For the first time in nearly 20 years, the Pittsburgh Steelers hired a new head coach. Very rudely, it was *not* me. Despite more than a decade of blogging experience and leading the Houston Cougars to four – count ’em, four – national titles in College Football 26, my resume wasn’t strong enough.

I’m here to prove them wrong.

For the 11th straight year, this is my Pittsburgh Steelers mock offseason. For those unfamiliar, I’m in the lead chair shaping how the team’s offseason should look. At least, that’s the goal. A one-chance, no do-over, attempt at simulating free agency and the draft to assemble the strongest Steelers’ roster possible. If I screw it up, you’ll know about it. And you’ll sure tell me about it.

This year, we’re using a different platform for my personal football sandbox. I came across (and several of you kindly sent it to me) Stick to the Model, a new website that combines free agency and the draft in one go. It has fun features and different elements, though we’ll talk about the good and bad of the service throughout the article and at the end. No ad or sponsorship here, but it’s linked above so you can try your hand and see how you stack up to my results.

To avoid spoilers or the appearance of an advantage, I only took a quick look through the site just to ensure it was functional enough to pull off the entire exercise. I truly came into this offseason blind. If you hate my results, you’ll think I exited it, too.

Let’s start the offseason. Let’s fix the Pittsburgh Steelers.

ROSTER DELETIONS

Starting by evaluating the existing roster. A chance to clear additional cap space, even if Pittsburgh’s already in a good place with $40 million available to me. My goal is to leave at least $10 million for a rainy-day fund and to make midseason trades to fill any, or many, holes I leave in the roster.

There’s one obvious candidate. Tight end Jonnu Smith isn’t long for the roster. A no-brainer cut to save $7 million. Cut player? Yes, please.

Inside linebacker Malik Harrison, while not a terrible contract, isn’t worth the money he’s making. Another cut.

EXTENSIONS

More pre-free agency business to attend. Most contract extensions will be handled in the summer, but there’s one worth doing right away. Kicker Chris Boswell has patiently bided his time for a long-term contract and has clearly earned it. A call to his agent opens the discussions.

There’s no way to separate the amount of guaranteed money from the rest of the contract, though there are some fun settings to play around with. Here’s the structure of the deal. A two-year extension on top of his current contract.

In new money average and in total, it will make him the highest-paid kicker in the league for a market that’s been quiet since Harrison Butker’s contract shortly before the 2024 season. Getting a deal done now with Boswell prevents his price tag from spiking even greater if the Dallas Cowboys hammer out a long-term deal with Brandon Aubrey.

Boswell accepts. Signed, sealed, delivered.  He’s a Steeler for life. Or at least through 2028.

Before teams start spending big in free agency, the trade block is red hot. My inbox fills up with offers. Most aren’t realistic, but two stick out. The Atlanta Falcons want EDGE Nick Herbig, a high-upside pass rusher to truly give the Falcons’ front some juice. They’re willing to send 2026 2nd and 3rd round picks, a tempting presentation.

After careful consideration, I decline the idea. Herbig is a free agent after the season, and his future in Pittsburgh is uncertain. But I can’t trade away a good and young asset out of the gate.

Another offer hits my desk. This time, for a player. The Arizona Cardinals put WR Michael Wilson on the trade block. Similar to Herbig, Wilson is entering the final year of his rookie deal. Perhaps under the belief Wilson wants to exit the mess that is Arizona, a 15-36 record and two last-place finishes since his arrival, the Cardinals are looking to deal.

The offer. Wilson for this year’s third and a fourth.

After a little back-and-forth goes nowhere, I agree to slightly modified terms.

Arizona Sends: WR Michael Wilson
Pittsburgh Sends: No. 85, No. 135

With the deal accepted, there’s one more move to make. Wilson can’t be a rental, and we immediately start hammering out a long-term deal. His ask is fair. A 4-year, $64.1 million deal. Backloaded to lock him up through 2029.

He accepts. The trade and deal are done. Say hello to Pittsburgh’s new No. 2.

With Michael Wilson in the fold and eyes still on the NFL Draft, it’s worth trying to recoup draft picks. Clearer than ever, receiver Roman Wilson is outside-looking-in. This roster’s only big enough for one receiver with the last name Wilson.

