The Pittsburgh Steelers have perhaps more questions about their roster than any other team in the league entering the offseason. And without the stabilizing hand of Mike Tomlin, finding the answers won’t be easy.
But with another Super Bowl-winning head coach, Mike McCarthy, at the helm, the hope is that they can figure things out sooner rather than later. One area where they shockingly struggled, the defense, could see some upgrades via free agency.
Pittsburgh Steelers Invest Defensively Under Mike McCarthy
The hope with an offensive-minded coach like McCarthy on the sidelines is that he can overcome any holes on his side of the football. However, for a franchise that has been lauded for its defense since time immemorial, the 2025 season wasn’t a shining example.
Ranking No. 16 on PFSN’s Defense Impact, they were definitely middle of the pack, and that was with the most expensive defense in football and a verifiable genius like Tomlin at the helm.
As a result, change is necessary for Pittsburgh to maintain the standard. One pathway to doing that could come via free agency, as one of the best young cornerbacks in football is available.
Riq Woolen, after a productive four seasons on his rookie contract for the Seattle Seahawks, won a Super Bowl championship with the team in Super Bowl 60. But for a roster that has to manage a ton of extensions, Woolen looks like the odd man out.
As a result, he will be testing free agency, where PFSN has him ranked as the sixth-best player on their list of top 100 free agents this summer. They also view the Steelers as a solid landing spot for him.
“Over the last four years, few have been consistent at breaking up passes like Woolen. He’s had 53 pass deflections since joining the Seattle Seahawks, cracking the double-digit mark every single season. He has a massive physical advantage, being 6’4″ with a 78-inch wingspan and blazing speed that helps him jump routes with necessary explosion.”
Woolen made the Pro Bowl as a fifth-round rookie, and his upside is immense. At 26, that ceiling might still be untapped. Historically, the Steelers have been able to bring out the best in their defensive talent.
Under McCarthy, that could change, but for the time being, Woolen might be a smart choice for them, even with his penalty concerns (tied for fifth among cornerbacks in 2025).
