The Steelers’ 2026 offseason is shaping up like a familiar Pittsburgh story: defense remains the backbone, offense still needs tuning, and the path back to AFC relevance starts with making life easier on the quarterback. Right now, this team is playing drive-to-drive on hard mode – and that’s not sustainable in today’s NFL.

The draft conversation reflects that urgency, with Alabama QB Ty Simpson emerging as a potential target in recent mock drafts. Even after a second-half dip in production, Simpson’s toolbox – accuracy, pocket movement, and the arm to push the ball downfield – checks a lot of boxes for a team that’s clearly in the market for a long-term answer under center.

But it’s not just about quarterback. The roster has needs across the board, and they’re not exactly secrets.

Wide receiver help is a front-burner issue. Cornerback depth?

Still a priority. And the middle of the defense needs more speed, more consistency, and fewer busted coverages.

The Steelers have always done their best work in these lanes – not chasing headlines, but finding players whose traits translate in the AFC North, whose roles are obvious the moment you turn on the tape.

Let’s start on the outside with a name that brings a different gear to Pittsburgh’s offense: Rashid Shaheed. He’s the kind of vertical threat this team has lacked in recent years – a legit burner who forces defenses to respect the deep third.

Even when he’s not racking up targets, he changes spacing. Safeties can’t cheat up, corners can’t sit on routes, and that opens up everything underneath.

Shaheed also adds value in the return game, giving the Steelers a potential field position weapon – and let’s be honest, that’s still a currency this team trades in.

What makes Shaheed even more valuable is how he fits alongside a quarterback still developing. He doesn’t need a perfect pocket or a flawless read to make a play – he creates explosives on his own, something Pittsburgh’s offense has sorely missed since the end of the Pickens era.

Now, flip the style entirely and you get Jauan Jennings – and that’s exactly why he makes sense. Pittsburgh’s passing game often feels like it’s grinding for every yard, and Jennings thrives in those moments.

He’s a physical possession receiver who wins with leverage, toughness, and late hands. He’s the guy you throw to on third-and-6 when you need seven.

He’ll wall off a defender, take contact, and move the sticks.

And don’t overlook his blocking. Jennings plays like he’s trying to earn a helmet sticker on every snap – which matters in a division that still plays cold-weather, run-heavy football.

He brings edge to the perimeter game, and he’s the kind of receiver defensive backs hate because the rep doesn’t end when the ball arrives. In short, he’s built for AFC North football.

Defensively, cornerback is a real need – not just a star, but stability. Joey Porter Jr. looks the part of a true CB1, but the rest of the room needs playable depth.

That’s where Jaylen Watson comes in. He’s long, physical, and competitive at the catch point.

He’s not a scheme-dependent guy – he can survive in press-man, hold up in aggressive calls, and doesn’t need to be hidden. That matters in a division where quarterbacks will isolate your weakest corner and go after him until the scoreboard changes.

Watson’s not flashy, but he’s functional – and in Pittsburgh, that’s often the highest compliment.

Now let’s talk linebacker, a position where one right move can clean up a lot of downstream issues. The Steelers have invested in athleticism, but they still need someone who can do the dirty work and cover ground.

Quay Walker fits that mold. He’s got range, he’s got speed, and when he plays with confidence, he looks like a guy who can erase perimeter runs and disrupt passing lanes in the middle of the field.

Walker’s ability to carry tight ends, close hook zones, and still bring physicality in the run game makes him a natural fit next to Pittsburgh’s young linebacker core. He’s not just a name – he’s a solution.

And then there’s Kamren Curl, the kind of glue piece that makes the whole defense function. Pittsburgh’s safeties are asked to do a lot – rotate into the box, cover tight ends, stay disciplined when offenses throw eye candy their way.

Curl checks every one of those boxes. He’s reliable in space, around the ball consistently, and gives the defense the flexibility to mix coverages without sacrificing toughness.

He’s not a highlight-reel guy, but he’s a professional – and that’s exactly what Pittsburgh needs on the back end.

Of course, all of this ties into the coaching staff – and 2026 brings a new era with Mike McCarthy at the helm. He’ll call plays, with Brian Angelichio as offensive coordinator, Patrick Graham running the defense, and James Campen overseeing the offensive line. That’s a veteran group, and it gives this team a clear direction.

Put it all together, and you’ve got a Steelers team that isn’t trying to reinvent itself – just reinforce what’s always worked. Defense-first football.

Field position battles. Finishing drives and making opponents earn every yard.

These offseason moves don’t change the identity – they make it easier to sustain over 17 weeks. And in a league where any team can make a run, that kind of consistency might be the edge Pittsburgh needs.

The goal hasn’t changed. The standard hasn’t shifted. The Steelers want to bring the trophy back to Pittsburgh – and they’re building a roster that just might be able to do it.