Roman goes on the block. I shop him around to the Detroit Lions, who held a pre-draft visit with Wilson ahead of the ’24 draft. The regime remains in place. Perhaps their interest does, too. Our ask is a 2026 6th-rounder.

A harsh rejection. Too rich for the Lions’ taste.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders offer similar no-thank-yous. Despite my best haggling, no team shows enough interest. Roman Wilson remains a Steeler. For now.

One final matter. Restricted free agents. The gang ‘s all here, but there’s no one worth tendering. At the start of the new league year, all will become unrestricted free agents.

Re-signing Free Agents

First decision. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The 2025 season was a good and memorable experience, but it’s time to move on. His decision may not be made, but we make it for him. The Steelers are going in a new direction. A chance for a long-term option, but plenty of uncertainty about who will start.

Running back Kenneth Gainwell is atop my retain list. If there’s one pending free agent to bring back, it’s him. A two-year, $10 million deal, above perceived market value, but a contract worth going above and beyond.

Drum roll, please….he accepts.

Deal done. The running back room is looking good.

Non-tendered, I attempt to bring back Ryan McCollum as a backup center. A one-year, $2 million deal seems reasonable for a guy who played all of 10 offensive snaps last season.

Rejected. I don’t understand his market value? No, Ryan, you don’t understand your market value. A $5 million ask is way too rich. Our backup center will have to come somewhere else.

Cornerback James Pierre is dreaming just as big. Wanting $10 million per year simply isn’t realistic, even for a premium position and his career-best 2025 season. A deal simply isn’t going to happen, and no offer is formally sent.

As expected, the market for OG Isaac Seumalo is heating up. The Baltimore Ravens are one of two teams in pursuit. Given his age and history of soft tissue injuries, it’s just not worth chasing even holding the fear he’ll sign with a rival. We move on.

Taking the same posture with the rest of our pending free agents, no one else gets a deal. It’s just Gainwell and a lot of roster holes to fill in open free agency and the draft.

Free Agency

Unfortunately, there aren’t “days” to sim through like past versions. We’ll put our own governor on how often we can make offers and negotiate deals.

With just two quarterbacks on the roster, Mason Rudolph and Will Howard, our attention has to first be set there. Flush with roughly $50 million in cap space, we look at the biggest name on the market – Green Bay’s Malik Willis.

To briefly break the fourth wall, one issue with his sim is poor market evaluation. Some numbers simply don’t make sense. Willis’ “market” is under $6 million per year, a laughably low number. I could cheat the system and pay him exactly that. It’s good business. But in the interest of realism and integrity for my make-believe world, I’ll make an actual offer.

A two-year, $45 million deal backloaded to take on an $18 million 2026 cap hit.

Will he take it?

He accepts, and we have our quarterback. One roster hole down, lots to go.

Even with Michael Wilson a Steeler, it’s worth checking out the top of the receiver market. It’s not cheap.

We pivot to the guys who defend them. Cornerbacks. Kansas City’s Jaylen Watson would be a strong fit in DC Patrick Graham’s scheme. His agent gets a 3-year, $24 million deal. Backloaded, our favorite word, to lessen the Year One cap hit.

It’s not enough.

I consider Detroit’s Amik Robertson and have my hand on the button to give him a 2-year, $9 million deal. I think he’ll accept. Last second, I change my mind. He plays large, but at 5’8, Robertson is going to have a tough time facing the Cincinnati Bengals twice a season.

Removing myself from the cornerback mix entirely, I switch back to the offense where depth is needed. You can never have too many offensive line options, and I settle on San Francisco’s Ben Bartch. Versatile and experienced, health is his biggest concern. That makes him cheap. One-year, $2 million.

We get a ‘yes’ and Bartch takes the deal.

Defensive line depth is up next. Old friend Andrew Billings is still in the NFL and found a role as a rotational run stuffer. Will two-years, $7 million be enough?

No. No, it is not.

How about Greg Gaines? Two-years, $5.2 million. He also says no. Tough crowd.

Backup safety? Even in keeping Jalen Ramsey, there’s nothing behind him and DeShon Elliott. The New Orleans Saints’ Terrell Burgess is a sweet spot of a relatively young backup who – shouldn’t – break the bank. Two-years, $5.6 million.

