Steelers free agency tracker Final news updates on signings trades as Aaron Rodg

[Therese Schowalter]

The are in position to be very active in the 2026 edition of NFL free agency. Why? They have tons of cap space. , the Steelers have more than $46 million in space above the salary cap. There will be plenty to keep an eye on with Pittsburgh. For one, there’s the Aaron Rodgers decision. Does he retire? And if not, does he return to play for the Steelers? Technically, he’s a free agent, so he’s got all options available to him. MORE: Speaking of offense: Do the Steelers sign a WR to complement DK Metcalf? And does Kenneth Gainwell stay or go? The defense already got good news on Monday when Asante Samuel Jr. re-signed, but there’s plenty of improvements to made there, too. It’s all part of the post-Mike Tomlin era. After 19 seasons, the head coach stepped down, and he has been replaced by Mike McCarthy. That adds another layer of intrigue as Pittsburgh tries to win a playoff game for the first time in a decade. We’ll be keeping track of all the latest news here. MORE: Steelers free agency rumors, news, live updates Refresh for the latest. Times in ET. SATURDAY 10 a.m.: This tracker is being signed off on. We’ll still have ample free agency news on each team page here at Sporting News. Thanks for following along this Emari Demercado Jersey week. 7:45 a.m.: At this point, free agent signings will slow to a trickle. Nothing is stopping teams from making more moves, but any players who haven’t signed up until this point surely have some kind of reason for the slowing down of their negotiating proce s. FRIDAY 6:15 p.m.: The Steelers have signed defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day to a two-year, $11 million contract to leave the , . 2:15 p.m.: Michael Pittman Jr. after the trade from the . 1 p.m.: New CB Jamel Dean why he chose the Steelers: “All we do is win here.” 7 a.m.: The Steelers have to make today. 6:45 a.m.: As Friday of the first week of free agency gets underway, it’s worth noting that there is now no more closing of free agency. From now until the end of the 2026 season, free agents can be sign. Things won’t move at the same rate of this week, but there will always be available players to be added as the seasons change and the new campaign approaches. THURSDAY 10:07 p.m.: Mike Tomlin was scheduled to speak to reporters at an event on Thursday night but declined after showed up to interview him. 7:30 p.m.: The have signed away Steelers fullback/TE Connor Heyward on a two-year, $5.5 million deal, . 6:30 p.m. : Kyler Murray has signed with the , so he’s off the table for Pittsburgh. 6 p.m.: The have signed Calvin Austin in free agency on a one-year deal for $4.5 million, ending the wideout’s time with the Steelers, . 3:50 p.m.: The Steelers lose former All-Pro special teams player Miles Killebrew to a contract with the , who have Danny Smith in from the Steelers as their special teams coach. . 2:20 p.m.: The implication on Wednesday was that Kyler Murray’s decision on team could be known by Thursday night. The Steelers may not have been the favorite but were probably in the picture, so stay tuned for new info there. 11:50 a.m.: One quarterback who appears to be available if the Steelers want to consider another move is . 8:35 a.m.: Any team looking for a veteran defensive lineman with lots of history of succe s has at least two options left in free agency: Joey Bosa and Cameron Jordan. 6:45 a.m.: lists updated salary cap space for every team in the NFL — although it’s a moving target and hasn’t nece sarily accounted for every free agent signing or release yet. But for what it’s worth, the Steelers have $13.9 million in space as the site stands at the start of Thursday. WEDNESDAY 11:45 p.m.: As things wind down on the first day of free agency officially being open, there are still a lot of big-name free agents out there. The likes of Kyler Murray, Jauan Jennings, Stefon Diggs, Joel Bitonio, Joey Bosa, Jaquan Brisker, Dallas Goedert and more are still out there. 10:45 p.m.: The the Steelers may sign Calvin Austin back to be their WR3. 10 p.m.: Isaac Seumalo why he chose the : “I want to win, and I want to win with a team that wants me here.” Steelers fans, take that as you will. 8 p.m.: Offensive lineman Jack Driscoll is back on a one-year deal after spending most of 2025 on the Steelers’ practice squad, . 5:05 p.m. : The previously reported Cameron Heyward contract maneuvering was made official by the Steelers when the new league year started. Pittsburgh is working on its salary cap space, and Heyward won’t be going anywhere for the rest of his career, you wouldn’t think. 3 p.m.: The Steelers apparently have a plan B for if Aaron Rodgers retires. . 2:30 p.m.: The Steelers for Kyler Murray. His decision would reveal a lot about Aaron Rodgers. 1:20 p.m.: A good : “Apparently another reminder needed on NFL Free Agency. It doesn’t END at 4pm. It STARTS then. There’s a large list of players who are currently unsigned that will greatly help good football teams this year.” 11:45 a.m.: The Steelers still need a left guard, and has suggested that Chris Paul (from the ) would be a good fit. . 11:30 a.m.: The Steelers were almost certainly never going to make a contract offer to Daniel Jones as a free agent on a transition tag from the Colts. But now they can’t, . 9:30 a.m.: Well, the crazy turn happened. The backed out of the Maxx Crosby trade, and now they’ve signed Trey Hendrickson, a big move for the AFC North going forward. 8:40 a.m.: A follow-up on the Maxx Crosby trade and the Ravens — , which would add an odd flavor to their choice to pull out of the Crosby deal. Hendrickson, from the Bengals, would move elsewhere in the AFC North if that went down. 7 a.m.: A says that Brock Hoffman, who the Steelers were reported to have signed, hasn’t actually agreed to a deal with anyone. 6:50 a.m.: The Steelers made a signing overnight: The veteran safety Darnell Savage has come aboard on a one-year deal, . 