Black & Yellow | Pittsburgh Steelers M26

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Marlon Humphrey Latest Raven To Defect To Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA. - The list keeps growing: Patrick Queen, Keaton Mitchell, and now Marlon Humphrey.

The former Ravens cornerback became the latest Baltimore defector to don black and gold, signing a one-year, $21 million deal with Pittsburgh on the opening day of free agency. For a franchise that's made raiding its biggest rival an art form, Humphrey represents the most brazen acquisition yet.

"It's nothing personal," Humphrey said with a laugh at his introductory press conference. "I wanted to play for a contender and I had a dollar amount that I wanted. Baltimore didn't want to meet that number, Pittsburgh did."

Then came the line that brought applause from the Steelers contingent in attendance: "Now, it's time to kill the rat birds."

The move addresses Pittsburgh's most glaring weakness from last season. The pass defense faltered at critical moments, most notably in the Week 17 loss to Kansas City and during the Chiefs' near comeback in the AFC Championship Game. Adding Humphrey to a secondary that already features Jalen Ramsey and Joey Porter Jr. gives Teryl Austin a veteran presence who knows the division intimately.

"It's a no-lose situation for Pittsburgh, very shrewd move," one NFC personnel executive said. "They signed a rival player on a one year deal. Best case scenario, he fits in seamlessly with Ramsey and Porter. Worst case? He spends a season away from their rival before moving on."

The short term nature of the deal gives Pittsburgh flexibility while addressing an immediate need. If Humphrey thrives, they can negotiate an extension. If not, they've only committed one year and kept a quality corner away from Baltimore in the process.

Humphrey wasn't the only defensive back Pittsburgh added on Day 1. Former 49ers safety Ji'Ayir Brown signed a three year, $25.5 million deal, immediately raising questions about the long term future of strong safety DeShon Elliott, who has one year remaining on his contract.

According to multiple sources, the Steelers were also involved in discussions for former Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton before deciding the price tag was too steep. Hamilton ultimately landed in Jacksonville on a four-year, $80 million deal; nearly $60 million more guaranteed than what Pittsburgh committed to Brown.

The pivot from Hamilton to Brown exemplifies Omar Khan's approach this offseason: addressing needs without mortgaging the future. With Anthony Richardson's extension looming and multiple young players due for new deals in the coming years, Pittsburgh is staying aggressive while maintaining financial discipline.

The Steelers also addressed their kicking situation, signing former Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey to a two year, $15 million contract to replace the recently retired Chris Boswell. Aubrey impressed during his time in Dallas and represents one of the more reliable veterans available, though replacing a franchise icon like Boswell would challenge any newcomer.

Pittsburgh also explored adding interior defensive line help, engaging in negotiations with former Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner before he ultimately signed a one-year, $23.7 million deal with Atlanta. The Steelers' willingness to pursue Buckner signals they're not satisfied with their current defensive front, though Khan appears unwilling to overpay in a market where prices escalated quickly. Former Steeler Keeanu Benton closed the door on a potential return, inking a three year, $48.2 million dollar deal with the Chargers.

Elsewhere on the opening day of free agency, several notable players found new homes. Quarterback Justin Fields signed a three-year, $93 million deal with the Los Angeles Rams, uniting with head coach Sean McVay. Receiver Zay Flowers landed a four-year, $92.2 million contract with Washington, while center Elgton Jenkins joined the rival Cleveland Browns on a two-year, $31.5 million deal.


2026 Free Agency Day 1
DT DeForest Buckner (1yr/$23.7M)
QB Justin Fields (3yr/$93M)
WR Zay Flowers (4yr/$92.4M)
SS Kyle Hamilton (4yr/$80.4M)
QB Sam Howell (2yr/$3.18M)
C Elgton Jenkins (2yr/$31.5M)
TE Tucker Kraft (3yr/$32.6M)
HB Tony Pollard (2yr/$16M)
CB Chidobe Awuzie (1yr/$16M)
MLB Jordyn Brooks (2yr/$21.3M)
DT John Franklin-Myers (1yr/$16M)
TE Hunter Henry (2yr/$19.1M)
SS Derwin James Jr (2yr/$33.5M)
SS Marte Mapu (2yr/$10.9M)
DT Keeanu Benton (3yr/$48.2M)
RT Brian O'Neill (2yr/$43.9M)
LB Trenton Simpson (3yr/$26.9M)
FS Ar'Darius Washington (3yr/$24.2M)

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Steelers Continue Adding DL Depth With Reader, Thibodeaux Signings

Pittsburgh, PA. - Pittsburgh continued its trend of adding cost effective depth in free agency with the signings of DJ Reader (1yr/$18M) and Kayvon Thiboadeux (3yr/$41.7M).

"Thibodeaux is a guy they really like I've been told," said one source close to the Steelers organization. "They were able to get him relatively cheap after he struggled in New York, but with Highsmith up for a new deal after the season he could be their insurance policy."

Reader's fit is more immediate, according to the same source, expecting to backup Derrick Harmon this coming season.

Pittsburgh also re-signed WR KaVonte Turpin to a two year, $13 million dollar deal while signing veteran MLB Jerome Baker with another one year deal, this one worth $7 million.