Let’s keep the backup train rolling. Tight end Ko Kieft is an excellent blocker coming off a broken leg in 2025. Let’s get him on the cheap and under market.

Punters are people, too. Reuniting with STs Coordinator Danny Crossman, we go after Miami Dolphins punter Jake Bailey, preferring a veteran to a rookie. A modest two-year, $4 million contract seems reasonable enough.

But Bailey wants more. Increasing the total by $200,000 to meet his ask of $2.1 million per year.

Bailey strong arms me into that little bit more. Tough but fair. I respect it.

One last stab at the defensive line. Miami Dolphins nose tackle Benito Jones. Two years, $6 million total. Take it or leave it and we’re headed to the draft.

Let’s move to the draft.

A recap of our free agent signings, internal and external.

QB Malik Willis: 2 years/$45 million
RB Kenneth Gainwell: 2 years/$10 million
S Terrell Burgess: 2 years/$5.6 million
P Jake Bailey: 2 years/$4.2 million
TE: Ko Kieft: 1 year/$2.2 million
OL Ben Bartch: 1 year/$2 million

Willis aside, it’s a relatively quiet free agency. Frankly, the market was just too rich on so many intriguing names. Armed with ten draft picks, that’s where we’ll make our mark. Draft and develop. That’s Pittsburgh football.

2026 NFL Draft

A look at our draft picks before the party starts: One first rounder (No. 21), one second rounder (No. 53), two third rounders (Nos.76, 99), one fourth rounder (No. 121), one fifth rounder (No. 160), two sixth rounders (Nos. 215, 215), and two seventh rounders (Nos. 223, 236).

Here’s the top five of the draft. Alabama QB Ty Simpson second overall. Never change, New York Jets. I know you never will.

In a world where Maxx Crosby remains a Las Vegas Raider, the Baltimore Ravens make a different and aggressive pass rush move.

Knowing the cost of moving up and already making the Wilson trade, it’s not worth being aggressive and trading up the board. Here’s the big board as the clock turns to us at No. 21.

We sit pat and evaluate trade offers with an eye of moving down. Here’s what comes through.

We hone in on the Denver deal. The chance to stay in the first round and keep the fifth-year option, I’d like to exercise one of those, ya know, and getting back a second round pick is really attractive. We make the deal. No negotiation.

Denver Gets: No. 21
Pittsburgh Gets: No. 30, No. 62

The Broncos take Clemson DL Peter Woods. Waiting until No. 30, here’s the best players available.

Those two safeties are tempting. As is adding another receiver in KC Concepcion. But combining need and positional value, the answer is clear. Tennessee CB Colton Hood. What he lacks in experience, he makes up for in size, physicality, and traits. He’s the guy and, ready or not, ticketed to start next to CB Joey Porter Jr. Hood is our first round pick.

Still eyeing those safeties, I try to make a second round move-up. A call to the Houston Texans gets flatly rejected and in fairness, this was a low-ball offer. A fourth rounder was never going to be convincing.

Staying at No. 53, here’s the best players waiting for the call.

I’m interested in LB Jacob Rodriguez but receiver remains a need. Metcalf and Wilson are a start but the offense needs at least three on top of additional depth. Debating between Alabama’s Germie Bernard and Clemson’s Antonio Williams, I land on Williams. A slot receiver who plays big with run-after ability, a good route runner, and even gadget guy, he fits the mold.

I still have that other second rounder. Right ahead of me, the Los Angeles Rams select LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier. An interesting nod to their future.

On the clock at No. 63, I have a plan. Green Bay becomes my dance partner. A trade that looks like this.

Spelled out, these are the details

Green Bay Sends: No. 84, No. 159, 2027 3rd
Pittsburgh Sends: No. 62

Falling back 22 picks into the third round. It’s not easy letting go the idea of a pair of second rounders but four third rounders, including basically getting my No. 85 back from the Wilson deal at the start, makes the medicine go down easier. I pick up a fifth rounder and most importantly, a third round pick *next* season. It’s not the smoking gun to make a powerplay for a quarterback if Malik Willis doesn’t work out, but any additional future capital helps. Worst case, it’ll simply be used to fill in other holes of the roster. A big get knowing we aren’t expected to receive compensatory picks in 2027.

