Tag Archives: Darnell Washington

5 Quick Takes on the Steelers Initial 2026 53-Man Roster

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It took 2 trades, cuts of four experienced veterans, 1 surprise injured reserve designation and an unorthodox quarterback decision, but Omar Khan and Mike McCarthy have assembled the Pittsburgh Steelers initial 53 man roster for the 2026 season.

Here are 5 quick takes on their roster decisions which come after a look at the initial roster in its entirety.

Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar at Steelers OTAs in the spring of 2026

Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar at Steelers OTAs. Photo Credit: Alysa Rubin, Steelers.com

The Initial Pittsburgh Steelers 53 Man Roster

Quarterbacks (4)

Aaron Rodgers
Mason Rudolph
Will Howard
Drew Allar

Running Backs (4)

Jaylen Warren
Rico Dowdle
Eli Heidenreich, Running Back/Wide Receiver
Riley Nowakowski, Fullback

Offensive Line (9)

Troy Fautanu
Mason McCormick
Zach Frazier
Spencer Anderson
Dylan Cook
Max Iheanachor
Gennings Dunker
Brock Hoffman
Ryan McCollum

Tight Ends (3)

Pat Freiermuth
Darnell Washington
Robert Tonyan

Wide Receivers (6)

D.K. Metcalf
Michael Pittman Jr
Roman Wilson
Germie Bernard
Ben Skowronek
Kaden Wetjen

Defensive Line (7)

Cam Heyward
Keeanu Benton
Derrick Harmon
Yahya Black
Sebastian Joseph-Day
Gabriel Rubio
Kevin Jobity Jr.

Linebackers (8)

T.J. Watt
Alex Highsmith
Patrick Queen
Payton Wilson
Nick Herbig
Jack Sawyer
Carson Bruener
Cole Holcomb

Cornerbacks (5)

Jalen Ramsey
Joey Porter Jr.
Jamel Dean
Asante Samuel Jr.
Brandin Echols
Daylen Everette

Safeties (3)

Jaquan Brisker
Robert Spears-Jennings
Rayshawn Jenkins

Specialists (3)

Chris Boswell, kicker
Cameron Johnston, punter
Christian Kuntz, long snapper

Injured Reserve Designated Return

DeShon Elliott, safety
Jack Driscoll, offensive line

1. Take Mike McCarthy at His Word on 4 Quarterbacks

When Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar were the only 3 quarterbacks during OTA’s Mike McCarthy affirmed that “4 quarterbacks would be awesome.” He meant it. For the third time in 21 years, the Steelers are keeping 4 quarterbacks on their initial roster. In 1995 they did it from a position of strength, in 1999 they did it from a position of weakness.

This time it is somewhere in between, but given the dynamics of the room, McCarthy is making the right move by keeping 4 quarterbacks.

2. There’s No Numbers in Safety

The most concerning personnel move the Steelers made was to put DeShaun Elliott on the injured reserve list. Sebastian Castro got cut while Donte Kent is on the PUP list.

That leaves the Steelers with 3 safeties, one of whom is a 7th round pick and another 9-year veteran on his 6th team.

Mike McCarthy has talked about using Jalen Ramsey as a Charles Woodson like chess-piece. I suspect he’ll start 2026 the way he finished 2025 – working as a strong safety.

Jalen Ramsey and DeShone Elliott at St. Vincents in the summer of 2025.

Jalen Ramsey and DeShone Elliott at St. Vincents. Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images, via SI.com.

3. Steelers Lean into the “Fail Fast” Principle

The first major move that Omar Khan and McCarthy made was to deal 2023’s first round pick Broderick Jones off to Dallas, after just 3 seasons with the Steelers. The duo didn’t stop there, shipping off 2025’s 3rd round pick Kaleb Johnson to Green Bay for a 6th round pick.

During the spring McCarthy promised Johnson a clean slate moving in 2026. And he clearly got a long-look early in training camp.

But he fell out of favor with the coaches and will now follow his NFL dream with the Packers. Clearly neither Omar Khan nor Mike McCarthy are allowing sentimentally to cloud their decisions.

Kaleb Johnson heads for the open field in the Steelers August 2026 preseason loss to the New York Jets at Acrisure Stadium.

Kaleb Johnson almost breaks won. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

4. Youth Over Experience

The entire Steelers 2026 draft class has made the final roster. Some of these guys could be headed to IR if veterans are re-signed and this may not be a first, but it is a rare occurrence.

  • Much has been made about the age of the Steelers roster.

And while the average age of the Steelers roster is a bit skewed by the presence of Aaron Rodgers and Cam Heyward, Mike McCarthy and his staff clearly opted for youth over experience.

Veterans such as Dean Lowry, Elandon Roberts, Malik Harrison, Travis Homer and Esezi Otomewo all got visits from The Turk.

Some of these players could be back either in the next few days or after the opener, but McCarthy clearly isn’t beholden to something that a player has done for the team or done in the league in the past, but instead is focused on what he believes players can do in the future.

5. The Ball is in Porter’s Court

The Steelers also had to decide to activate Joey Porter Jr. from the PuP list or keep him there for the first 4 games of the season. The Steelers activated him.

  • In doing so, they put the ball in Porter’s court.

The Steelers would like to extend Porter’s contract, and Porter purportedly wants to stay in Pittsburgh. But the two sides can’t agree on a number.

