The 2025 Steelers Free Agent Period Mock Spectacular

Tis the season for mock drafts. They are like your run-of-the-mill hobo or angry dad complaining about the price of eggs, they are everywhere. But why look at a mock right now, when free agency is upon us. What happens after tampering begins will make most mocks moot. But not my mock! I decided to craft a sample of what Omar Khan, Andy Weidl and Sheldon White could pull off in the next two weeks so they can add for the future in April. The Steelers have an estimated $64m under the cap right now. These figures are estimates based on PFF and Spotrac’s Calculated Market Values. Adjustments were made to make it more real world. But an article like this wouldn’t be valid without consultation from Steel Curtain Network’s master capologist, Dave Schofield. Dave explained that with a multiyear deal, the first-year cap hit is less. With that, the Steelers can add 14 players and a whole lot of talent. It won’t be exact, but we will be very much in the ballpark, err…multi-functional, hi-tech stadium.

Release DL Larry Ogunjobi = +$7.0m in Cap Space 

Larry has had a decent run in Pittsburgh, but the line is in need of an upgrade and the games missed due to injury are rising some. With that stated, it seems necessary to part ways with Larry O.

Release RB Cordarrelle Patterson = +2.8m in Cap Space 

CP is great in the locker room, but just didn’t have the juice, especially after the injury in Indy. They could keep him around, but the money will be fun to play with, and the veteran really doesn’t seem to add much upside.

Re-sign QB Justin Fields to a $3yr/$60m deal = -$8m in 2025 

The latest narrative is that Fields is doubtful that the team will commit to him fully after last year’s benching. It’s hard to blame him. Fields may be the best option for the Steelers with not a lot of options out there, so Omar has to do his best selling to Justin to bring him back in the mix. A sizable deal will be a good start.

Re-sign WR/ST Ben Skowronek to a 2yr/$4m deal = -$1.6m in 2025 

The Steelers believe in this BS. He’s a game-changing Special Teamer and has ability as a No. 5 WR. Ben is a must keep.

Re-sign G James Daniels to a 2 year/$11m per year = -$3.5m in 2025                                              

It’s hard to believe that Daniels, going into his eighth season as a pro out of Iowa, is only 27. A veteran of the Bears and Steelers, Daniels was excelling as a run blocker again in 2024 when he tore is Achilles late in Week 4 at Indy. Big James is powerful in driving defenders to the side, opening holes and creating opportunities, as well as serving as an able pass protector. The Steelers have cap space and could welcome No. 78 back, for he is not projected to have a steep price tag. Either way, a healthy Daniels and his 2025 team will mutually benefit one another.

Re-sign WR Mike Williams to a 2yr/$12m deal = -$4m in 2025 

Williams was coming off-of a debilitating knee injury suffered in 2023 and a trainwreck of a situation with the Jets when he was traded to Pittsburgh at the deadline. His situation with the Steelers was ponderous. Nobody is sure of the reason why he didn’t get much action. It could be the dreaded “moving train” scenario that plagues newcomers to Steel City late in camp or during the season or it could be that Williams wasn’t grasping a new playbook, but he wasn’t getting targets despite shining when the ball was thrown his way. Nonetheless, I would throw a team-friendly “prove-it” deal Mike’s way and, actually use him this time around.

Re-sign RB Jaylen Warren to a 3yr/$24m deal = -$5m in 2025 

Jaylen Warren, with the RFA designation, is 99% likely to remain in Pittsburgh. He’s a dynamic runner with “pinball” qualities as he shoots into the field of play while spinning and bouncing off of defenders. He may fit better as a part of a platoon with one of the players listed above, but that hasn’t always been the way in the Steel City recently. With things needing to change, I feel the team will be forced to adjust. So, see below.

Sign Browns RB Nick Chubb to a 1yr/$4m deal = -$4m in 2025 or Chargers RB J.K. Dobbins to a 2yr/$10m deal = -$3.5m in 2025 

Everything about Nick Chubb’s injury history screams for teams to stay clear. But just what if 2024 was a knee-rehab year for the outstanding veteran. If Chubb regains his 2023 pre-injury form, he would be a great platoon signing for the Steelers. The broken bone at the end of 2024 is not the concern, but if Chubb can get a good bit of his one-cut ability back, he’d be a great fit. However, that’s a ginormous “if”.

Dobbins is a player that Steeler fans coveted way back in 2020, however thanked their lucky stars that he was not selected by the team for his unlucky penchant for sustaining season-ending injuries. Dobbins was unable to play in 42 of 51 games between 2021 and 2023, however a relatively healthy 2024 suggests that the legs of Dobbins may be fresh. This is absolutely a “buyer beware” situation for any team. But should the Steelers go this route, they would get a rusher that is hard to bring down and always productive with a career yards-per-carry of 5.2. This is the guy to keep an eye on.

