Insider Lists 3 Steelers Starters Under Contract That Could Be Gone In 2026 After Coaching Regime Change

The Pittsburgh Steelers are not used to the process of hiring a head coach. It has only happened three times dating back to 1969, and the current search in 2026 is just the fourth experience that the franchise has had to deal with in essentially five and a half decades. The goal isn't just to bring in a new leader of the locker room, however. With a new face running the show, a lot of personnel decisions will be made. This could lead to a variety of changes on the depth chart, and some of them could come as a complete shock to the fan base.

Mike Tomlin making the decision to step away from the organization wasn't necessarily a surprise. There had been murmurs for months about what he may decide to do regardless of how the Steelers' season ended. Following an ugly postseason defeat at the hands of the Houston Texans, the future Hall of Famer officially set down his headset as the head coach in Pittsburgh.

There won't be much movement from a roster standpoint until a new head coach is officially hired. Even then, it will take some time for that individual and the front office to get on the same page about specific players that may not be a part of the future. Mark Kaboly knows the team well, and in a recent mailbag posted to his X account, acknowledged that three guys under contract for 2026 may find themselves looking for work.

"It’s going to depend on who they hire, but there is a list of free agents and veterans that have to be considered," Kaboly wrote. "Off the top of my head, I’d say Jonnu Smith, Jalen Ramsey, and potentially Patrick Queen would be on the top of that list. If Cam Heyward wants to come back, then he will come back. They aren’t going to, nor should they trade T.J. Watt. Some of the free agents-to-be you have to look at are Isaac Seumalo, Kenny Gainwell, Calvin Austin III, and Connor Heyward."

Jonnu Smith was clearly a favorite of Arthur Smith throughout the 2025 campaign. It led to head-scratching usage of Pat Freiermuth, which certainly affected the offense. The tight end room is bound to change in the Steel City, specifically because Arthur Smith is not expected back. In turn, that could lead to Jonnu Smith becoming a cap causalty. This would lead to roughly $7 million in savings, but $3.8 million in dead cap.

Jalen Ramsey is a fascinating name to mention. The veteran performed well for the majority of the year, particularly when he moved to safety. That is what will be expected of him in the latter stages of his career. What is staggering, however, is that releasing him would result in nearly $20 million in cap savings with no caveats. That may be too good to pass up, and the Steelers could select a safety very high in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Patrick Queen performed well at times in his second campaign with Pittsburgh. He will be entering the final season of a three-year contract that he signed in 2024 free agency. He also is an attractive candidate to cut for financial reasons. The Steelers would incur a dead cap hit of under $4 million, but end up saving over $13 million, per Over The Cap.

Steelers Will Be Making Surprising Moves All Offseason

Fans in Pittsburgh are not accustomed to a head coaching change. There will be plenty of shifting when it comes to the staff and roster. Depending no who is hired, several big names could find themselves playing elsewhere is 2026. For Ramsey, a potential hire of Anthony Weaver could lead to him sticking around, as the two worked together in 2024 when members of the Miami Dolphins.

Do you think the Steelers will cut Jonnu Smith, Ramsey and/or Queen? Let us know in the comments below!

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