The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to be an interesting team to watch in free agency during the 2026 offseason. It is hard to determine how the organization will approach things with a new head coach, but there are some areas on the roster that clearly need to be addressed. Wide receiver, left guard, all along the defensive line, and the secondary need to be figured out when it comes to depth, as well as starting-caliber players. That can be fixed either through the 2026 NFL Draft, free agency, or via trade as the franchise has a ton of draft capital at the moment.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan and Owner Art Rooney II on the field at a team practices while having a discussion.
One position Pittsburgh needed some help at in 2025 was safety. DeShon Elliott got injured and missed a lot of time, but he is expected to return and be a highly impactful player. Kyle Dugger and Chuck Clark also played significant roles at safety during certain points of the year, but neither player should be expected to return as both players are expected to hit free agency. The other player that stepped in at safety was Jalen Ramsey, and it is not a foregone conclusion that he will be on the roster in 2026. All of these factors could make safety a larger priority for the franchise, which is why the organization was projected to sign safety Bryan Cook by Greg Auman of Fox Sports.
"Cook, 26, is the model for low-key under-the-radar coverage skills without splash plays," Auman wrote. "He has three interceptions in four seasons in Kansas City, one sack and zero forced fumbles, but he's solid and consistent enough as a defender to be Pro Football Focus' No. 5 safety in 2025. What's tricky is the Chiefs have the least cap space of any NFL team, so they're going to have to let talented young players walk and must prioritize which, if any, they're able to extend."
Cook of the Kansas City Chiefs has not been a flashy player throughout his career, but he has been extremely effective in coverage and he is also a reliable tackler. He is an underrated player in the league, and Kansas City might not be able to extend him. He is considered a top five safety in the NFL by some, and the Steelers could certainly use a reliable guy like him back in coverage.
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Chiefs safety Bryan Cook runs out of the tunnel before a road game against the Tennessee Titans in 2025.
As one could imagine, the Chiefs are not in a great spot when it comes to cap space. Kansas City is currently over $50 million over the allocated cap space for the 2026 season, but that number should get a little better for the organization once the cap increase is announced. The franchise could also restructure Patrick Mahomes' contract, as well as some other players, in order to free up some space in 2026. Even with all of those moves, it will be hard to find money for a Cook extension.
Kansas City is facing the repercussions of being such a good team over the years. Good players cost a lot of money, which means eventually young talent is going to walk away in order to get paid.
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Chiefs' Bryan Cook drags down Khalil Shakir during a road game in Buffalo.
Steelers Should Have The Money For Bryan Cook
According to Spotrac, Cook's market value sits at roughly $14 million per season. He is projected to sign a four-year deal worth about $56.5 million, which is something the Steelers should be able to make happen. Pittsburgh currently has nearly $45 million in cap space, and few restructures and releases can make that number grow even larger.
All signs point to Cook hitting free agency, and while the Steelers should focus on building up the offensive side of the ball, Cook is an experienced and young defensive asset than cannot be missed. He is as reliable of a coverage safety as they come, and the Steelers' defense would immediately take a step forward with him on the roster.
Would you want to see Cook in Pittsburgh in 2026?
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