Trading up, the Packers select Alabama EDGE LT Overton. The rest of Round Two of the draft goes by with us on the sidelines. We’re playing a long game.

Round Three quickly begins. Holding No. 76, we’re eager to make a small move up and get our guy. A sensible deal is offered to Washington at No. 73, giving up a fifth round pick to move up three spots. Seems like a free pick for the Commanders, no?

In fact, it’s no. No reason. Just we’re good. Stunned doesn’t tell the story of my reaction.

Trying the same with the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 74, the deal gets done. Giving up a fifth rounder, we have so many late Day Three picks and don’t need all of them, to make sure we land our guy.

That guy? USC safety Kamari Ramsey. An athletic free safety with range and ball skills, even if the production doesn’t always show it. A sub-package player this year behind Jalen Ramsey and his successor in 2027. The Ramsey-to-Ramsey pipeline has arrived.

Sticking at No. 84, the decision comes down to two areas. Offensive guard or defensive line. Tough decision but because I have more options at guard than nose tackle, I choose the latter. Big Cincinnati nose tackle Dontay Corleone is the man at No. 84. A 340 pound run stuffer to playing behind Keeanu Benton. The type of guy the Steelers’ defense needs to truly fix the run defense.

Soon after, one of the two guards I’m eyeing, Notre Dame’s Billy Schrauth, comes off the board. There’s only one name left. Not picking until No. 99, I panic. Grabbing the phone, I attempt another trade-up. An offer to Chicago feels good enough. My No. 99, my No. 160, and a 2027 6th for Chicago’s No. 89.

Denied. Fingers crossed the Bears don’t take him, they pass for a different name. Presenting the same offer to the next team in line, the Miami Dolphins at No. 90, they accept.

Miami Sends: No. 90
Pittsburgh Sends: No. 99, No. 160, 2027 6th

Gone are picks No. 159 and No. 160. An overpay? Yeah, probably. But when options are narrow, you do what you gotta do. Addressing guard following Isaac Seumalo’s departure, we select Georgia Tech OG Keylan Rutledge. With burst, power, and toughness, he’s a road grader the Steelers want. Pittsburgh needs a true mauler. Rutledge is that dude.

Day Two wraps up. Making four trades already, it’s been an active but prosperous day.

Day Three. Here’s the top of the board.

Going full Draft Day movie of I want my picks back, I call up Chicago in the hope of recouping future capital even if it was the Bears who turned me down before. Giving up No. 121 for their No. 129 and next year’s sixth is my offer.

Rejected. The Bears just aren’t helping me out. Nor does Detroit, refusing the same offer at No. 130.

Sticking and picking, I take Boston College OT Jude Bowry. Offensive tackle was going to be the pick. Deciding on who was the only difficult part. Illinois’ JC Davis, a four-year starter, was nearly our selection, and Miami (FL)’s Markel Bell was attractive due to his massive frame. Bowry sits in-between, a multi-year starter with some rawness but good size and athleticism.

A perfect prospect for OL Coach James Campen to develop. Unable to land a veteran tackle in free agency, waiting on a tackle couldn’t continue.

Make yourself comfortable and grab a snack. We don’t pick again until the sixth round.

Waiting all the way until our back-to-back picks at No. 214 and No. 215, here’s the board once we’re back on the clock.

Consecutive picks means we aren’t torn over who to draft. Our selections:

No. 214 Jimmy Rolder/ILB Michigan – Inside linebacker is light after cutting Malik Harrison and failing to sign anyone in free agency. A smart and rugged linebacker, Rolder will offer good depth and play on special teams with Carson Bruener.

No. 215 Kaden Wetjen/WR-RET Iowa – Consider him returner first, receiver second. A dynamic kick and punt returner, he fills a massive need and hole in the roster. Pittsburgh might finally have a potent return game.

Two more picks in the seventh round to wrap this thing up.

No. 223 Eli Heidenreich/RB-WR Navy – A Pittsburgh kid for a draft in Pittsburgh. Come on, it’s just too perfect. But Heidenreich is a legitimate prospect with offensive versatility, good testing, and great character. A Steelers Depot shoutout from the write up on the sim sure doesn’t hurt my feelings, either.

