Steelers’ Overlooked Offseason Crisis Could Be Solved By Someone Familiar To Mike McCarthy

The Pittsburgh Steelers are going into the 2026 offseason with many positions of need. One that may be overlooked is at safety. Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft and free agency, many fans believe that the Steelers should immediately address the wide receiver position. However, the Steelers' safety room is depleted and needs to be addressed. The Steelers must do this if they want to maintain their winning ways this upcoming season. This situation might involve an NFL veteran that has a unique connection with new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy as well.

Former Dallas Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson is an attractive option for the Steelers' defense. The seven-year NFL veteran played under McCarthy where his potential was unlocked. The safety didn't start in 2019, before McCarthy was handed head coaching duties. The following season, Wilson started 10 games at strong safety for Dallas and had two interceptions along with 71 total tackles. Wilson has been a big part of Dallas' defense and could look to add veteran experience to the Steelers' lowly safety room. Wilson has been extremely durable too, starting all 17 games in 2024 and playing and starting in 15 in 2025. The Steelers' safeties have been plagued with injuries, including a season-ending ACL tear from DeShon Elliott. 

The Steelers' safeties generally underperformed in 2025. The group included the likes of Chuck Clark, Juan Thornhill (who was eventually released), and Kyle Dugger, who was acquired in a midseason trade with the New England Patriots.  After Elliott's season-ending injury, the Steelers relied on Jalen Ramsey to play his unnatural position at safety and made a splash acquiring Dugger. Dugger had some key moments throughout the season, especially with a pick-six against the Cleveland Browns in Week 6. However, the safety had some head-scratching moments that led to his usage going down towards the end of the season. Dugger misplayed some of his targets at times and is now a free agent. The Steelers are likely to let him walk in free agency. 

Wilson would immediately add the veteran presence that the Steelers missed out on without Elliott last year. The group is losing numbers as Clark, Dugger, and Jabrill Peppers are set to test the market. This leaves Elliott as the only pure safety on the Steelers' current roster which presents a huge problem. Wilson could immediately be an impact player for the Steelers' defense. The safety has experience playing strong and free safety and can be a versatile option with Elliott who is more of a strong safety. 

Steelers Need To Add More Than Just Wilson

The Steelers will still only have two true safeties on the team if they were to add Wilson or another veteran free agent. This brings the Steelers to possibly drafting a safety that can develop into a potential future starting role. The Steelers own the 21st overall pick and even have three third-round picks. They would be wise to use one of these picks to select a safety that they feel comfortable in developing or even plugging in right away. 

Some safeties that could be on their radar include Emmanuel McNeil-Warren from Toledo and Dillon Thieneman from Oregon. The Steelers need to do their due diligence and draft a safety purely out of necessity, even if it's a developmental player. The team lacks depth at the position and lacks youth there too. After trading Minkah Fitzpatrick ahead of the 2025 season, the safety position has been a carousel of players for the team. 

Who should the Steelers sign at safety? Should they draft one? Both? Let us know down below.

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