Reed. Ward is projected to sign a three-year deal worth roughly $45 million, while Reed is expected to get a four-year contract worth $58 million. 

Each player would cost roughly the same per season, but Ward has been an All-Pro before while being engrained in the fabric of two winning cultures with the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. Trice cannot be a reason Pittsburgh does not get aggressive in acquiring a cornerback. The young corner can be a great depth, but he needs to play more games before being relied upon to start consistently.

What do you think the Steelers should do at cornerback? Let us know in the comments below!

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