  • Mike McCarthy, unlike Mike Tomlin, doesn’t seem to have much use for “hold ins.”

Word is the Steelers want Porter to participate in practice before engaging in serious contract negotiations. Now that he’s off the PuP list he has to decide whether he’ll do that or not.

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No More Keeping Up with The Joneses: Steelers Trade Broderick Jones to Dallas Cowboys

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The Pittsburgh Steelers have traded Broderick Jones to the Dallas Cowboys, making their first critical roster decision with the NFL’s final 53 man roster cut down deadline looms.

According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the  Steelers are sending Jones along with their 2027 4th round pick to Dallas, and getting the Cowboys’ 2027 3rd and 6th round picks.

Broderick Jones

Broderick Jones decked out in color rush. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

Broderick Jones was the first, first-round draft pick of the Omar Khan Andy Weidl era, whom Khan traded up for in the 2023 NFL Draft. When the Steelers drafted Jones, the decision was almost universally praised.

Writing in Steel City Insider, analyst Matt C. Steel lauded the class of 2023 as a “near-perfect draft.” He praised Jones for his “athleticism and physicality [that] are unique.” Steel further explained his enthusiasm for Jones:

Jones might struggle with pass protection early; however, with his strength and movement skills Jones’ impact on the run game should be significant. Couple that with the knowledge that [Christian] Gonzalez’s interviews were said to be uninspiring, moving up to get Jones was the best choice the Steelers could have made with their draft position.

Talk about a draft analyst being prophetic. The Steelers drafted Jones on measurables rather than experience, as Jones had not been a long-term starter in college and was seen as somewhat of a project.

While the Steelers didn’t start Jones on opening day 2023, he did crack the starting lineup in the middle of the season against Tennessee after Chukwuma Okorafor got benched. And with that move the Steelers running game finally began getting some traction.

  • However, Jones’ “sophomore” year was shaky at best.

As Steel predicted, he struggled in pass blocking and the Steelers running game got a slow start – although that was a trademark of Pat Meyer’s offensive lines. Left tackle had always been seen as Jones’ natural position and he played on the right during the Steelers 2024 season, in large part because Dan Moore could not make the switch from left tackle to right tackle.

The hope was that by shifting Jones would begin to fully realize his potential during the Steelers 2025 season. Nonetheless, outside of Pittsburgh Jim Wexell reported from the 2025 NFL scouting combine that Jones was perceived as a “coach killer.”

  • The reality is that results were mixed.

While Broderick Jones might not have been an early-season outright liability at left tackle, the Steelers pass protection left a lot to be desired.

Arthur Smith needed to tailor play calling sequences to ensure Aaron Rodgers got rid of the ball quickly. Smith also generously used his “Jumbo Package” bringing in reserve offensive lineman Spencer Anderson as a tight end.

Still, while no one would confuse him with a modern-day John Jackson or Marvel Smith, Jones did seem to improve as the season wore on. Unfortunately, he suffered a neck stinger in the Steelers loss to Chicago, ending his season.

  • Word was the Steelers would have issued Jones a 5th year tender had it not been for his neck injury.

Not only did they not do that, but they used their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on offensive tackle Max Iheanachor. With 2024’s first round pick Troy Fautanu already on the team, Jones’ days with the Steelers appeared to be limited.

  • The expectation was that he would begin training camp and the season on the PUP list.

Surprisingly, Jones was active through training camp, and got extensive work in all three of the Steelers 2026 preseason contests.

And that sealed his fate with the team, as Jones struggled in pass protection in all three contests, most notably getting beaten badly in the 4th quarter in the shutout loss to the Jets.

Although the Steelers deemed Jones physically fit to participate and play in camp, he was visibly smaller following his injury. So, there’s certainly a chance that his recovery can continue and that he can salvage something of his career.

But he won’t be doing it in a Pittsburgh Steelers uniform, and Omar Khan has likely recouped more value with this trade than he could have hoped to get as a compensatory pick had he kept Jones in the Steel City.

Khan Continues to Embrace the “Fail Fast” Principle

Dispatching Jones to Dallas marks the second time that Omar Khan has dealt away a first-round draft pick who is playing on a rookie contract. The first time came when he sent Kenny Pickett down the Turnpike in 2024.

  • Clearly, Khan is not averse to embracing the “Fail Fast” principle.

Although Jones clearly qualifies as a disappointment, the Steelers 2023 Draft Class is shaping up to be a strong group. Nick Herbig, Darnell Washington and Keeanu Benton have already signed second contracts with Joey Porter Jr., hopefully, soon to get his. Spencer Anderson will also begin the year as a starter.

 

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Steelers Re-Sign Keeanu Benton, Elandon Roberts Returns to Bolster Run Defense

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Omar Khan is breaking out his checkbook again, and this time he’s taking on a bit more risk as the Steelers have re-signed Keeanu Benton to a 4-year 72 million dollar contract.

The contract will pay him an annual average of 18 million, making him the highest paid defensive lineman in Steelers history – in non-adjusted dollars — IF, you judge it as a four-year deal instead considering the 5th year on Benton’s rookie contract.

Keeanu Benton, Steelers vs Buccaneers 2025 preseason

Keeanu Benton blocks a pass. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

The Steelers drafted Benton in the 2nd round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and Benton now becomes the third member of this draft class to earn a second contract. Earlier this spring the Steelers worked out extensions with Nick Herbig and Darnell Washington.

