My 2025 Free Agent Wishlist for the Pittsburgh Steelers (Part 1)
With Conference Championship Sunday nearly upon us, there’s still a little bit of football left before we’re completely engulfed in the despair of the NFL offseason. It sucks, horribly, that the Steelers aren’t a part of this weekend’s festivities, but speculating about what could happen in the next few months is fun for me, so that’s what I’m going to do. I’ve compiled a small wishlist of some guys that I’d like to see the Steelers target in free agency this offseason. It’s important to bear in mind that teams can’t begin negotiating with unrestricted free agents until March 10th at Noon eastern time, and no contracts can be signed until the start of the new league year at 4 pm eastern time on March 12th. So much can change between now and then, so I didn’t put a ton of thought into this short list. This is just a very preemptive look at some names that sound appealing to me TODAY, January 25th, 2025. But, like Stephen A. Smith says, “the list is fluid” and will likely be different when negotiations begin on March 10th.
WR - Chris Godwin (Buccaneers)
Some of the names I’ve seen from Steelers fans about potential additions at wide receiver this offseason are laughable. I’ve seen a TON of folks supporting the idea of bringing back the sudden journeyman, Diontae Johnson, for another stint in the black and gold. I’ve seen support for Tyler Boyd, Davante Adams, and Amari Cooper….and I’m just not interested in bringing in any of those guys. I think we should shoot higher than that. Chris Godwin has played out his contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and will hit free agency in 2025. With over 7,000 career yards, Chris Godwin has carved out a nice role in Tampa Bay’s offense playing opposite of Mike Evans, and I think he could be just as productive playing with George Pickens, if the QB and OC are adequate at their jobs. Godwin is a big time threat as an outside receiver, and has the reputation for being a willing blocker in the run game, both of which are things the Steelers are in desperate need of in their WR room.
Of course, Chris Godwin in his physical prime at 29 years old sounds nice, but he is coming off a significant ankle injury that required his leg to be air casted before he could be carted off the field back in October. It’s hard to find anything concrete about the timeline for his return to football shape, which means he could absolutely come at a bargain, which is also what I think Bucs fans are hoping for. Let’s not forget, he was on pace for a career year before that injury happened. It would absolutely be a risk, but landing him would at least send a message to the fan base that you’re serious about getting better on the offensive side of the ball. Van Jefferson as WR2 cannot happen again; no disrespect to him.
OG - Tevin Jenkins (Bears)
If you read my last post, you’ll know that I am feeling a little uneasy about the lack of depth in the IOL with James Daniels, Nate Herbig, and Max Scharping all set to become free agents this year. I feel like the starting spots are pretty well locked up heading into next season, but you’re going to have to go out and find some competition.
Tevin Jenkins is a mean mofo, and was (still could be) a part of solution, rather than part of the problem with the bad Bears offensive line. The biggest issue with him has been his health, or lack thereof. Since he was drafted by the Bears in 2021, he has missed 21 full games due to injury. However, when he was on the field in the 2024 season, he earned himself a 75.8 pass blocking grade, which ranked 10th out of 72 qualified players at his position. It remains to be seen if he figures to be in the Bears’ plans moving forward as he is set to hit free agency in 2025. I don’t think signing him would be the big free agency splash on offense that fans are looking for, but it would bring welcome competition for Isaac Seuamlo and Mason McCormick, which we’ll need plenty of if our plan is to run it back with the same offensive philosophy.
CB - D.J. Reed (Jets)
What’s wrong with me shooting for the stars, damnit?
I’ve been ravin’ and rantin’ all season long about how this team failed miserably to spend money on the offensive side of the ball. I said, following our elimination to the Baltimore Ravens, that our highest paid defense hasn’t meant shit in the biggest moments for years now, and that we shouldn’t be allocating so much money to that side of the ball. All of that is true. It’s also true that singing D.J. Reed would probably come with a hefty price tag, upwards of $14M per year. But, man, how critical was I of Donte Jackson this year? I, like many other fans, saw right through those INTs. He was burnt toast far too often, especially in the back half of the 2024 season. To me, the NB spot and CB2 spot are must-need spots this offseason, and D.J. Reed is a stylish and exciting way of filling one of them. In my opinion, the Steelers’ secondary would immediately go from maybe top 20 to instantly top 10.
QB - Justin Fields (Steelers)
Justin Fields is likely to have quite a few suitors this offseason, but he genuinely seems like he wants to stay in Pittsburgh and work with this coaching staff. With no QB under contract for the 2025 season, bringing back Justin Fields is really a no-brainer to me. The Russell Wilson experiment had some highs and some lows, but I would think the team has seen enough to safely move on from him. When Justin Fields was QB1 to start the 2024 season, the team had a 4-2 record, and there was excitement and aura at the QB spot for the first time in a while. Benching him started out great, but it eventually tailed off and turned into exactly what I feared it would turn into. With very few sought-after QB prospects in this draft cycle, the Steelers are in need of a bridge QB, and Justin Fields is in need of a home, again.
I think the best situation for both sides is to run it back, but run it back properly. The Steelers should sign Justin Fields to a decent one or two-year prove it deal, and make him QB1. I’m so sick of QB competitions every year. I’d love to see the Steelers really rally behind Justin Fields, and just say to him…hey, for this year, you have the reins. We’re going to throw the playbook at you, and this is your offense. Show us what you can do. That’s what I would like to see. Because, what other option do we have? Draft Jalen Milroe? Sign Sam Darnold? Fuck that. Let’s give Justin Fields a REAL look, and if it fails, we will revisit this conversation next season when the quarterback draft class is, allegedly, better.
RB - Jaylen Warren (Steelers)
For the last name on my early free agency wishlist, I’m staying in-house again. Jaylen Warren should be back in the black and gold next season. Of all the backs that we ended the 2024 season with, Jaylen Warren looked like the only one that is capable of doing everything in Arthur Smith’s offense. I don’t mean to say that he should’ve been used like a workhorse, because I don’t feel that way. I just mean he was the only RB on our roster, to me, whose skill set fits what Arthur Smith wants to do schematically; specifically on the pitch plays, outside zone runs…things of that nature. Watching Najee Harris trot outside only to be met two yards behind the line of scrimmage time and time again was tough. To me, that’s coaching malpractice, but alas it’s what we dealt with. With that in mind, Jaylen Warren has the speed and toughness to execute pretty much anything Arthur Smith wants to do, and he’s a willing blocker in pass protection. At 26 years old, and with his knowledge of the offense, he’s another no-brainer in my opinion. (This next sentence is going to be tough for me to type out, because I love Najee Harris, and I think in a different offense, he is an ideal running back.) Pair Jaylen Warren with a rookie in this year’s DEEP running back(s) class in the draft, and make damn sure your young offensive line takes a leap next season (it’s January 25th…why does Pat Meyer still have a job?).
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