Now that the 2026 NFL Draft is in the rearview mirror and Organized Team Activities, mandatory minicamp and training camp are on the horizon, the Pittsburgh Steelers are gearing up for what should be a challenging 2026 season.
The schedule is out, there’s a gauntlet in the second half following the Week 9 bye week, and there’s another international trip, this time to Paris, France. On paper, things look pretty good for the Steelers. They’re still waiting for a decision from 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but top to bottom, there aren’t any glaring holes.
However, with 89 players on the roster, there are two roster spots available for the 91-man offseason roster. One of those spots is obviously reserved for Rodgers. But the Steelers still need to fill the final roster spot.
Fortunately, there are some positions they could consider adding, especially ahead of minicamp and training camp.
Below are my three pre-training camp positions of need for the Black and Gold.
NO. 1 — PUNTER
Yes, the Steelers have Cameron Johnston on the roster. They moved quickly to sign him in free agency, reuniting with the veteran punter after he punted in just one game in 2024 before missing the rest of the season with a gruesome knee injury and then losing his job in training camp to Corliss Waitman last summer.
Johnston punted the ball just 11 times last season in stints with the Giants and Bills. He averaged just under 45 yards per punt and downed two of his 11 punts inside the 20-yard line. However, he dealt with an injury last season, too, and didn’t hold a steady job. Now, with new special teams coordinator Danny Crossman in Pittsburgh, it seems like a big risk to be betting on Johnston for 2026.
A little competition wouldn’t hurt. The Steelers recently had former second-team All-Pro punter Ryan Stonehouse in town for a tryout during rookie minicamp. The Steelers don’t have a second punter on the roster for training camp and preseason, and it would seem ideal to do that, considering they have a kicker behind Chris Boswell to take some of the load off of him in the summer.
NO. 2 — TIGHT END
The Steelers have a nice 1-2 punch in Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth for head coach Mike McCarthy’s scheme. But depth is a major concern behind those two. Last season, the Steelers were four deep at TE with Jonnu Smith and Connor Heyward. Both of those guys are gone.
Now, the Steelers have the likes of UDFAs Lake McRee and Chamon Mateyer, along with second-year pro JJ Galbreath, Jaheim Bell and rookie Riley Nowakowski potentially battling it out at the position. Nowakowski is more of a fullback in McCarthy’s scheme, though he can handle in-line duties.
But banking on one of McRee, Mateyer, Bell or Galbreath to step up as TE3 is a stretch. Fortunately for the Steelers, there are some veteran names out there on the market that make some sense for not only Aaron Rodgers but McCarthy, too.
Marcedes Lewis is the first name that comes to mind. Sure, he’ll be 42 this season, but he can still handle a blocking role. Robert Tonyan is another name, as is Josiah Deguara, both of whom have caught passes from Rodgers. Tonyan also played two seasons under McCarthy in Green Bay.
They aren’t flashy names, but they are experienced and create depth, something the Steelers desperately need at tight end right now.
NO. 3 — WIDE RECEIVER
Even after trading for Michael Pittman Jr. and trading up in the second round to land Germie Bernard out of Alabama, the Steelers need to do a bit more at receiver. Roman Wilson remains unproven, and Ben Skowronek is largely a special teams piece only.
Right now, so is fourth-round pick Kaden Wetjen, too. Brandon Johnson, A.T. Perry, Brandon Smith, and Cole Burgess don’t move the needle as potential WR4-5 options. The Steelers would be wise to add another name here.
In fact, the Tribune-Review’s Chris Adamski is surprised they haven’t yet, and believes they will before training camp. One name that makes sense that is still available is Cedrick Wilson Jr., who played under McCarthy in Dallas and is obviously the son of former Steelers receiver and Super Bowl champion Cedrick Wilson Sr.
Of course, there are big names like Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, and Deebo Samuel still available. But it seems very unlikely the Steelers would go fishing in those waters. Still, receiver is a need — an underrated one, too.