6:45 a.m.: It’s a big day in the NFL free agent proce s. No deals are actually official yet. At 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT) on Wednesday, contracts can become official and players can fully join their new teams. That’s when teams will start making lots of announcements on social media. This is also the day many releases can become official acro s the league, which could create the potential for more deals. TUESDAY 11 p.m.: One thing worth noting is that the Steelers could have more moves coming soon because certain releases don’t actually proce s until the league year begins on Wednesday. That’ll impact available players and cap room. 9:40 p.m.: The Steelers are signing interior offensive lineman Brock Hoffman from the Cowboys for one year and $2.5 million, . 8:10 p.m.: A shocker elsewhere in the AFC North: , seemingly for medical reasons. 7:20 p.m. : : “The Steelers have added a year to DE Cam Heywards contract, creating nearly $5.5 million in cap space. His new deal is worth $32.25 million over two years with the first year guaranteed.” 5:20 p.m.: If any team wanted to get weird with a running back addition, . But he’s 34, so that would be quite the thing. 4:45 p.m.: The Steelers have signed Cam Johnston to be their punter. . 4:40 p.m.: Elsewhere in the AFC North, Bengals free agent Trey Hendrickson is lingering. It appears he can’t find a deal he wants. . Apparently the pursuit of Hendrickson is wide open. 2:25 p.m.: This morning, reported that the Steelers would be OK with Mason Rudolph and Will Howard as its QB options if Rodgers doesn’t return. 10:45 a.m.: ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky provided a very good update on Aaron Rodgers — . 10:15 a.m.: , something the Steelers might end up needing to look into. 8:30 a.m.: It’ll be interesting to see if any noise starts to emerge about the Steelers and Kyler Murray. They’ll likely need some kind of alternative if Aaron Rodgers decides not to return. Still a lot of unknown at QB. 7:25 a.m.: We also broke down the bad news for Kaleb Johnson. . 7:15 a.m.: We broke down how Rico Dowdle’s signing impacts Jaylen Warren, . 6:45 a.m.: A couple key things to note as Tuesday gets underway. Free agency operates much the same way today as it did Monday. It’s still the “legal tampering” period. Deals can’t be made official until Wednesday. There are still a good chunk of free agents on the board, so more news should emerge throughout the day. MONDAY 11:30 p.m.: As the week goes on, more and more Steelers fans will start to wonder what is happening with Aaron Rodgers. There weren’t really any updates on Monday, so there’s still more to come for sure. 11 p.m.: The suggest Patrick Queen may leave Pittsburgh, potentially to sign with the Dallas Cowboys. 10:30 p.m.: Steelers reports: “The Steelers next move in free agency is expected to be a starting veteran guard to replace Isaac Seumalo.” 10 p.m.: Earlier this evening, the Steelers landed their new RB2. Rico Dowdle signs from the Carolina Panthers, . 6:40 p.m.: The Steelers lose lineman Isaac Seumalo to a contract with the Arizona Cardinals, . 4:26 p.m.: It’s been a quiet day overall for Pittsburgh, which is still awaiting a decision from Aaron Rodgers on what the QB plans to do for next season. 2:31 p.m.: The Steelers have signed a cornerback, Jamel Dean. it’s a three-year deal for $36 million. 2:20 p.m.: News that Mike Evans is leaving the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to sign with the San Francisco 49ers is shocking. It also officially removes Pittsburgh from po sibly ending up with Evans. 1:10 p.m.: The Steelers have lost Kenneth Gainwell. He’s signing a two-year deal with the Buccaneers, according to . It’ll pay him $7 million per year. 12:45 p.m.: The Steelers have made a trade with the Colts: Michael Pittman is coming to Pittsburgh, . 12:30 p.m.: A slow first half hour, with the highlights being Alec Pierce getting $116 million to return to the Colts, and Kenneth Walker signing with the Chiefs. Lots still to be done. 12 noon: The NFL’s legal tampering period opens. Reports from insiders will come soon about agreed-upon signings. Nothing can be officially signed until Wednesday. 11:10 a.m.: One to watch for Pittsburgh: Mike Evans. the Buccaneers, and he’d make the perfect WR2 for the Steelers. 10:45 a.m.: The official negotiating window opens at 12 noon on Monday, so that’s when to start expecting rumors to start humming. 10:40 a.m.: The expectation in recent weeks has been that Aaron Rodgers won’t drag his decision out as long as last year, but it’s not clear whether that means anything will happen this week with the future Hall of Fame QB. 8 a.m.: The to a one-year, $4 million contract to prevent him from reaching free agency at all. Steelers free agent signings Sebastian Joseph-Day has signed from the Titans to help the D-line. Jack Driscoll returns after spending most of the 2025 season as an offensive lineman on the Pittsburgh practice squad. Darnell Savage has signed on a one-year deal to bolster the secondary. Cam Johnston was the Steelers’ punter in 2024, and now he’s back for 2026 after a year split between the Bills and Giants. A hugely exciting pickup in the backfield: Rico Dowdle joins from the Panthers to join Jaylen Warren after the lo s of Kenneth Gainwell. The Steelers have signed a cornerback, Jamel Dean, for three years and $36 million. The Steelers have their WR2, via trade: Michael Pittman Jr. from the Colts. The Steelers agreed with Asante Samuel Jr. before free agency to return to Pittsburgh after six games in 2025 following his midseason addition. Steelers free agent lo ses Kenneth Gainwell is gone, signing a two-year deal with the Buccaneers. The cornerback James Pierre has signed with the Minnesota Vikings. Isaac Seumalo leaves to play for the Arizona Cardinals. Calvin Austin signed with the Giants. Connor Heyward signed with the Raiders. More NFL news: James Conner Jersey

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