Steelers Draft Fills Gaps, Free Agency Needed for Long-Term Depth

0:00On April 26th, the Pittsburgh Steelers came out of the 2026 NFL Draft with some solid young talent, even after that first round mishon. Makai Limon. They grabbed Arizona State Tackle Max Ehonakor early, added Alabama Whiteout Jeremy Bernard in the second, and Iowa Guard Jennings Dunker in the third, filling key gaps left from free agency. But not every whole guy patched, especially looking past this season. Inside Linebacker went totally unaddressed in the draft, and while Patrick Queen and Payne Wilson anchor things short-term, Queen hits free agency. Next year, after leading the league in mish tackles last season, safety feels stable for 2026 too. Thanks to Jacquan Briskers' 1-year $5.5 million deal, DeShawn Elliott's return from, Injury, and Jalen Ramsey's versatility. Darnel Savage should join soon, but with most of those guys hitting free agency after next year, the future looks thin beyond backups like Sebastian, Castro. Over on the interior defensive line, Cam Hayward, Keanu Benton, Derek Harmon, and Sebastian Joseph Day form a strong group now.

1:07Yet Hayward, my retire after this year, Benton's rookie deal ends, and others could get cut to save cash, leaving a need for another starter down, the road. Steelers fans know the draft can't fix it all, so keep eyes on free agency, or trace to lock in that long-term depth before 2027 rolls. Around. NFL News Today, powered by AI bringing you what matters on Game Day.