Pittsburgh Steelers

Travis Homer

RB

In 10 regular-season games with the Bears in 2025, Homer recorded just one carry and three catches, and with the Steelers he'll remain in a depth role in a backfield that also includes Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle and Kaleb Johnson. Additionally, Homer could emerge as a core special teamer for Pittsburgh, with Mike DeFabo of The Athletic noting that the 5-foot-10, 211-pounder -- who joined the league as a sixth-round pick by Seattle in 2019 -- is a potential kick-return option for his new team.

Brock Hoffman

C

This connection has been rumored to be in the works for over a week and appears to have finally come to fruition. Hoffman played in all 51 regular-season games for Dallas over the past three campaigns, making 16 starts during that span. He could compete for the starting role at left guard with Pittsburgh and is also able to line up at center.

Sebastian Joseph-Day

DE

Joseph-Day spent the last two years in Tennessee, and he finished the 2025 regular season with 41 tackles (22 solo), including 2.0 sacks, and one fumble recovery across 17 games. He started in 10 games for the Titans last year but will likely operate in a rotational role at defensive end for the Steelers behind Cameron Heyward and Derrick Harmon.

Jaylen Warren

RB

Warren worked in a backfield timeshare with Kenneth Gainwell in 2025, with the former turning 251 touches into 1,291 scrimmage yards in the regular season while the latter racked up 1,023 scrimmage yards on 187 touches. Gainwell signed a two-year, $14 million contract in free agency with the Buccaneers, while Pittsburgh has brought in Dowdle to replace him on a two-year, $12.25 million contract. Dowdle is coming off consecutive seasons with at least 1,076 rushing yards and runs with more power than Warren or Gainwell, but Warren's likely to see the majority of playing time in passing situations while possibly rotating with Dowdle on early downs.

Jaquan Brisker

S

The safety started all 17 regular-season games and both playoff games for the Bears in 2025, finishing the regular season with 93 tackles (52 solo) and eight pass breakups. It was a nice return season for Brisker after missing most of the 2024 campaign with concussion-related issues. The 2022 second-round pick could play a similar role for Pittsburgh as he did for Chicago last year.

Darnell Savage

S

Savage will head to Pittsburgh after combining to record 18 total tackles (10 solo), a pass defensed and a forced fumble over 12 regular-season games with the Jaguars, Commanders and Bills in 2025. The 28-year-old will provide the Steelers with an experienced reserve option at safety behind DeShon Elliott (knee) and Jalen Ramsey in 2026.

Cameron Heyward

DT

Heyward effectively signed a new contract worth $32.25 million over two years, including the first year guaranteed. This move also freed up $5.5 million in cap space for the Steelers, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Heyward will turn 37 years old in May but isn't showing any signs of slowing down, as he's coming off a strong season where he recorded 78 tackles (38 solo), including 3.5 sacks, and six pass breakups through 17 regular-season games (48.0 defensive snaps per game).

Cameron Johnston

P

Johnston finished the 2025 season with the Giants' practice squad after being waived from the Bills due to a foot injury he sustained in late September. Now healthy, Johnston will look to contribute to the Steelers' special-teams unit on a one-year deal.

Esezi Otomewo

DE

Otomewo appeared in 12 regular-season games with Pittsburgh last season, logging nine tackles (five solo) across 173 defensive snaps and another 24 on special teams. He'll compete for a roster spot this offseason.

Rico Dowdle

RB

Per NFL.com, it's a two-year, $12.25 million deal for Dowdle, who is set to move over to the AFC after one year in Carolina. He produced a 236-1,076-6 regular-season rushing line last season with the Panthers, which was nearly identical to the 235-1,079-2 line he posted during his 2024 breakout campaign with the Cowboys. Dowdle also caught exactly 39 passes each of the past two seasons, totaling 546 yards and four touchdowns, and he's chipped in as a kick returner throughout his career. The Steelers have Jaylen Warren locked in as their primary RB, so Dowdle figures to form a 1-2 punch with the incumbent starter, though his role may be somewhat different from that of Kenneth Gainwell, who featured as a pass catcher in 2025 but is departing in free agency to Tampa Bay.

Jamel Dean

CB

Michael Pittman Jr.

WR

Pittman, who is coming off a 2025 regular-season in which he caught 80 of his 111 targets for 784 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns in 17 contests, will provide the Steelers' WR corps with an immediate boost, as he'll work alongside DK Metcalf this coming season. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, dealing Pittman will free up $24 million in salary-cap space for the Colts, who signed fellow WR Alec Pierce to a reported four-year, $116 million deal earlier Monday. Additionally, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports that Pittman is getting a new three-year, $59 million deal with the Steelers, but at this stage it's uncertain which QB he'll be catching passes from this coming season.