At the time of Herbig and Washington’s extension, word was that the Steelers also were targeting Benton for a new deal, but the agreement did not materialize until now.

Benton has started 40 of his 51 career games and logged seven and a half sacks—for comparison’s sake, Casey Hampton had 9 in his entire career. So Benton has shown he can rush the passer as a nose tackle.

  • If that’s the case, then where’s the risk you ask?

If Benton’s pass rushing prowess is well-documented, his ability to act as a run stuffer—the traditional role of the nose tackle in the Steelers defense—remains a question mark at best.

There were times during the 2025 season when Benton failed the eye test miserably, when opposing offensive lineman tossed him aide like a rag doll. The losses to the Bengals and Bills offer poignant examples. In other games, such as the win over the Colts, he held up better, but consistency continues to elude him.

Look back to the last three playoff losses the Steelers have suffered, and there’s one constant, a sieve-like run defense:

Now, can we hang all of that on Keeanu Benton? Absolutely not. The front office and coaching staff clearly doesn’t. But there’s no way the Steelers can break their playoff losing streak and continue to give up that kind of yardage on the ground. And quality nose tackle play is a must if the cycle is to be broken.

  • And in that light, giving Benton such an aggressive extension does carry some risk.

However, with a new coaching staff, perhaps Benton can learn to defend the run more consistently. And beyond that, signs indicate that his role on the Steelers defensive line could is changing.

Keeanu Benton and Derrick Harmon during the Steelers 2025 win over the Patriots.

Derrick Harmon and Keeanu Benton. Photo Credit: Steelers.com

When the Steelers drafted Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black during the 2025 NFL Draft, Mike Tomlin’s defensive staff insisted that they saw Benton as a nose tackle.

  • True to their word, Benton remained at nose tackle throughout the season.

And while Benton started at nose tackle against the Packers and has worked there during the summer at St. Vincents, the official depth chart lists him as a defensive tackle, and both Black and rookie Gabriel Rubio have gotten time at nose.

On the Steel City Insider podcast, veteran journalist Jim Wexell confirmed that the Steelers long-term plans are to move Benton to defensive end when Cam Heyward begins his “Life’s Work.”

Speaking of Run Defense – Elandon Roberts, The Tooth Chipper Returns

Regardless of whether Benton can find a way to better clog the middle of the field, the Steelers gave their run defense a shot in the arm when they re-signed Elandon Roberts.

Elandon Roberts, Terry McBride, Steelers vs Cardinals

No helmet, no problem, as Elandon Roberts tackles Terry McBride. Photo Credit: Matt Freed, AP via Newsday

Roberts, who had played for the Steelers in 2023 and 2024 and earned himself the moniker of “the tooth chipper,” for his hard hitting play against the run. Surprisingly, Roberts left as a free agent signing with the Oaka… er um, Los Ang… Las Vegas Raiders where he played with current Steelers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.

Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson appear to be set as starters at inside linebacker, but with Cole Holcomb, Malik Harrison and Carson Bruener the Steelers have a glut at the position.

Harrison would appear to be the odd man out, as Bruener has been a special teams standout and retains plenty of the proverbial “Upside.”

 

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Steelers Re-Sign Darnell Washington – Where and How High Can Mt. Washington Grow?

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Contract extensions dominos are falling in Pittsburgh.

First came Nick Herbig and second comes Darnell Washington. The Steelers have reportedly extended the contract of tight end Darnell Washington for four years at a 42 million dollars. This came one day after Omar Khan extended Nick Herbig for 4 years and 100 million dollars.

Darnell Washington, Barrett Carter, Steelers vs Bengals

Darnell Washington dumps Barrett Carter. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

Both players were part of the Steelers 2023 draft class, and like Herbig before him, Washington’s extension proves that Pittsburgh’s draft drought is over.

And the exciting thing? Well take a look below:

Yes, you’ve seen this video before. But let me assure you of something, if seeing that doesn’t stir your soul, then you’re not a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, because Darnell Washington is only scratching the surface of his potential.

The only questions are how high Washington’s career arc will extend and which exact direction will it take?

Where and How High Is Darnell Washington’s Ceiling with the Steelers?

On the latter front, Steel City Insider’s Jim Wexell has been suggesting for years that Washington’s natural position is offensive tackle – standing at 6’7” and weighing in at over 300 pounds you can see why he’d be offensive line coach James Campen’s dream.

  • And there’s precedent in Pittsburgh for such a move.

Tight end Larry Brown caught the first touchdown pass from Terry Bradshaw in Steelers history during Super Bowl IX. Yet Brown transitioned from tight end to tackle after the 1976 season where he started through 1984.

Larry Brown, Super Bowl IX

Larry Brown catches a touchdown in Super Bowl XI. Photo Credit, Twitter, Vintage Steelers

As Tony Defeo pointed out, Chuck Noll was adamant that Larry Brown is one of the Super Steelers that should be in the Hall of Fame, and analysts outside of Pittsburgh agree he’d be there if he’d played his entire career at tackle.

The idea of moving Washington to tackle some day has been discussed with the previous coaching staff, but his new contract indicates that current Steelers brain trust sees him as a tight end.

Washington’s overall numbers are modest, but his production and performance have improved each and every season as his role in the offense continues to grow.

The clip above makes it easy to see why Darnell Washington has captivated the imagination of Steelers Nation the way no other tight end has since Eric Green. And, while Eric Green could have been Gronk before there was Gronk, expecting Washington to develop into a Rob Gronkowski-like player probably isn’t realistic.

