With a new era beginning in Pittsburgh under recently hired head coach Mike McCarthy, the Steelers are heading into an offseason that could look a lot different from what fans are used to. Change is in the air, and while the team isn’t expected to blow things up entirely, there are a few big names whose futures are very much in the spotlight.
Let’s start with the obvious one: T.J. Watt.
Any time a new coach comes in, there’s always speculation about whether aging stars or high-priced veterans might be on the move. But according to longtime Steelers insider Mark Kaboly, Watt isn’t going anywhere - and that lines up with what we’re hearing around the league.
“They’re not gonna try to get rid of him,” Kaboly said in a recent radio appearance on 93.7 The Fan. “I don’t think even if they tried to get rid of him that they would get his market value back for him. I think they still have high belief in him.”
And that belief makes sense. Even if Watt didn’t quite live up to his usual All-Pro standard in 2025, he’s still a cornerstone of the Steelers’ identity - both on the field and in the locker room.
He’s the kind of player you build around, not shop around. McCarthy’s hiring signals that Pittsburgh isn’t tearing it down; they’re retooling.
In that context, Watt’s value to the team goes beyond sacks and pressures - he’s still the heartbeat of that defense.
Jalen Ramsey, on the other hand, is a trickier conversation.
Ramsey joined the Steelers with high expectations, but his 2025 season fell short of what the team needed from a veteran defensive back with his résumé - and his price tag. According to Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Ramsey’s future in Pittsburgh is far less certain.
“The question is whether the Steelers want him as part of their long-term plans,” Fittipaldo said. “The issue with Ramsey is his high cap hit and the fact that he didn’t produce many big plays.
That matters when you’re taking up a nice portion of the salary cap. We’ll see what happens.
I think he’s a candidate to get traded, but I think he can still play a little and safety likely is part of his future wherever he plays.”
That cap hit? It’s a hefty $19.5 million in 2026 - and with no guaranteed money left on the deal, the Steelers have flexibility.
But that flexibility cuts both ways. Ramsey didn’t deliver enough impact plays last season to justify that number, and while his versatility remains valuable - especially if he transitions more into a safety role - Pittsburgh has to weigh that against the financial reality.
The most likely outcome? The Steelers will try to renegotiate his deal, bringing that cap number down to something more manageable.
If Ramsey is willing to work with the team, there’s a path for him to stick around in a more defined role. But if that doesn’t happen, Pittsburgh will almost certainly explore trade options - though it’s fair to question how many teams would be willing to take on his current contract given the drop-off in production.
And if a trade doesn’t materialize? A release becomes the most probable next step.
The bottom line: Watt is staying. Ramsey’s status is very much in flux.
As the Steelers navigate this transitional offseason, expect them to hold onto their foundational pieces while making tough calls on veterans who no longer match their price tags. It’s a balancing act - one that will define how competitive this team can be in the early stages of the McCarthy era.