The NFL is a league of constant change and the Pittsburgh Steelers are no stranger to the change. Over the past few years, Steelers fans have seen major changes within player personnel, including the retiring of some great players within the organization. Free agency and trade demands have increased exponentially within the past decade and the average time a player is rostered by a franchise is less than two seasons. With all this being said, we are going to take a look at a few players we believe will still be with the franchise at the beginning of the 2025 season.
1) TJ Watt
The Steelers signed Watt to a massive extension last off-season that will likely keep Watt in the black and gold for a huge part of his career. Watt is off to an incredible start to his career and will be a key building block for the franchise over the next few seasons. Watt is one of the few veteran players that is under contract for the 2025 season, but would only cost the Steelers a little over $7 million if they parted ways with him before June 1st, 2025.
Obviously this isn't going to happen as Watt has established himself as the best defensive player in football. Even though most of the defense will look very different in 2025, you can bet your bottom dollar Watt will still be a Steeler and racking up sacks on his way to becoming the NFL's all-time sack leader.
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, TJ Watt (#90) participates in the organized team activities (OTA's), Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. | Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
2) Minkah Fitzpatrick
Perhaps one of the biggest stories of the off-season for the Steelers so far was the signing of Fitzpatrick to a record breaking four-year extension. After trading away their first round pick during the 2019 season to the Miami Dolphins, Fitzpatrick has become a perennial All-Pro talent in the secondary for the black and gold. Fitzpatrick is the only other veteran defensive player that will be under team control at the beginning of the 2025 season. His exact contract numbers haven't been released yet, but the Steelers likely could get out of his contract prior to the season with little dead money.
However, similar to Watt, this is highly unlikely as Fitzpatrick will only be 29 years old and still have a lot of great football left in him. Fitzpatrick has been a difference maker since the moment he donned the black and gold and should anchor the Steelers secondary for the foreseeable future.
Pittsburgh Steelers safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick (#39) participates in Organized Team Activities (OTA's) on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Abigail Dean/Pittsburgh Steelers)
3) Kenny Pickett
Pickett, the Steelers first round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, is as sure a lock to be on the roster in 2022 as the previous two players. In Kevin Colbert's final draft as GM, he selected Pickett with his first pick and many in the organization see Pickett as the long-term answer at quarterback for the franchise. I get he hasn't taken an NFL snap yet, but his rookie contract with the fifth-year option will guarantee him being in black and gold in the 2025 season.
A lot of turnover will happen on the offensive side of the football over the next three seasons, but Pickett will be a mainstay on the roster for the next decade.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (#8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during rookie minicamp, Friday, May 13, 2022 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
4) Najee Harris
Harris, the Steelers first round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, is my last guarantee to still be rostered in 2025. Harris' contract will expire at the end of the 2024 season, but the Steelers will exercise his fifth-year option and likely tag him for one more season guaranteeing him a roster spot through the 2026 season.
After a record-setting rookie season, Harris has the chance to be one of the best running backs to ever play for the Steelers organization. Based on the way the Steelers front office operates, it's unlikely Harris plays his whole career for Pittsburgh. However, the Steelers will keep Harris for as long as it makes financial sense. Harris will probably be one of the highest paid offensive players for the Steelers in 2025, but he will still be a Steeler.
Pittsburgh Steelers fullback Derek Watt (44) and Running Back Najee Harris(22) participate in Organized Team Activities (OTAs) Tuesday May 31, 2022 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Abigail Dean/Pittsburgh Steelers)
What Steelers players do you see being on the roster in 2025? Sound off in the comments below!
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