"Group In Transition": Steelers Set For A Complete Positional Overhaul In 2027

The Pittsburgh Steelers might not have won a playoff game since Omar Khan took over as the general manager in 2022, but the team has improved the roster in several areas. The main idea has been rebuilding the trenches, and the hope is now that the project on the offensive line is completely over. That doesn't mean, however, that there aren't other spots that might need to be revamped in the coming years. Putting together a championship-caliber group at the NFL level is not an easy thing to do, so being diligent and strategic are two things that truly matter to front offices.

Pittsburgh has some solid youth on the offensive side of the ball, but the defense is aging a bit. Despite the fact that the contingent has consistently been the highest-paid throughout professional football, the results have been relatively subpar when considering how everyone is compensated. With a new coaching staff in town, the hope is that Patrick Graham can find a way to get the very best out of the collective.

The Steelers might still be searching for a franchise quarterback in 2027, which is something that will continue to happen until the front office is confident that the long-term starter at the position is on the roster. However, there is another spot that also could be considered once the first round comes around in April of 2027. The team is about to going through a significant overhaul on defense.

Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette hosted a fan chat on Monday to discuss all things Steelers. Someone was very curious about what the decision-makers are doing when it comes to the inside linebackers' room. Patrick Queen is the highly-paid individual who wears the green dot, but hasn't necessarily been all that consistent. Then, Malik Harrison has been viewed as a potential cut candidate. The beat writer set the record straight.

"I think it's a position group in transition. Both Patrick Queen and Malik Harrison are entering the final years of their deals," Fittpaldo wrote. "I haven't heard much buzz about either being re-signed. I think that's totally normal when there is a new coaching staff. It's a new regime and they'll have differing opinions on players. Big year for Payton Wilson. He's their most versatile and athletic inside linebacker. He's the one player from that group I think can play in any system."

Payton Wilson and Cole Holcomb are also present, but none of the four defenders really jump out at fans as dominant. The Steelers haven't really had that in the middle of the field since Ryan Shazier's devastating career-ending injury. Essentially, the team is set to reinvest in the position come 2027, as two are likely to depart in free agency. Holcomb is 29 and won't be viewed as a long-time solution, so that leaves maybe Wilson as the only one who could be around for a while.

If Wilson doesn't perform well in Graham's system, then the Steelers are really in for a tough reality come the 2027 offseason. Pittsburgh needs a player like Fred Warner in the middle of the field on defense, but the organization hasn't been able to find that guy in recent years.

It could very well be the next tall task for Khan and co (aside from finding a way to land a franchise signal-caller on offense). It appears that is the new trend in the Steel City. The team needs long-term green-dot solutions on both sides of the ball. On defense, it certainly year is a prove-it season for Wilson; however, the other three in the room likely aren't really part of future vision.

Steelers' 2027 NFL Draft Approach Will Depend On Positioning

Pittsburgh is not going through any kind of tank in 2026. If the team finds a way to sneak into the playoffs once again, then it will be a lot more difficult to find the next franchise quarterback in the first round, barring a very aggressive move up the board. This is where inside linebacker could come into play, but time will tell how all of that sorts out.

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