The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to be very active in the 2026 free agency market. With the legal tampering period opening up very soon, the team has yet to re-sign any of its own players. Even though it will most likely make a deal with one, or more, of those players before other teams can legally talk to them, nearly everyone else will be allowed to test the open market. This should be a very active and interesting offseason for a team that will have to go through an aggressive retool to try and stay competitive.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers’ General Manager Omar Khan intently making a crucial phone call during the intensity of draft night, coordinating key decisions to shape the future of the franchise.
Even with General Manager Omar Khan being more aggressive than his former boss Kevin Colbert, this may be a disappointing free agency period for Steeler Nation. X data analyst SFdata9ers revealed just how little the Steelers have spent in guarantees via free agency over the last five years, even with the change in the front office, via OverTheCap.
How much fully guaranteed money has each team handed out in free agency since 2021?
— SFdata9ers🏈📊 (@sfdata9ers) March 6, 2026
Lowest full‑guarantee commitments:
GB $142M
PIT $174M
CLE $228M
SF $239M
CIN $240M https://t.co/SiBV8e4TVP pic.twitter.com/GY4mJ3PvNT
The Steelers still refuse to give out a ton of guaranteed money to free agents. They have started doing so with their own players at least, but they still want to make sure that anyone they sign can be released easily if things go south quickly. In theory, it's a great strategy to play it safe with veterans that may or may not mesh well in your scheme. There is a downside to this idea, however.
Steelers.com / Youtube
Steelers' General Manager Omar Khan speaking with the Pittsburgh media.
Free agents know this trend about the Steelers, and that may make them not want to sign with Pittsburgh. Money talks, and in the NFL, guaranteed money talks more. Many players would be willing to take a pay cut if it allows them to get more fully guaranteed money with no strings attached. That is not how the Steelers roll, and if they wants the best options on the open market, they may have to change that tendency soon.
There are other guarantees in there, like roster bonuses and incentives; however, those are not fully guaranteed. Players are regularly cut before their roster bonuses are due for a specific year, and some incentives require amazing stretches of play. Full guarantees are the most important thing that players look for, so if the Steelers don't start giving more out, they will end up going back to the bargain bin in hopes of finding an under-the-radar option.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan and Owner Art Rooney II on the field at a team practice while having a discussion.
Khan himself received a very low grade in the recent NFLPA report card, as his style of playing hardball has clearly worn down on his own players. If members of the Steelers are unhappy with how he negotiates, free agents that he has tried to work with are most likely very upset with him as well. This is a known issue across the NFL, and it may only get worse from here if things don't change quickly.
Steelers May Need To Shift To Former Compromise Made With 1 Player
In the 2025 offseason, the Steelers gave an extension with a ton of guarantees attached to it. Most of DeShon Elliott's deal has some sort of guarantee on it, even though he is not making much. He signed a two-year, $12.5 million extension where nearly half of it was given to hm up front as a signing bonus. He received less than his market value but got more in guarantees. There is no incentive for the Steelers to cut him at all during this deal.
What do you think about Khan and the Steelers not giving out a ton of fully guaranteed money in free agency? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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