Beat writer Mark Kaboly is predicting the Pittsburgh Steelers roster to look a lot different in 2026. Through the team has a slew of free agents who could be re-signed, Kaboly predicts the majority of the group to be playing somewhere else come the start of the season.
Joining 93.7 The Fan’s Andrew Fillipponi and Chris Mueller to run down the list of names and predict who will or won’t be back, Kaboly put a big red X through most of the candidates.
Kaboly predicted WR Calvin Austin III, OG Isaac Seumalo, S Kyle Dugger, RB Kenneth Gainwell, WR Scotty Miller, S Chuck Clark, S Miles Killebrew, S Jabrill Peppers, ILB Cole Holcomb, NT Daniel Ekuale, DL Dean Lowry would all sign elsewhere.
Most of the list isn’t surprising. A majority are low-level and aging free agents unlikely to return under an almost entirely new coaching staff. Still, Gainwell is someone the Steelers have publicly stated they want back. His departure would be a loss.
Seumalo would also create a hole in the team’s lineup. Kaboly surmised Seumalo leaving isn’t his decision, either.
“I don’t think it’s his choice. I think it’s the Steelers’ choice…they feel he’s on the brink of [falling off],” Kaboly told the show.
Arguably the top free agent guard, Seumalo should cash in somewhere else. He’s been speculated as a potential Las Vegas Raiders target to protect future No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza.
The only names Kaboly answered in the affirmative to were TE Connor Heyward, DL Isaiahh Loudermilk and one of the cornerbacks James Pierre or Asante Samuel Jr, giving the slight edge to Pierre for his size.
Even that prediction came with a caveat of Kaboly initially thinking Loudermilk re-signed on a Reserve/Futures contract followed by incorrectly claiming the Steelers activated him to avoid another team poaching Loudermilk during the playoffs. Loudermilk was on injured reserve and had his window-to-return opened, though he was never activated to the 53-man roster and cannot be poached by another team off injured reserve.
That applies only to the practice squad and hardly even applies to the postseason when eliminated teams no longer have formal practice squads and have filled up rosters with their own Reserve/Future contracts.
Putting all that aside, Kaboly’s overall point is clear and agreeable. Much of the roster will change and many of the team’s free agents will move on. They’ll be replaced by younger faces who fit Mike McCarthy’s mold.
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