The Pittsburgh Steelers' offseason is in full swing now with free agency creeping around the corner. They are walking into March 11th with the ninth-most cap space in the NFL to play with, a number that increases with the latest cuts. They have plenty of needs on their roster, depth in the trenches on both sides, and a secondary cornerback to complement rising star Joey Porter Jr. None may be more important than the wide receiver position, the position General Manager Omar Khan hasn't been able to solve in two years. Khan has made his best efforts in trying to trade for wide receivers at the deadline, but he has failed miserably.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan picks up the phone in the team's war room during the 2023 NFL Draft weekend.
Khan brought in DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks, but failed to get him some reliable help. Metcalf struggled mightily because of this, having his lowest yards total of his career. Luckily for the Steelers, the upcoming NFL Draft class holds some exceptional receiving talent. The Steelers are projected to have 12 picks in the 2026 NFL draft, the most they've had in quite a while.
Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently appeared on 93.7 The Fan, where he discussed the team and their offseason plans. He gave his prediction for their first move on the March 11th free agency period and gave Steeler Nation exciting news regarding the wide receiver position, believing they will add one early.
"I just think they need a receiver, guys," Fittipaldo said. "And I know we're talking about it in the draft, I think they need to go out and get a veteran receiver. Listen, if it's a guy like [Romeo] Doubs who's gonna make $12-$15 million a year, he might be first in line, but my prediction is yes, they'll get a receiver either in a trade, or fairly early in free agency."
While the draft is loaded with wide receiver talent, the free agent class doesn't have such excitement. The free agency period is a time when guys typically get overpaid. This time period will be just that. The players in this class are either older or haven't done enough to prove their worth. The franchise certainly doesn't want to get older, especially after the 2025 season, but guys like Alec Pierce and Rashid Shaheed, who could demand more than their production warrants, will be out there.
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Seahawks' Rashid Shaheed hauls in a deep ball during the NFC Championship Game.
In previous years, Khan has tried to sign free agent wide receivers, including Van Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. These signings were all underwhelming, solving nothing for the team long-term. Khan has the opportunity to redeem himself in 2026 free agency, bringing in some real, high-quality talent. Between their projected 12 picks and significant cap space, there are no more excuses for Khan in the 2026 offseason.
Steelers Have More Than Enough Cap Space
With the ninth most cap space in the NFL as mentioned, the Steelers have money to spend. They can afford to sign any free agent wide receiver, even if it requires an overpay. Pierce is easily having the best season of his career, recording 1,003 yards and six touchdowns. He did this on just 47 catches, which is very unusual. Pierce is a deep ball specialist, but his lack of catches is alarming. He's likely going to get a nice payday north of $15,000,000 a season, a price tag the Steelers should look to offer.
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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) celebrates after scoring a big-time touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars at home.
Pierce's speed and big-play ability would mesh well with Mike McCarthy's West Coast style scheme. He would be a very nice complement to Metcalf and would allow the Steelers to be more versatile in the draft, specifically in the first round. Pierce's signing would allow them to explore other options with the 21st pick, adding to the secondary or bolstering the trenches.
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