Steelers Have 3 Must-Sign Free Agents That Omar Khan Cannot Let Leave Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to look a whole lot different once the 2026 season rolls around. For starters, it will not be Mike Tomlin on the sideline, and the team will have a new head coach running the show. On top of that, there are several roster decisions that need to be made that could shape the future of the organization. With plenty of soon-to-be free agents on the roster and another group of individuals that could find themselves cut or traded, General Manager Omar Khan is going to have undoubtedly his most difficult offseason as the head of the franchise's front office.

A couple of the Steelers' unsung heroes from the 2025 campaign will be looking to cash in on bigger contracts in 2026. Pittsburgh will have a decent amount of cap space to work with, so signing specific contributors before the new league year kicks off in March should be a priority for Khan and co. There are some specific individuals that the team cannot let walk out the door, which will now be more difficult after the departure of Tomlin.

1.) Kenneth Gainwell - Running Back

One of the more surprising seasons throughout the entire NFL had to be put together by Kenneth Gainwell. Not only did he eclipse 1,000 all-purpose yards, but he was one of the Steelers' best receivers. He proved that he can be a do-it-all type running back, and ended up being named the organization's Most Valuable Player in the process.

The ball carrier will be 27 in March, and still has some good years left. The issue is that if he gets to the free agency period, there is most likely going to be some team, or several, that present more intriguing offers. Khan would be wise to try and wrap this up prior to then, specifically because it doesn't seem as if there is any faith in Kaleb Johnson.

2.) James Pierre - Cornerback

Not many fans would have expected someone like James Pierre to land on this list at the beginning of the 2025 season. Normally just looked at as a special teams ace, the veteran stepped up once everything for Darius Slay began to go south. The Steelers will still need to address this position, but getting Pierre back on a simple two-year contract would be great for both familiarity and depth.

3.) Asante Samuel Jr. - Cornerback

Aside from Joey Porter Jr., Pittsburgh is going to have some challenges in the secondary when it comes to covering top wide receivers. During his short stint in the Steel City, Asante Samuel Jr. proved that he had fully recovered from offseason surgery in 2025. He still is a very talented player who could benefit from staying in the same city.

The Steelers might not have to pay him too much, and could get a bargain overall when it comes to inking him to a two-year deal. If he outplays that in 2026, then he would be an easy candidate to extend come the 2027 offseason.

Steelers Can't Forget About Their Other Special Teams Ace

Miles Killebrew suffered a season-ending knee injury early on, which was a big loss due to his ability to get down the field on punts and kickoffs, as well as his special trait of blocking punts. As long as he is recovering smoothly and wants to continue playing, it would make a lot of sense for Pittsburgh to re-sign him and keep him around. He also was a team captain, which speaks volumes about how his teammates in the locker room view him.

Who do you think the Steelers need to have as their top priorities to re-sign before free agency kicks off? Let us know in the comments below!

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