Still, he gives Aaron Rodgers and whoever his successor is an incredibly unique downfield weapon. And, as someone who is already an excellent blocker, Darnell Washington is one of those rare players who moves people out of his way after he gets the ball in his hands.

Just ask Barrett Carter….

Where and how high can Darnell Washington go? That’s up to him. But fortunately for the Steelers, Mt. Washington will remain in Pittsburgh the next several years.

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Nick Herbig Extension Shows Steelers Drafting Has Turned a Corner

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Omar Khan kicked off minicamp by opening his checkbook as the Steelers re-signed Nick Herbig to a 4-year contract extension worth a reported 100 million dollars including over 40 million in guaranteed money.

The immediate focus of Steelers Nation is if and how Herbig’s new deal impacts the futures of T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, but the bigger picture behind Herbig’s extension is what it signals about the team’s direction.

Nick Herbig, Steelers vs Bengals

Nick Herbig strip sacks Joe Burrow. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Early Herbig Extension Signals End of Steelers Draft Drought

The Steelers drafted Nick Herbig in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s now entering the final year of his rookie contract, and Omar Khan opened the off season by listing Herbig as a player he wanted to re-sign before he reached free agency.

  • This is not something Steelers Nation is accustomed to — at least not in recent memory.

But once upon a time, things were different in Pittsburgh. In the spring of 1993, the NFL’s first year free agency, owners were tripping over themselves throwing money at players, trying to buy a Lombardi.

In Pittsburgh Dan Rooney and Tom Donahoe took a different approach, quietly extending players like Dermontti Dawson and Greg Lloyd who were entering the final years of their contracts.

  • That practice became standard Steelers operating procedure for the next two and a half decades.
  • But the maturation of the Steelers 2018 draft class marked a turning point.

Terrell Edmunds, Mason Rudolph, Chukwuma Okorafor, Diontae Johnson, Alex Highsmith and Pat Freiermuth were only the players from the Steelers 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 draft to get second contracts.

Alex Highsmith, Tom Brady, Steelers vs Buccaneers

Alex Highsmith strip sacks Tom Brady. Photo Credit: Barry Reeger, HJ News.com

Highsmith, Freiermuth, Johnson and Rudolph were the only ones to the Steelers re-signed while they were still playing on rookie contracts, and out of that group only Highsmith and Freiermuth got long-term starter deals.

In contrast, the Steelers have already re-signed Herbig, and want to ink new deals with Joey Porter Jr., Keeanu Benton and perhaps Darnell Washington this summer.

  • Word is they would have given Broderick Jones his 5th year rookie tender had he not been hurt.

Barring injury or an unanticipated regression, Omar Khan will likely take a similar approach with several members of the Steelers 2024 Draft class next spring.

The Steelers playoff drought started with the loss to the Patriots in the 2017 AFC Championship game. Their quality of their drafts dipped precipitously starting in 2018 and continued through the rest of Kevin Colbert’s tenure.

  • But Herbig’s early extension shows that the Steelers draft drought is over.

The Steelers not only have a draft pick going into his 4th year who is worthy of a long-term extension, hopefully Herbig is the first of many.

Let’s hope that Herbig and the rest of his draft class make some playoff rain with Mike McCarthy.

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Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 Draft Needs Matrix

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The 2026 NFL Draft is almost here! For three days Pittsburgh will be the focus of the football world as 32 teams make 257 picks unified by a single goal: Building a Super Bowl Champion roster.

The Pittsburgh Steelers stand out, not simply because they’re the host team, but because they have 12 picks at their disposal, more than any other NFL Team.

As our recent review of Steelers draft history reveals, success or failure in the 2026 draft doesn’t hinge on how many picks Omar Khan and Mike McCarthy make, but who they use them on.

With that, let’s take a look at where the Steelers need the most help.

This is the latest article in our Steelers 2026 Draft series.

steelers press conference,

2026 Steelers Need Tiers Ahead of the Draft

Over the past few weeks, we’ve reviewed each area on the Steelers depth chart and analyzed where they need help both now and in the future. What’s interesting is, if you take a look at the franchise’s needs in totality, the Steelers 2026 draft needs really do fall into three distinct tiers.

At the top you find safety, wide receiver, quarterback and offensive tackle, with safety clocking in at Extreme while Wide out, quarterback and offensive tackle coming in at High.

  • Then you’ve got a glut in the middle.

On the defensive side, cornerback, inside linebacker and defensive line all rate as Moderate. And on the offensive side guard and tight end clock in as Moderate.

Below that you have running back, rated as Fair, while center and outside linebacker are Negligible.

So how to make sense of this mess? Well that’s where the Steelers 2026 Draft Needs Matrix comes in.

The Steelers 2026 Draft Needs Matrix

Steelers 2026 Draft Needs Matrix

The one and only Steelers 2026 Draft Needs Matrix

Rumor has it that  Darnell Savage’s signing will be announced soon. But we’ve heard that since the start of free agency. Ditto Aaron Rodgers. All signs indicate that the Steelers still expect him to sign. But he’s not.

So in both cases sheer numbers indicate that the Steelers need to draft someone this week that they can expect to have on their opening day roster.

For that reason Safety tops wide receiver as the Steelers greatest area of need. They need a body. Wide Receiver comes in next simply because they Steelers need probably need to add two wide outs in this draft as opposed to one quarterback.

