WaltThis page lists all the 2026 NFL Signings for the Pittsburgh Steelers. I’ve listed all of the NFL Free Agent Signing Grades here, which included the Signings. Because I’ve begun posting polls for the Signings, I thought it would make sense to list just the NFL Signings here, so archiving the voting would be easier.
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🏈 2026 NFL Free Agent Signing Grades by Team (Synced 6.4.26)
- Total Signings: 10
- Average Grade: B- (82.8)
June 2026 – Signings
Steelers re-sign TE Darnell Washington (4 years, $42 million): D Grade
signed on 6/3/2026
The Steelers have thrown lots of money around this week. They re-signed Nick Herbig to a $100 million contract, and now they’ve given $40 million to Darnell Washington. While the Herbig re-signing makes sense, this one does not.
Washington is an athletic tight end with great blocking ability, but he has just 57 catches through three years. Sure, he has loads of upside, but tight end is not a premium position, despite the increased usage of two- and three-tight end sets recently. Teams always end up regretting giving these sorts of contracts to non-elite tight ends, and I imagine the Steelers will regret it as well.
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Steelers re-sign DE/OLB Nick Herbig (4 years, $100 million): B+ Grade
signed on 6/2/2026
There’s certainly some sticker shock to this signing. Most casual fans haven’t even heard of Nick Herbig, yet he’s getting nine figures on a deal lasting four seasons. I’m sure most people would deem this to be an overpay.
I’m not in that camp. Herbig is an extremely talented edge rusher who has loads of potential, partly because he’s so young (24). Herbig, who notched 7.5 sacks in 2025, has the upside to record double-digit sacks most seasons in the future. While there’s no guarantee that’ll happen, that’s certainly the trajectory. I think this is a fine signing, but it can’t be graded in the “A” range because it’s not a bargain.
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May 2026 – Signings
Steelers re-sign QB Aaron Rodgers (1 year): D Grade
signed on 5/17/2026
There was some speculation that Aaron Rodgers would play for the Cardinals or perhaps even retire, but this offseason’s drama has finally ended. It turns out that Rodgers will play another season for the Steelers.
I don’t really see the point in this. Rodgers, who turns 43 at some point during the upcoming season, is a shell of his former self. He’s better than what the Steelers have at quarterback, but it’s not like Pittsburgh has great talent elsewhere to win with an aging Rodgers. Mike Tomlin’s gone, so it’s not even like the Steelers are guaranteed to finish with a non-losing record again.
The Steelers would be better off moving on from Rodgers and starting over. They should see what they have in Drew Allar and/or Will Howard to determine if they need to select one of the quarterbacks next April (check out the 2027 NFL Mock Draft for more details.)
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March 2026 – Signings
Steelers sign DT Sebastian Joseph-Day (2 years, $11 million): B Grade
signed on 3/13/2026
Sebastian Joseph-Day is a Jack of all trades type of defensive tackle. He gets after the quarterback on occasion, and is solid, but not great against the run. He’s a fine rotational player, and the Steelers needed depth in this area. This is a decent signing that is appropriately priced.
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Steelers sign S Jaquan Brisker (1 year): A+ Grade
signed on 3/12/2026
Jaquan Brisker had a great start to his career in Chicago as a well-rounded safety, but hit a snag in 2024 when he missed most of the season with an injury. He played for most of 2025, but didn’t seem 100 percent.
The Steelers are getting Brisker on a great deal. He’s just 27 (as of April), so he can certainly bounce back and have another stellar season. If not, then Pittsburgh isn’t risking anything. This is all upside.
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Steelers sign S Darnell Savage (1 year): C Grade
signed on 3/10/2026
Darnell Savage got off to a good start in his career as a former first-round pick. He had two solid seasons in Green Bay, but has gotten worse ever since. He was so bad in 2025 that he was on three separate teams.
There’s always a chance Savage could rebound because he was seen as having plenty of talent entering the NFL, but I wouldn’t bet on it. There’s a better possibility that Savage won’t even make the final 53-man roster.
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Steelers sign G/C Brock Hoffman (1 year, $2.5 million): B Grade
signed on 3/10/2026
Brock Hoffman is not a very talented offensive lineman, but he’s versatile. He started six games at center and one game at left guard for the Cowboys last year. He can fill in at both center and guard, which is crucial for a Pittsburgh team that doesn’t have much depth on the offensive line. The Steelers lost their best blocker, Isaac Seumalo, so unless someone else is acquired, a backup from last year will have to fill in for Seumalo, leaving Hoffman to take the original reserve’s spot.
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Steelers sign RB Rico Dowdle (2 years, $12 million): A Grade
signed on 3/9/2026
Based on the numbers he was producing in October last year, Rico Dowdle seemed destined to receive Kenneth Walker-type money this offseason. Dowdle fell back down to Earth, but it’s still difficult to forget how dominant he was in Carolina for a few games.
Dowdle is a solid back who serve as a quality pass-catcher out of the backfield. He’s underrated, as indicated by this contract. Dowdle deserved a bit more than this, so the Steelers are getting an upgrade on a bargain contract.
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Steelers sign CB Jamel Dean (3 years, $36.75 million): B+ Grade
signed on 3/9/2026
The Steelers are used to having a great defense, but that wasn’t the case last year because their secondary had major problems. Cornerback was a huge issue, so it’s not a surprise to see a signing like this.
Jamel Dean is coming off a great year as Tampa’s top cornerback. He’s going to be a big upgrade, and it’s not like Pittsburgh is breaking the bank with this move.
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Steelers re-sign LB Cole Holcomb (2 years, $5 million): A+ Grade
signed on 3/9/2026
This isn’t an exciting signing like Alec Pierce getting $116 million, or Kenneth Walker inking a deal with the Chiefs, but this is a great move by the Steelers because there’s no downside whatsoever. Cole Holcomb isn’t a great player by any means, but he’s a solid, two-down linebacker who thrives against the run. He’s an important piece of Pittsburgh’s defense, and retaining him for just $5 million is a huge win.
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Charlie Campbell