The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to be very active in free agency, as they currently have about $47 million in cap space, and they have the ability to create a lot more space if needed. However, that does not mean they will overpay for certain players, as General Manager Omar Khan does not get too aggressive in that regard. That means a lot of top targets like Alec Pierce and Malik Willis most likely will not be in Pittsburgh in 2026. There will be some big additions; there likely just won't be anything too big or too wild.
Associated Press
Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis throwing a pass against the Baltimore Ravens in a 2025 NFL game.
While making an appearance on MMQB, NFL insider Albert Breer mentioned another target that is linked to the Steelers that they most likely will not be able to get due to cost, and he explained why that is.
"I look at the receivers; I think Romeo Doubs can get close to $20 [million per year]," Breer said. "That sounds like a lot, but same as with [Alec] Pierce. He's a young, ascending player, and you're not paying for what a guy was the last couple of years. You're paying for what you think he can be."
Many people would consider that line of thinking to be bad business: to pay for potential instead of reality. Those people are likely right, but in a league that has these intense bidding wars like the NFL, that's the mindset. They are risking a lot of money and potential job security to get a player that they believe can take a step forward and truly help them make it to a Super Bowl. Romeo Doubs could be one of those players.
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Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs works to catch a pass from Aaron Rodgers in his rookie training camp in 2022 with the Green Bay Packers.
That is not how Khan and the Steelers operate. Sure, they are likely very interested in Doubs and will do their due diligence, but they don't like to get into bidding wars. At $20 million per year, they will likely just pass on him and look at what a player like Jauan Jennings or Mike Evans might cost. Even with all the money they have, they still want to spend it smartly, especially if they feel the need to pay big for a quarterback.
Doubs had his best season in 2025, but it's still likely not worth $20 million per year. He had 55 receptions for 724 yards and six touchdowns, while also posting a career-low in drops with just two. That is a very respectable season for sure, but for the price tag that he may command, along with alleged maturity issues he dealt with before, that may not be worth it. He would need to be closer to about 900 receiving yards.
CBS on NFL
DK Metcalf of the Pittsburgh Steelers grabs a fan aggressively confronts him during a professional football game in Detroit, MI.
In fact, the Steelers already have a rough wide receiver contract, as DK Metcalf was not nearly as good as expected in his first year in Pittsburgh. The team gave up a second-round pick to get him and gave him top-five wide receiver money, although his stats are around top-30 depending on the exact metric. The Steelers don't need to sign a wideout and hope he takes a big step forward; they need to sign a player that is already doing great and will continue to play exceptionally well.
Steelers Are Playing A Very Tough Game In Free Agency
What the Steelers are looking for is a player that is currently great, but also will not demand a massive overpayment. That is a very tough task, as free agency encourages bidding wars for some of these star players. Teams get very desperate and will do whatever they believe is necessary to become a contender. There may be a team like the New Orleans Saints that think they need Doubs no matter what. Pittsburgh will happily let them have him for that price.
What do you think about Doubs being priced out of the Steelers' range? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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