Steelers general manager Omar Khan.
Getty
Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan cut bait with veteran starter Larry Ogunjobi as NFL free agency got underway.
Just days ahead of the NFL’s free agency period beginning, decisions are starting to be made on big names around the league. In Pittsburgh, the Steelers have several veteran players with unknown futures on the table, especially seeing as there is a new head coach in town in Mike McCarthy.
Despite being under contract through 2028, All-Pro defensive back Jalen Ramsey was one player who could have been a potential trade candidate this offseason. However, according to ESPN insider Brooke Pryor, the Steelers are expected to keep Ramsey in the fold for the 2026 season.
Jalen Ramsey to Stay with Pittsburgh Steelers in 2026
Jalen Ramsey
GettyJalen Ramsey earned his eighth career Pro Bowl nod for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025.
Here is what Pryor wrote about Pittsburgh deciding to keep Ramsey for the 2026 season:
“Defensively, the Steelers have a handful of free agents, but look for them to prioritize fortifying the secondary. A league source indicated the Steelers aren’t planning to move on from Jalen Ramsey, who offers valuable upside as a nickel, but there are still plenty of holes to fill.”
In his first season with Pittsburgh after being traded by the Miami Dolphins, Ramsey played at a high level. The former Super Bowl champion started all 17 regular-season games, recorded a career-high three sacks, and tied career-highs in total tackles (88) and quarterback hits (4). He posted those numbers while switching from cornerback to safety. Without his presence, it is unclear if the Steelers would have made the playoffs.
With the 10-year veteran presumably back with the team for 2026, GM Omar Khan and McCarthy can now look to address other positions of need.
Other Significant Decisions Looming on Steelers’ To-Do List
Gainwell.
GettySteelers running back Kenneth Gainwell is set to become a free agent on March 11th.
Several questions are still looming over the Pittsburgh Steelers just days away from the start of the NFL’s free agency period.
Starting on offense, team MVP Kenneth Gainwell is slated to become a free agent after eclipsing 1,000 total yards for the first time in his career. Will Pittsburgh look to bring him back on a major deal?
Veteran wide receiver Calvin Austin III is set to become a free agent for the first time in his career. After helping the team win the AFC North late last season for the first time in five years, will he be back in the Steel City?
10-year veteran Isaac Seumalo, after having spent the last three seasons at guard for the Steelers and making the Pro Bowl in 2024, could be on the cusp of joining a new team if Khan and Co. decide not to pay up.
Defensively, decisions need to be made on the futures of veteran players such as cornerbacks James Pierre and Asante Samuel Jr., who are both slated to hit the open market on March 11th.
Furthermore, the front office is still waiting for a decision from legendary quarterback Aaron Rodgers on whether or not he will return for his 22nd career season.
Finally, Pittsburgh may be looking to sign veteran edge-rusher Nick Herbig to a contract extension this offseason.
In the first offseason without former head coach Mike Tomlin since 2006, the team’s to-do list is a long and pressing one. But, if Pittsburgh can play its cards right, contention in 2026 is not out of the question.