Quarterback tops offensive tackle, because they need another person there – having two developmental prospects behind Mason Rudolph isn’t ideal, but you need someone.

Offensive tackle is next because of questions about Broderick Jones and Dylan Cook. Even if both players are viable, they need another tackle plain and simple.

Here is where the needs matrix gets complicated, and there’s a lot to argue as there are many rankings that could go either way. Inside linebacker tops tight end because, although the Steelers have bodies there, they don’t have anyone that stands out as a potential long-term answer other than Payton Wilson, and even he could be challenged.

Darnell Washington, Barrett Carter, Steelers vs Bengals

Darnell Washington dumps Barrett Carter. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

Tight end comes next, because the Steelers only have one untested backup behind Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington.

Guard takes priority over cornerback because, while the Steelers have two potential starters there they probably need to add another, and could upgrade both.

Cornerback and defensive line are similar. Both have solid depth charts going into the draft. But both could use upgrades and both areas could benefit by drafting future starters. But there’s more youth on defensive line than at corner, so cornerback is considered a greater area of need.

At the bottom we have running back over center, because the Steelers have two NFL starter caliber players and one developmental prospect, but this is a high-attrition position. But this one could go either way.

T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig before the Steelers 2023 game vs the Patriots.

T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

Finally you have center over outside linebacker, because you’d want Nick Herbig or Jack Sawyer going in for Alex Highsmith or T.J. Watt before you’d want to see Ryan McCollum going in Zach Fraizer.

Warning Against Drafting for Need

The purpose of the Steelers 2026 Draft Needs Matrix is anything but a suggestion that the Steelers should draft for need. Quite to the contrary.

With the exception of perhaps safety and to a lesser extent wide receiver, the Steelers have positioned themselves in free agency so that they don’t have to draft for need. Contrast this with the 2016 NFL Draft when the Steelers, for all intents and purposes, needed to draft a cornerback with a premium pick and ended up reaching for Artie Burns.

Cam Heyward, Cam Heyward Franco Harris Number 32, Steelers vs Raiders

Paying homage to Franco, Cam Heyward leads Steelers out of tunnel. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

All of which is to say, if the Steelers find themselves with the chance to draft an ass-kicking defensive lineman who can become Cam Heyward’s heir apparent, by all means they should take him.

  • The same logic applies at almost every position, even those with rated as higher areas of need.

If a game-changing safety falls to them in the first round, they don’t need to pass on him just because they have to add a wide receiver. With 5 picks in the top 100, Omar Khan and Mike McCarthy have the luxury of sticking to their board.

When in doubt and they have two players at different positions rated equally, then the Steelers Draft Needs Matrix should tip the scales.

Let’s hope they do, and let’s extend our congratulations in advance to 257 young men whose dreams will come true between now and Saturday.

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Steelers 2026 Draft Needs at Tight End: Time to Tighten Up Depth

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Tight end was supposed to be a position of strength in the Steelers 2025 offense.

Instead it was a source of frustration, for the most part. Two of the four tight ends from the Steelers 2025 roster are gone – Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington remain while Connor Heyward left in free agency and Jonnu Smith got his walking papers.

So Omar Khan and Mike McCarthy will have to add someone, but how urgent of a need is tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers going into the 2026 NFL Draft?

This is the latest article in our Steelers 2026 Draft series.

Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington and Connor Heyward during the Steelers 2025 win over the Miami Dolphins at Acrisure Stadium.

Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington and Connor Heyward celebrate a touchdown. Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images via A to Z Sports.

The Steelers Tight End Depth Chart Entering the 2026 NFL Draft – The Starters

We will not remember Kevin Colbert’s final drafts fondly. But he clearly made the right pick when he drafted Pat Freiermuth in the 2nd round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Pat Freiermuth won the starting job as a rookie and has appeared in all but five games since then. Far more importantly, Pat Freiermuth has been the most consistent player on the Pittsburgh Steelers offense during that entire span.

When Ben Roethlisberger, Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers have absolutely needed to complete a pass, they’ve looked Pat Freiermuth’s way. Hence, the frustration in 2025 when Arthur Smith gave playing time to Jonnu Smith at Freiermuth’s expense.

One player who the Steelers did look to involve whenever possible was Darnell Washington. You can see for yourself:

The Steelers drafted Darnell Washington in the 4th round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and the prospect of a 6’7” 264 pound (that’s his weight listed in Pro Football Reference. Yeah, right) tight end captivated the imagination of Steelers Nation.

Washington’s overall numbers as a pass catcher are not terribly impressive, but his role has grown on the offense every year, and he continues to improve. More importantly, as the clip above reveals, Washington has potential as a weapon in the passing game that goes well beyond what’s stats measure.

Oh, and Washington enough of an asset as a blocker that veteran Steelers scribe Jim Wexell thinks he may one day follow in Larry Brown’s footsteps and transition to tackle.

Larry Brown, Super Bowl IX

Larry Brown catches a touchdown in Super Bowl XI. Photo Credit, Twitter, Vintage Steelers

Pat Freiermuth already has 5 years of experience under his belt and is just 28 years and remains under contract through the 2028 season.

Darnell Washington is 24, and although he’s only got one year remaining on his rookie contract, the Steelers have already indicated that re-upping him is one of this summer’s priorities.

