We are less than a month away from the start of training camp. While the team has done a decent job upgrading the roster, there are still some areas of concern. Here are the top 5 Steelers concerns as we head into the 2026 season:
1. Right side of the line:
We can safely assume that the plan is to move Troy Fautanu, and Mason McCormick over to the left side of the line. That, along with Zach Frazier gives the Steelers a solid left side to work with. The right side however is a completely different story.
Starting at tackle the Steelers have not less than three options, none of them very appealing. Dylan Cook would appear to be the front runner after his late season performance in 2025. He’d be moving from left tackle to right however, and it is a very small body of work. Next up would be rookie Max Iheanachor. This would probably be the best case scenario at right tackle if Iheanachor can prove he is ready for a starting role.
Finally we have the long shot in Broderick Jones. First we need to find out if Jones is healthy enough to play in 2026. Second, are the Steelers willing to make him change sides for a third time in four years. If Broderick Jones is completely healthy (and that’s a big if), he certainly is a top two tackle on the team. How this all shakes out will be fascinating to watch.
Right guard is equally as murky. It will be a three way battle between veterans Brock Hoffman and Spencer Anderson, and rookie Gennings Dunker. The assumption is Spencer Anderson has the early leg up. Hoffman has familiarity with head coach Mike McCarthy having played for him in Dallas however. Dunker may eventually win the job by the end of the season, but switching from tackle to guard will take time particularly for a rookie.
All this to say the right side of the Steelers offensive line is a major Steelers concern. The best bet to start the season is Spencer Anderson, and Dylan Cook. That duo does not exactly inspire confidence whatsoever.
2. Safety:
The Steelers safety room is extremely thin to say the least. Jaquan Brisker is the only legitimate starter on the team. DeShon Elliot was terrific in 2024, and early in 2025. But coming off a horrific knee injury at 29 years old how much can we really expect from him? After those two this position really drops off. You have a journeyman in Darnell Savage, and a seventh round pick in Robert Spears-Jennings as backups. Savage is barley and NFL player at this point, and Spears Jennings will be lucky to make the roster.
The argument could be made that Jalen Ramsey will play significant snaps at safety in 2026. Ramsey struggled after being moved there last season, and is probably best suited as this trams slot corner. Look for the Steelers to add another veteran before week one of the season to help the depth at this group.
3. Age in key areas:
When it comes to Steelers concerns, age has to be at the top of the list. Let’s start with the soon to be 43 year old quarterback. Aaron Rodgers is back for one more season (we hope), and what that means for 2026 is anyone’s guess. One thing we learned from last year is that Rodgers does NOT want to be hit. His time to throw was the quickest in the NFL in 2025. He lived off short passes and screens. Now without his safety blanket in Kenneth Gainwell, it’s hard to imagine Rodgers numbers improving in 2026. The cliff is coming for Aaron Rodgers, the Steelers are praying this isn’t the year.
The defense is heavily dependent on some over 30 stars to keep them afloat. The number one concern being TJ Watt. Was last year’s steep decline an aberration, or is it a sign that he may never be an elite player again? This is a pivotal season for the Steelers $40 million dollar man. Cam Heyward continues to defy logic, and play at an elite level even at 37 years old. The end will come some time, but until it does you have to continue to believe in Cam Heyward. Last of the big three aging defenders is Jalen Ramsey. Corners generally don’t age well, and we saw the cracks starting to happen in 2025. Ramsey can still be a serviceable nickel, possibly even a decent safety. His days as an elite player are over however.
Add all this up, then add some key players that are approaching the age of 30, and there is real concern here. Players like Micheal Pittman, and Jamal Dean may also have their best years behind them. There is a decent amount of young talent on the Steelers, but the team is relying on a group of veterans whose prime years are in the rear view mirror.
4. Wide Receiver depth:
Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but wide receiver depth is once again an issue for the Pittsburgh Steelers. At least this year’s starters are improved over what this team has put out the last five years. Micheal Pittman may not be a Hall of Famer, but compared to past season’s number twos he may seem like one. Omar Khan even invested a second round pick in Germie Bernard who they hope will fill the slot receiver role. After those three however, it becomes all too familiar. Pittsburgh is going to try season three of the Roman Wilson experiment. And if that doesn’t worry you, how does a fourth round return specialist, and a special teams ace work? Ben Skowronek and Kaiden Wetjen will have roles on this team, catching passes may not be one of them. Wide receiver has been Omar Khan’s blind spot from day one. He’s thrown a bunch of money at a couple of decent starters to at lest partially solve the problem. The depth is still a major concern. Are the Steelers one wide receiver away?
5. Inside Linebacker:
This is a position that has depth, but the starting duo needs to step up in a big way. There’s no debating Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson had a rough 2025. Queen struggled being the green dot in Mike Tomlin’s defense. He played his best football in Baltimore freed from that responsibly. Maybe the coaching change is exactly what Queen needs to back to his earlier from. This is a player who is still only 26 years old.
Payton Wilson has all the physical gifts you’d want in an inside linebacker. That has not translated on to the field yet in his career. There have been flashes, and a coaching change could also benefit Wilson. There is reason for some optimism at inside linebacker, time will tell if that optimism is warranted.