Cole Holcomb

LB

Holcomb missed the entire 2024 season due to a knee injury. He returned in 2025 and suited up for 14 regular-season games (three starts) while contributing 37 tackles (24 solo). The 29-year-old linebacker is expected to continue filling a depth role moving forward.

Asante Samuel Jr.

CB

Samuel played in each of the Steelers' last six regular-season games in 2025 after recovering from neck surgery. He was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent but will instead remain in Pittsburgh for the 2026 season, likely filling a depth role in the secondary.

Derrick Harmon

DT

Harmon opened the season on the sidelines after suffering a sprained MCL in late August, but he was only forced to miss two contests. The 2025 first-round pick then hit the ground running, securing seven total takedowns, including 2.0 sacks, over his first three games. Harmon then became somewhat of background character on the Steelers defense for the rest of the regular season, ultimately missing three more contests with a separate knee injury in late November and early December. The defensive lineman did leave his mark on Pittsburgh's 30-6 loss to the Texans in the wild-card round though, notching six tackles, one which was a sack. Harmon will enter the 2026 campaign looking to make a second-year leap with the Steelers.

Jack Sawyer

LB

Sawyer split his time pretty evenly between defense and special teams, but he was still able to make a few splash plays in 2025. The rookie linebacker notched his first career sack in Week 2 against the Seahawks, and he later added an interception in Week 9 versus the Colts and another one in Week 17 at Cleveland. Sawyer also found himself in the backfield in the Steelers' 30-6 loss to the Texans in the wild-card round, recording a strip-sack of C.J. Stroud in the first quarter, a fumble which teammate Yahya Black recovered. The linebacker figures to enter the 2026 season as a top reserve option behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith at outside linebacker.

DeShon Elliott

S

Elliott suffered a sprained MCL in Pittsburgh's Week 1 win over the Jets before he later suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Packers in Week 8. The safety was rather productive when active, but the five appearances set a new career-low for the 28-year-old. Elliott signed a two-year, $12.5 million contract extension with the Steelers prior to the campaign, so he'll look to get back to full strength and compete for a starting role with the team in 2026.

Malik Harrison

LB

Harrison joined the Steelers in free agency ahead of the 2025 campaign following a five-year run with the Ravens. The linebacker suffered a knee injury in Week 1, and he was forced to miss Pittsburgh's next six games as a result. Once healthy, Harrison was able to average 3.9 tackles per game, and on the year, he secured at least 40 total takedowns for the second straight season and third time overall. The 27-year-old will look to compete for a starting role at inside linebacker with the Steelers in 2026.

Brandin Echols

CB

Echols joined the Steelers ahead of the 2025 campaign after four seasons with the Jets, and he was able to see an uptick in his production. The cornerback registered six passes defensed, two of which were interceptions, and he has now notched at least two interceptions on three of his five NFL seasons. Echols will enter 2026 in the final year of his two-year, $6 million contract with Pittsburgh, and he'll look to compete for a starting role at slot cornerback.

Darnell Washington

TE

questionable

Cory Trice Jr.

CB

questionable

Donte Kent

CB

questionable

Broderick Jones

OT

questionable

Pat Freiermuth

TE

Freiermuth paced Pittsburgh's tight ends in receiving production, but his ceiling was significantly capped by the presence of both Jonnu Smith and Darnell Washington (forearm), as well as the run-first schematic design of former offensive coordinator Arthur Smith (now at Ohio State). The 27-year-old remains under contract through the 2028 season and will retain a consistent role in Pittsburgh's offense, but both Smith and Washington are set to return in 2026, and the first read for red-zone opportunities will consistently be wide receiver DK Metcalf. Those factors will make Freiermuth a deep sleeper in 2026 fantasy drafts, and it's difficult to envision an upside scenario for him even if new head coach Mike McCarthy manages to spark things on offense.

A.T. Perry

WR

Perry has spent each of the last two years on the Broncos' practice squad but did not see any game action over that span. The 2023 sixth-rounder's only regular-season action came in his rookie year with the Saints, when he caught 12 passes (on 18 targets) for 246 yards and four touchdowns across 10 games. Perry will be on the Steelers' 90-man roster at the start of the offseason, which will allow him to participate in OTAs and minicamp.