Three picks later, Heidenreich’s Midshipmen teammate Landon Robinson gets selected.

With the final pick of the draft…

No. 236 Jakari Foster/S La Tech – Do we need another safety? No. But I’m looking at talent and players who can crack the roster. Foster picked off eight passes last year and has good size. He’s worth the chance.

Here’s the last five picks, including Mr. Irrelevant. Congrats, James Brockermeyer.

A recap of our selections:

No. 30 – Colton Hood/CB Tennessee
No. 53 – Antonio Williams/WR Clemson
No. 74 – Kamari Ramsey/S USC
No. 84 – Dontay Corleone/NT Cincinnati
No. 90 – Keylan Rutledge/OG Georgia Tech
No. 121 – Jude Bowry/OT Boston College
No. 214 – Jimmy Rolder/ILB Michigan
No. 215 – Kaden Wetjen/WR-RET Iowa
No. 223 – Eli Heidenreich/RB-WR Navy
No. 236 – Jakari Foster/S La Tech

Ten total picks. Five offense, five defense, though Wetjen is primarily a special teamer. Heavy on trenches, receiver, and secondary.

With 15 spots remaining on the 53 (we’ll assume EDGE Julius Welschof remains internationally exempt), here are the UDFAs we “sign” to round out the roster:

Grayson James/QB Boston College
Devin Mockobee/RB Purdue
Michael Brescia/FB Western Michigan
Cody Hardy/TE NC State
Ethan Onianwa/OT Ohio State
Connor Tollison/C Missouri
Ryan Davis/WR Utah
Aaron Hall/DE Duke
Uso Seumalo/NT Kansas State
CKelby Givens/EDGE Southern
Jack Kelly/ILB BYU
Latrell McCutchin Sr./CB Houston
Brent Austin/CB California
Dom Dzioban/K Miami (OH)
Logan Lupo/P Florida Atlantic

A look at our training camp, 91 man roster depth chart. Offense, defense, and special teams.

In depth chart form, our 53-man roster to open Week One.

Two notes here. I worked under the assumption that OT Broderick Jones begins the year on injured reserve while still recovering from his neck injury. Will that actually happen? I don’t know. Hopefully not. But that’s the story I told myself. I also “traded” (outside the sim, just in my head) RB Kaleb Johnson for a 2027 5th round pick to *insert your favorite NFC team here.* A new coaching staff means changes to the roster and Johnson got the squeeze.

The offense looks markedly improved. Offensive line depth is a little shaky, rarely is it ever good, but the group seems poised to grow so long as Willis works out. Defensively, mistakes were made. Inside linebacker is banking on Payton Wilson shining, cornerback is putting faith in the hands of a rookie like Hood without a Plan B, and the d-line depth isn’t as strong as it should be.

In reality, the waiver wire would be my friend along the d-line and cornerback. And maybe some other stuff.

Really, so long as everyone plays well and no one gets hurt, we’re gonna be fine.

Just as you’ll all do below, the sim graded my moves. Overall, a positive recap.

I finished with $11.7 million in cap space, just above my target goal of $10 million.

One final note. The sim allows us to simulate and summarize the 2026 season. It’s simple and text-based, but here are the results.

A terrible start followed by an incredible rally and 9-8 finish. The more things change, man…the more they stay the same.

But the postseason tells a different story. Somehow capturing the division crown, Pittsburgh wins its first two playoff games in a decade and advances to the AFC Championship Game before being bounced by the Houston Texans for the second-straight year. The Texans go on to win the Super Bowl, spoiling a back-to-back bid by the Seattle Seahawks.

If that’s the story of the ’26 Steelers, call it a successful season. Even if we fell short of the ultimate goal.

Final Thoughts

Like always, this was a lot of fun. The new sim was interesting and had more layers and wrinkles than past ones we’ve used. Unfortunately, it faces an issue common with these engines. Improper calculation of player values that fail to create a true and realistic free agency experience.

It was also a bummer not to have a good feel for what the rest of the NFL was doing around me, especially within the division.

Still, let me know your thoughts on what I accomplished. Or failed to accomplish. Feel free to try your hand at the sim and let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Go win a Super Bowl.

Happy free agency, everyone.