The Steelers Tight End Depth Chart Entering the 2026 NFL Draft – The Backup

If the Steelers have two solid starters at tight end, the cupboard behind them is pretty bare. The only other tight end they have is JJ Galbreath. JJ Galbreath played at South Dakota was part of the Steelers 2025 undrafted rookie free agent class.

At the time, Steel City Insider’s Roy Coutryman described him this way:

He possesses an enticing build (6-3, 231) with solid length (32 arms) that needs more bulk to withstand the rigors of the next level. However, his athletic testing speaks for itself with a 4.67 40, 38 inch vertical, and agility times (4.20 short shuttle and 6.82 3-cone) that put him on par with some of the best in the league.

Galbreath is an ideal candidate to squirrel away on the practice squad for a year while he adds the necessary strength and bulk to contribute in the run game. His athleticism and prowess as a pass-catcher alone make him enough of a talent that deserves monitoring during training camp.

The Steelers did cut him at the end of the summer and put him on the practice squad, but his stint there was short, as they released him on mid-September, but did sign him to a futures contract in January.

Steelers 2026 Draft Needs at Tight End

And the Steelers resigned Connor Heyward their draft need at tight end would be Fair and possibly trending towards Low.

But they let Heyward walk, and the only other tight end they have on their roster was a guy who they didn’t deem worthy of a practice squad spot beyond week 2.

The Pittsburgh Steelers draft needs scale

They’re set at starter with Freiermuth and Washington as their starters. And, assuming they can sign Washington and both enjoy good health the Steelers shouldn’t have toe worry about finding starter-capable or future starting tight end for at least a season or two.

By they must add depth behind Freiermuth and Washington, so the Steelers need at tight end going into the 2026 NFL Draft must be considered as Moderate.

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Steelers Lose Calvin Austin, Connor Heyward as Final Picks from 2022 Draft Depart

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The Pittsburgh Steelers can [almost] officially declare their 2022 NFL Draft as a wash, as the final members of that draft class, Calvin Austin and Connor Heyward, have departed in free agency.

Calvin Austin will leave the Steelers to play for former AFC North Rival John Harbaugh with the New York Giants. Reports indicate that Austin has signed a one-year contract with a base salary of 1.5 million and incentives that could bring him up to 4.5 million.

Calvin Austin, Greg Newsome, Pittsburgh Steelers

Calvin Austin hauls in a touchdown. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Connor Heyward for his part has agreed to terms with the Las Vegas Raiders, who have given Cam Heyward’s little brother a 5.5 million dollar, 2-year contract with 2 million guaranteed.

Neither move should be considered a surprise, although both count as minor disappointments to this Steelers scribe. Of the two moves, Austin’s departure is the most impactful.

The Steelers have D.K. Metcalf and just traded for Michael Pittman Jr., giving them two legitimate NFL caliber wide receivers for the first time since the 2023 season when they had Diontae Johnson and George Pickens. But behind Metcalf and Michael Pittman the Steelers have Ben Skowronek and Roman Wilson.

The Steelers entered the 2025 season counting on Roman Wilson to establish himself as Robin to D.K. Metcalf’s Batman. Instead, he finished the year on the inactive list. And while Ben Skowronek has represented himself well in spot duty at wide receiver, he’s a core special teamer.

Even if they’d kept Calvin Austin in the fold the Steelers would have likely looked to draft a wide receiver in the first round, but now they’re in a position of almost take a wide out no later than round 2 in the 2026 NFL Draft.

  • Connor Heyward’s departure also thins out depth at tight end.

The Steelers do have JJ Galbreath behind Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, but they don’t even have another player under a “futures” contract at the tight end position. Connor Heyward’s departure also robs the team of the only player they had who had worked as a fullback.

Finally, Heyward was an impressive contributor on special teams who will now need to be replaced.

With Austin and Heyward officially no longer Steelers, nothing remains of the Steelers 2022 draft class, save for the third round pick they have from Dallas following the George Pickens trade.

Killebrew Reunites with Danny Smith in Tampa

Miles Killebrew has been a special teams ace for the Pittsburgh Steelers since his arrival in 2021 until suffering an awful season-ending injury on the turf at Acrisure Stadium in the Steelers win over the Cleveland Browns last October.

Miles Killebrew, Steelers vs Chargers 2021, Miles Killebrew blocked punt

Miles Killebrew blocks a punt. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

Unfortunately, that was Killebrew’s final game with the Steelers, as he will reunite with special teams coach Danny Smith, after signing as one-year 1.8 million dollar contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Killebrew’s decision is hardly a surprise, as reports indicated that he had put his home in Pittsburgh up for sale earlier this year.

There have other comings and goings in Steelers free agency which we’ll have more to say about soon.

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Steelers Report Card for Win over Dolphins – Delivering in December Edition

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Taken from the grade book of a teacher happy to see his students delivering for December football, here is the Pittsburgh Steelers Report Card for the MNF win over the Dolphins at Acrisure.