Sign Giants WR Darius Slayton to a 3yr/37.5m deal = -$5.5m in 2025 

Slayton is intriguing. The Giants had a bad offense and newer, shiner models at the position. However, Slayton’s numbers could have been so much better. Darius is big enough, fast, reliable and looks like he could command attention from the opposing secondary to free up others. The Steelers reportedly were trying to trade for his services in early November. This leads me to think they could look his way again without surrendering draft picks.

Sign Raiders Slot CB Nate Hobbs to a 3yr/$15m deal = -$3m in 2025 

At 6’1”, Hobbs has the size to play on the outside but has remained as a slot defender where he has put together a resume’ as one of the finest in the league against slot receivers by playing with awesome physicality. However, Nate hasn’t been great at staying injury free and has missed 17 games in his four NFL seasons in Vegas. Be that as it may, the Steelers would benefit from a guy like Hobbs to solidify the slot.

Sign Commanders DL Jonathan Allen to a 2yr/$30m deal = -$9m in 2025 

This is an estimate for Allen as market values have not been projected since Washington released the Pro Bowl DT this week. This would be a good fit for the Steelers as he has been a leader on and off field. Allen was a cap casualty in a team oddly with a lot of cap room. Last years, Allen earned his second-straight Pro Bowl with 7.5 sacks and 65 tackles. This would be a great move for Khan and Co.

Sign 49ers CB Charvarius Ward to a 3yr/$48m deal = -$7m in 2025 

Ward has been one of the best players at his position, but the tragic loss of his young daughter in 2024 was devastating. Looking to rebound from an understandable downturn in on-field performance, Ward is looking for a change of scenery. His accomplishments as a physical coverage corner on the outside will be heavily sought after despite the down year. Adding Ward (and possibly Hobbs) to Joey Porter Jr. would make this one of the best CB stables in the league.

Sign Browns OT Jedrick Wills Jr. to a 2yr/$7m deal = -$2.5m in 2025 

For the second-consecutive season, Jedrick Wills has had a season cut short by persistent injuries and ineffective play. However, the five-year veteran came to the league out of Alabama in 2020 with a nasty disposition and a powerful penchant for blocking for the run. If he can get back to that, a healthy Wills could be a bargain. Unfortunately, there’s bust potential as well. At 26, a price tag of $3m and the fact that he’s only needed as a backup, Wills is not much of a risk.

Sign Commanders Jeremy Chinn to a 3yr/$24m deal = -$5m in 2025 

The Swiss Army Knife was cast off by the Carolina Panthers as his contract expired but found his place in the District. Chinn is a muscular, whirling dervish of a player that explodes his intensity all over the field but one that is so versatile that it’s hard to define an exact position for him. Just like Dan Quinn did in Washington, the Steelers would need to employ Jeremy in a correct fashion. Translation: Let him roam around and do dirty work while Minkah Fitzpatrick gets back to doing Minkah Fitzpatrick things.

Sign Chargers Poona Ford to a 1yr/$3.5m deal = -$3.5m in 2025 

Poona Ford might lack the size of most defensive linemen in the National Football League, however, he’s a playmaker, plain and simple. Not just that, but the six-foot undrafted and combine-snubbed Ford is resilient. He has transformed himself into a disruptive, powerful and efficient run stopper, but he lacks a little in pass rush. Nonetheless, Poona Ford will be a quality sign looking for a reliable rotational guy along the defensive trenches.

Sign Texans QB Case Keenum or Kyle Allen to a 1yr/$1.2m deal = -$1.2m in 2025 

Keenum is 37 and one of the greatest backups of all time. Well, that may be stretching it. The Steelers could go with Kyle Allen here for roughly the same deal, but there’s no objectivity for me when it comes to the greatness that is Case.

Again, there are some reaches, injury risks and improbabilities here. However, a haul like this would greatly improve the team and probably only cost the Steelers roughly $53m in cap space. Because this isn’t exact and numbers can be played with, the Steelers will have the $17m needed to pay their picks and other rookies. If the team extends T.J. Watt, there will be about $10m more to do business with. Also roster displacement can add nearly $900K per player. But the bottom line remains, the Steelers have money to be fun and creative with. It’s gonna be fun. Of course, your constructive criticism or alternative options are welcome in the comments section. And, yes, I know this might never happen, but have personality and hope, people.