The Pittsburgh Steelers could have a decent amount of roster turnover before the 2026 season as some players could be cut, while there are a few possible retirements that are up in the air as well. Free agency will be interesting as Pittsburgh has some important players scheduled to hit the open market, and the franchise is also expected to have 12 selections during the 2026 NFL Draft. New head coach Mike McCarthy has a strong offensive mind, which could factor into the organization's style when building a roster moving forward. It will be interesting to see what changes are made with the personnel in Pittsburgh.
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Steelers' new head coach, Mike McCarthy and General Manager Omar Khan during the 2026 offseason.
Pittsburgh has a few positions that obviously need an upgrade, or will at the very least need to be addressed during the 2026 offseason. One is wide receiver, and that is probably the biggest weakness on the roster. The others come on the defensive line, at cornerback, and possibly running back and quarterback.
The necessity to add at quarterback will depend on whether or not Aaron Rodgers decides to come back, and the same can be said at running back with Kenneth Gainwell set to hit free agency. Draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah broke down the top prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft, and his analysis gives Pittsburgh a pretty good idea of how to attack each position.
I'm working my way through all of the tape for the combine invites. This draft is excellent at DL and WR. Not a stacked QB/RB draft. FA/trade might be the way to go at those positions.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) February 12, 2026
The draft might not be the best way to approach needs at running back or quarterback, and that might be for the best as Pittsburgh needs to focus on drafting young talent at wide receiver and along the defensive line. If Pittsburgh loses both Gainwell and Rodgers, they could be combing through the trade market or free agency looking for replacements.
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Steelers' Kenneth Gainwell looks on after big time game in Dublin, Ireland in the 2025 NFL season.
When it comes to Gainwell, he is coming off of a one-year deal where he barely made more than the veteran minimum. He was named Team MVP for his performance during the 2025 season, and he should absolutely want to test the open market to see what he could earn. The Steelers would still have Jaylen Warren and Kaleb Johnson, but it won't be easy for the organization to rely on Johnson moving forward due to his extremely underwhelming rookie season.
Free agency would probably be the best spot to look for a running back to bring in to pair with Warren. There is already an existing connection between McCarthy and running back Rico Dowdle, while other interesting names that are set to be available include Tyler Allgeier and Rachaad White. Pittsburgh should do everything it can to keep Gainwell from getting to free agency, but the back should want to test his value to see what he can get on the open market.
Steelers' Quarterback Situation Could Be A Non-Issue
If Rodgers comes back to play in 2026, the Steelers really don't have anything to worry about at quarterback. The franchise will be in the same spot as it was in 2025, but that isn't the biggest problem. The problem occurs if and when Rodgers decides to retire, or if he decides to continue playing, just not for the Steelers.
Then the Steelers are stuck with just Mason Rudolph and Will Howard under contract for the 2026 season. Fans want to see Howard get a chance to start, but that just doesn't seem realistic.
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Steelers QB Will Howard during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Outside of the draft, Pittsburgh's options would include players like Kyler Murray, while the free agent market pretty much just revolves around Malik Willis. The Steelers also have plenty of late-round picks in 2026, so drafting a developmental quarterback is an option, but that would likely amount to nothing.
What do you think about the Steelers' choices at running back and quarterback? Let us know in the comments below!
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