Jalen Ramsey, Tua Tagovailoa, Steelers vs Dolphins, Steelers vs Dolphins MNF

Jalen Ramsey sacks Tua Tagovailoa. Photo Credit: Alysia Rubin, Steelers.come

Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers completed 22 of 27 for 224 yards and 2 touchdowns. Rodgers commanded the field with the authority of a Civil War General leading a counter-attack at Little Round top. He hit 8 different receivers, engineered a penalty to covert a third down, and threw a pure laser for his second touchdown pass. Grade: ASteelers, Report Card, grades,

Running Backs
Kenneth Gainwell led the unit with 126 all-purpose yards, including 80 on the ground and 46 on 7 passes through the air. At this point, everyone should understand why the coaches have made a concerted effort to work him into the game plan. Jaylen Warren ran for 33 yards on 12 carries and caught 3 passes for 15 yards. Kaleb Johnson had 2 carries for 4 yards. Grade: B+

Tight Ends
Pat Freiermuth led the unit with 3 catches for 45 yards. Darnell Washington had 3 of his own for 25. Jonnu Smith had 2 catches for 12 yards, but also scored the final touchdown on a 1 14 yard run. Grade: B+

Wide Receivers
If you ever question the value of having a “big” wide receiver, look no further that D.K. Metcalf’s touchdown run. HE caught a bullet from Rodgers, and then bullied his way through 3 Dolphin defenders to find the end zone from about 10 yards out.  Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Adam Thielen only caught 2 passes, with Valdes-Scantling going for a score, but clearly the wide outs playing better with him in the lineup. Grade: B+

Offensive Line
The line was playing its 4th string tackle. It lost its starting guard during the middle of the game. Yet the Steelers dominated time of possession, ran effectively, and Rodgers – 2 sacks notwithstanding, had time to throw. A very welcome performance from a unit under duress. Grade: B+

Defensive Line
No Derrick Harmon? No problem. The Steelers contained De’Von Achane. He had some good runs, but nothing like what we saw against the Bills. Cam Heyward continues to lead the unit. He set the tone early with a tackle for no gain and punctuated it with a sack late. Grade: B+

Linebackers
Did you realize that T.J. Watt was out? And that Nick Herbig had to leave? Patrick Queen made a phenomenal tackle for a loss to force a field goal, and Payton Wilson recorded a sack to obliterate any semblance of a comeback. A very good night for the linebackers. Grade: A-

Secondary
Before garbage time kicked in, Tug Tagovailoa completed 6 of 10 passes for 65 yards with an interception and took two sacks. Asante Samuel Jr. got his first interception snuffing out a Miami attempt to get into scoring position. And Jalen Ramsey’s sack forced the Dolphins to punt away their first possession. Not bad for a secondary where Joey Porter Jr. is the only starter who was both on the roster and playing in the same position on opening day. Grade: A-

Special Teams
Chris Boswell was perfect with place kicks, although he did land one outside of the landing zone. Corliss Waitman and a strong night and both the return game and the return coverage was solid. Ben Skowronek was a monster. Grade: B

Coaching
Let’s get this straight. No one would have compared the Miami Dolphins’ defenes to the 85 Bears going into the game. But the unit had been allowing less than 2 touchdowns per game during the resurgence that began at mid season.

Yet Arthur Smith’s unit had its best night of the season and patched together its first game with four consecutive touchdown drives since 2018. Smith needs to find a way to sustain this, but the unit is coming together nicely as the Steelers reach mid-December.

Its also time to give Teryl Austin credit. He went into this game missing two of his best strong-side defenders. And just two weeks ago a James Cook had humiliated the his defense on this same ground.

  • But Austin’s defense owned this night.

Sure, Miami had some nice runs and moved the ball a little to open the game, but Austin adjusted and dominated the Dolphins, effectively shutting them out of the game in the 3rd quarter.

  • Mike Tomlin has taken a lot of heat this season.

While some of the barbs have been unjustified, when the Steelers have swooned low, they’ve looked as bad as any variety of numbers could suggest. But every NFL season has its ups and downs, and December is the time to bring it together. Two games into the month finds Mike Tomlin’s team doing just that. Grade: A

Connor Heyward, Steel City Shove, Steelers vs Dolphins, Steelers vs Dolpins MNF

Connor Heyward scores with the Steel City Shove. Photo Credit: Jared Wickerman, Steelers.com

Unsung Hero Award
4 Carries for 4 yards doe not impress on the stat sheet. But when 3 of those converted 3rd or 4th downs and one of those was a touchdown it shows you how stats alone seldom tell the full story. Because of that, a because he caught an on-sides kick that had bounced past the first man, Connor Heyward wins the Unsung Hero Award for the Steelers 2025 MNF win over the Dolphins at Acrisure.

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Strike Hard, Strike Smart: Steelers Dominate Dolphins 28-15 on MNF

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On a cold night at Acrisure Stadium, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Miami Dolphins 28-15.

The Steelers emerged with their undefeated streak on Monday Night Football that began in 1992 intact and, more importantly, with an 8-6 record and a one-game lead in the AFC North.

Both teams came to the field with something to prove.

The Dolphins had won 4 straight and 5 out of their last 6 and need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Steelers were on a one-game winning streak, having lost 5 out of their last 8. But Pittsburgh prevailed because with the realities of December football closing in, Mike Tomlin’s team found a way to shift into higher gear while the Dolphins sputtered.

Aaron Rodgers, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Steelers vs Dolphins, Steelers vs Dolphins MNF

Aaron Rodgers flicks it as Minkah Fitzpatrick can only watch. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Dolphins Swing Hard, Steelers Stand Strong

When the Dolphins won the toss and elected to receive, the narrative for this game was a latent storyline waiting to be activated.

Miami had been rushing on anyone and everyone. The Steelers struggled to stop anyone on the ground. The Dolphins defense had been dominating opponents, while the JVness of Pittsburgh’s offense has been on display all season long.

