The Pittsburgh Steelers might not possess loads of star power compared to the top teams in the league right now, but what they lack in superstars, they make up for with excellent depth at most positions and promising building blocks .
The Steelers are suddenly looking young and strong across the offensive line, while they are deep at skill positions like running back and tight end. But there's still room for improvement on this roster as we look ahead to training camp.
Pittsburgh's 90-man roster could use more depth at nose tackle, safety, and linebacker. Luckily, there are three budget free agents waiting to hear their name called that could give the Steelers the exact depth they're looking for.
Eddie Goldman was once considered among the best nose tackles in the NFL before playing just one season from 2020 to 2023 and briefly retiring. Goldman made an NFL comeback in 2024 and played 30 regular-season games over the past two years.
Now 32, Goldman doesn't offer much pass-rush juice, but he's still a capable rotational run defender from the nose tackle position. The veteran logged over 300 snaps for the Falcons and Commanders, respectively, over the past two seasons. In Pittsburgh, he could offer a similar role as a backup nose tackle who could compete for reps at the position during training camp.
Goldman's last contract was a veteran minimum one-year, $1.255 million deal with Washington in 2025, per Over the Cap. He would go for a similar deal if he suits up in 2026.
The Steelers did an excellent job adding safety depth this offseason by signing Jaquan Brisker and Darnell Savage. But if the plan is to play Jalen Ramsey as the team's primary nickel defender, there's room for another safety. Meanwhile, DeShon Elliott has not shown the ability to stay healthy.
Donovan Wilson is a cheap option with tons of experience. Wilson has started 75 of 98 games for the Dallas Cowboys since 2019. He's better in the box than in coverage, but he's a big safety who can run, hit, and tackle (similar to former Steelers first-rounder Terrell Edmunds).
Wilson also shares ties to Mike McCarthy as his career overlapped with McCarthy's tenure as head coach in Dallas. Wilson played over 300 special teams snaps in his first two seasons, so his experience in this department could come in handy.
Arguably, the Steelers' biggest struggles during the 2025 season came at the linebacker position. Payton Wilson took a step back in his second season, while Patrick Queen felt unplayable at times , due to his poor missed tackle rate and chronic lapses in coverage.
Matt Milano might be coming off the worst season of his professional career, but when healthy, he's been one of the best splash playmakers at his position (something the Steelers have greatly lacked at linebacker).
Milano hasn't played a full season since his rookie year in 2017, and his athleticism is on the decline. Still, he has a tremendous feel for the game and 90 NFL starts. If Queen or Wilson struggles or gets injured, the Steelers could insert a savvy vet who could command the defense.
This article was originally published on www.stillcurtain.com as 3 Bargain-bin free agents who can fill Steelers' needs ahead of training camp .
