With the beginning of free agency coming up next month (‘legal tampering’ starts March 9th, while negotiations proper begin on the 11th), Pittsburgh should already have a strategy together in order to begin work on Mike McCarthy's new-look roster. While they have a few high-priority players who need to be retained, here are three new faces that could join the Steelers in the coming weeks.

Nakobe Dean, LB (Eagles)

Once the alpha on an absolutely loaded Georgia Bulldogs championship defense, Nakobe Dean (and several of his college teammates) went on to be productive members of the Philadelphia Eagles defense. Unfortunately for Dean, Eagles GM Howie Roseman has been almost too sharp in the draft for his own good, giving Philly a backload of young talent at linebacker. The Eagles can’t pay everyone what they’re owed (especially if their predraft meetings with LSU star Harold Perkins continue), and their loss could be big for Pittsburgh. Scoring Dean in free agency brings versatility, intelligence and leadership to an inside linebacker group that has proven talent but could use some more depth, especially if Cole Holcomb skips town.

David Edwards, OG (Bills)

The Steelers had their O-line eviscerated by injuries in 2025, and it’s unclear if Isaac Seumalo will return on the left side of the line. Pittsburgh would do well to invest heavily in the depth of their line, and if it can’t be Seumalo at left guard, it should be David Edwards. Edwards played two seasons' worth of high-quality football as a starter for the Bills, lining up between stalwarts Connor McGovern and Dion Dawkins. Edwards played a part in Josh Allen’s MVP season in 2024 and his continued production last season, which means that he deserves to cash in when the market opens in March. Investing in an elite offensive line will improve Pittsburgh’s odds of bringing in a high-caliber quarterback of their own, and Kenneth Gainwell will certainly be more inclined to stick around as well.

Jeff Okudah, CB (Vikings)

Jeff Okudah hasn’t been able to escape the ‘bust’ label since being taken with the third overall pick by Detroit in 2023. The Ohio State product has bounced around as teams wait to see if he ever realizes the potential scouts saw in him coming into the league, but he could find a home in Pittsburgh if new Steelers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham sees the vision. Last season saw a similar situation, with Pittsburgh taking a flier on Asante Samuel Jr. returning to football after missing time due to a spinal fusion surgery. Samuel’s production during his time with the Steelers proved that he was worth the investment. Okudah, who suffered a reputed Achilles injury at the beginning of his second season in the league, has shown signs of life on occasion (namely, a career game against Justin Jefferson in 2022), and he should be available for a very reasonable price when free agency opens. Pittsburgh would like to re-sign Samuel and James Pierre, but taking another flier to round out the depth chart could pay dividends.