  • But football teams author their own narratives.

And, to that end, there’s one thread that will get lost from this contest: The Miami Dolphins exited their corner swinging hard:

  • Their defense forced a 3 and out on its first go against Pittsburgh’s offense
  • Jordyn Brooks ended Miami’s next drive with a sack of Aaron Rodgers
  • Eleven plays later, Zach Sieler did it again, giving Corliss Waitman his third opportunity to punt
  • On offense De’Von Achane appeared to be finding his footing and building up to a big night

Despite suffering a few misfires, the Steelers yielded nothing, and stood tall. Asante Samuel ended Miami’s second drive with an interception. Pittsburgh ended up punting on the ensuing Steelers drive, but Mike Tomlin threw down the gauntlet by going for it on 4th and 1 at his own 28, and Connor Heyward set the tone for the offense by converting.

Patrick Queen did his part on the next Dolphins drive, dropping Ollie Gorden for a four yard loss on 3rd and 1 at the Steelers 32, forcing a punt.

Jaylen Warren, Steelers vs Dolphins, Steelers vs Dolphins MNF

Jaylen Warren rushes. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

With just over 5 minutes left Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers offense went to work. Rodgers methodically moved the Steelers down the field, mixing up passes to Darnell Washington, Jonnu Smith, Kenneth Gainwell and Jaylen Warren while Gainwell and Warren advanced on the ground.

When the Steelers faced a 4th and 1 at Miami’s 15, there was no doubt they were going for it, and once again Connor Heyward delivered.

Five plays later, the offense was executing the Steel City Shove for the 4th time that night as Connor Heyward was putting the Steelers up by 4 with his first rushing touchdown.

Steelers Strike Hard, Strike Smart

Taking a 7-3 lead out of the locker room at halftime doesn’t deliver much of an advantage, but it does give you a foothold – if you can hold it. And Pittsburgh Steelers, as we know, have been abysmal during the 3rd quarter in 2025.

  • To remedy that, Mike Tomlin and Arthur Smith leaned into the spirit of Ron Erhardt.

Even though Aaron Rodger’s had gone 13 of 14 in the first, half, the Steelers began the second one by feeding the ball to Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. In doing so they fulfilled Erhardt’s philosophy of “Throw to score, run to win.”

The Steelers ran 5 sright times to open the second half, burning nearly 4 minutes off of the clock by the time they reached the Miami 19. There Aaron Rodgers faked the handoff to Gainwell, and then hit Marquez Valdes-Scantling  who was wide open in the end zone, scoring a touchdown on his first catch as a Pittsburgh Steeler.

Leaning into your ground game when you’re down 14-3 in the second half is certainly doable, but it isn’t a mode your offense can automatically slip into. So after Cam Heyward stuffed Archane for no gain on Mami’s first play the Dolphins were forced to pass. Tua Tagovailoa managed to find Alec Ingold for 4 yards on second down, but on third down Jalen Ramsey sacked Tagovailoa without even laying a hand on him.

  • It was on the next drive where the Steelers offense definitively shifted into high gear.

Aaron Rodgers converted a third down by catching the Dolphins with 12 men on the field. Gainwell ripped of several 9 yard runs, and Pat Freiermuth caught a chunk pass. From Miami’s 26, Gainwell lost a yard. Then Rodgers missed Freiermuth. But on the next play, he iced the game.

He threw a laser to D.K. Metcalf and Metcalf, then took the ball and stiff armed two Dolphin defenders while beating a third on his way into the end zone.


By the time he finished moving, the Steelers were up 21-0, as the Steelers offense was simultaneously striking smart and striking hard.

Rudolph on the Bench, but Misfit Toys Have Their Day

A little over two years ago, the Steelers had been left for dead, only to have Mason Rudolph come off the bench and lead Pittsburgh to 3 straight wins on Christmas weekend.

Although Rudolph remained on the bench throughout the night, the Steelers team that took the filed in many ways represented the NFL equivalent of the Island of Misfit Toys.

  • T.J. Watt was out.
  • Nick Herbig had to leave the game with an injury.
  • Rookie run stuffer Derrick Harmon was injured and unable to play.
  • James Pierre, who has been improving by the week, missed game due to injury
  • Receivers Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Adam Thielen were practice squad call ups and waiver wire pickups
  • Dylan Cook, their 4th string offensive tackle, started his first game

Yet the Steelers collectively came together and not only found a way to defeat, but dominat the Dolphins. After Metcalf’s touchdown, Payton Wilson ended the Dolphins next drive with a sack. By the time Jonnu Smith opened the 4th quarter by running it into the end zone from 14 yards out, it was icing on the cake.

December Football Has Arrived, and the Steelers Are Delivering

December has become a month of deliveries. The NFL is no exception. As the Steelers so painfully learned last year, either you step up and deliver in December, or you wither on the vine.

  • The Steelers opened December with a win over the Baltimore Ravens, on the road no less.

But, as Jim Wexell has pointed out through the years at Steel City Insider, the Steelers have typically struggled after a win against the Ravens. Instead, Mike Tomlin found a way for a short-handed Steelers team to dominate a Dolphins team coming into Pittsburgh on a hot streak, and fighting for their playoff lives.

That’s good. But it is December and deliveries must continue. Now the Steelers need to find a way to go into the Detroit Lions in their own lair.

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