Steelers Now Expected To Avoid Another Big Free Agency Splash

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a very busy start to NFL's 2026 legal tampering period. They lost 2025 Team MVP Kenneth Gainwell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and saw rising cornerback James Pierre sign with the Minnesota Vikings. The organization itself however, bolstered its wide receiver room by trading for Indianapolis Colts star wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo was on the North Shore Drive Podcast Tuesday and stated that he does not see the team making another big splash due to the compensatory pick situation.

General Manager Omar Khan, whose team has plenty of draft capital in the 2026 NFL Draft, quickly made a move to improve the wide receiver room. However, after receiving word that the team would be getting four compensatory picks in the 2026 Draft, they may be hesitant to make any splashes in free agency following Monday's moves. Fittipaldo also noted that there is a good group of linebackers in this year's annual event.

“I wouldn’t expect them to make a big splash move,” Fittipaldo said.

The compensatory picks are based off of a formula of salary, playing time, and postseason honors. This is part of the reason the team is now set up with three third-round picks. When it was announced on Monday, the organization received word they were getting an additional third-round pick. They also received a fourth-rounder and two sixth-round picks when this news broke.

Pittsburgh's third-round comp pick for this year was due to the departure of Dan Moore Jr. This may play well into the hands of the organization after trading for Pittman. Pittman provides an excellent running mate to complement wide receiver DK Metcalf. This also means that, in a class where wide receivers and linebackers are deep in the draft, they have the flexibility to wait to fill positions of need after the first round. It alleviates the pressure off of whoever they select, while also rounding out their roster heading into the 2026 campaign.

The team also filled a position that quickly became a need on Monday when it was announced they would be signing running back Rico Dowdle, who became a free agent after one year with the Carolina Panthers. This came after a four-year stint with the Dallas Cowboys in which Dowdle was a running back under Pittsburgh's new head coach, Mike McCarthy. Dowdle will now pair up with running back Jaylen Warren in 2026 as Gainwell's replacement for the Black and Gold.

Steelers Have A Goal To Retool

It has been clear since the McCarthy hiring in the Steel City that the organization does not want to commit to a long-term rebuild. The situation in Pittsburgh has turned into a retooling where their goal is to fill voids where needed and have hopes to find playoff success, which the team has not seen in nine years now. That goal was further validated when the team traded for Pittman and signed Dowdle, not allowing themselves to become complacent and instead deciding to act fast. This is another reason there may not be a splash move made by the team ahead of next month's draft. With the draft capital Khan has built up, the team can get several young potential superstar prospects.

An overhaul and commitment to a rebuild may once have been a good direction to head towards in Pittsburgh. However, the organization also realizes that people are becoming impatient with the team trying to snap their nearly decade-long playoff-win drought. For a team that wants to retool under McCarthy, who has been around the league as a coach for quite some time, the Steelers are poised to build a young, up-and-coming roster for 2026.

#SteelerNation