Outside the free agent market, Pittsburgh dealt SS DeShon Elliott to the Los Angeles Charges for a 3rd round pick.


Notable 2026 Free Agency Day 2
HB Tank Bigsby (2yr/$8.88M)
QB Mac Jones (3yr/$22.1M)
DT Mazi Smith (2yr/$22.7M)
WR Jameson Williams (3yr/$42.5M)
WR Quentin Johnson (3yr/$24.7M)

[Count]

Damn you’re really building up a squad here. What do you plan to do with the #2 pick? You could probably get a pretty good haul if you traded it

[The JZA]

Queen, Mitchell & Humphrey. A bunch of traitors

Welcome home though!

[Captain Canada]

Ravens just absolutely getting shredded. Humphrey, Flowers, Hamilton all gone in one off-season

[redsox907]

Damn you’re really building up a squad here. What do you plan to do with the #2 pick? You could probably get a pretty good haul if you traded it

Definitely trading back with it, I like having 2 1sts any given year just in case there is a guy I have to have, I can get him. But I have trading on hard so I'm not getting the hauls you'd see in RL

Queen, Mitchell & Humphrey. A bunch of traitors

Welcome home though!

they know where to go to win a ship

although Baltimore did win two years ago lol

Ravens just absolutely getting shredded. Humphrey, Flowers, Hamilton all gone in one off-season

Don't forget King Henry retired in the offseason too. Lamar walking into the locker room like Will Smith at the end of Fresh Prince

[redsox907]

Carolina Panthers Signal End of Bryce Young Era, Trade Up For Arch

Washington, DC. - The Pittsburgh Steelers made the most anticipated move of the 2027 NFL Draft on Thursday night, trading the No. 2 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers in a blockbuster deal that netted them three picks, including a future first-rounder.

The Steelers received the No. 5 overall pick, a 2027 third-round pick and Carolina's 2028 first-round pick in exchange for the No. 2 pick, wide receiver Calvin Austin III and a fifth-round selection.

With the pick, Carolina selected Texas quarterback Arch Manning, the consensus top QB prospect in the draft.

Sources told ESPN that the Steelers spent much of draft day negotiating with the New York Jets, who were desperate to find Justin Fields' replacement after the quarterback left in free agency. But those discussions fell apart in the late afternoon, forcing Pittsburgh GM Omar Khan to pivot quickly.

Khan then turned his attention to teams positioned behind the Jets who would need to leapfrog them to secure Manning. The Panthers, sitting at No. 5, emerged as the most aggressive suitor.

"We wanted to stay near the top of the draft, while also adding a first for next year to maintain our flexibility," Khan said after the trade. "This trade did both."
Other Suitors in the Mix

The Steelers fielded offers from multiple teams, including the Las Vegas Raiders and Seattle Seahawks. The Arizona Cardinals, picking seventh, also made a push but refused to include their 2028 first-round pick -- a deal-breaker for Khan, sources said.

Khan viewed this as a top-heavy draft and insisted on staying in the top 10 while also securing future assets. The Panthers' willingness to part with a 2028 first-rounder ultimately sealed the deal.

The trade continues Pittsburgh's aggressive offseason maneuvering under Khan, who has now stockpiled three first-round picks over the next two drafts while maintaining a top-five selection this year. With the Steelers' championship window still open, Khan is betting he can identify impact talent at No. 5 while also preparing for the expensive extensions coming for Anthony Richardson and other young stars.

Tennessee opened the draft by selecting Clemson edge rusher Dylan Stewart with the No. 1 overall pick, a move that surprised no one. However, questions remain about whether pairing second-year quarterback Cam Ward with either Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith or Alabama receiver Ryan Williams would have been the better long-term play.

The Titans are betting that Stewart, widely considered the best pure pass-rusher in the class, can anchor their defense for the next decade.

Minnesota is now on the clock with the New York Jets following, then the Steelers for the 2nd time. Top prospects on the board include DT Bear Alexander, WR Ryan Williams, WR Jeremiah Smith, and HB Fluff Bothwell.

[Count]

Pretty good return for you. Which positions are you looking at drafting?

[redsox907]

Pretty good return for you. Which positions are you looking at drafting?

BPA for sure. With snagging Banks Jr for Jaylen Warren I addressed the need on the offensive line. Thibodeaux addressed Highsmith potentially leaving, so we just going to take best player or best deal, whichever comes first

[redsox907]

Steelers Select Wide Receiver Ryan Williams 5th Overall

Washington, DC. - The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams with the No. 5 overall pick in Thursday's NFL Draft, adding another weapon to an already potent offense while drawing criticism from some analysts who believe the defending Super Bowl champions should have addressed their defensive line.

GM Omar Khan told reporters that Williams was at the top of their draft board all along, even before trading down from No. 2.

"We wanted Ryan, but we also knew that a QB-needy team would want to move up," Khan said. "Minnesota was the wild card. We thought they were going to take Bear [Alexander] if we passed on him, but they were the only other team we projected could snag him."

After Tennessee opened the draft by selecting South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart at No. 1, the board fell largely as expected:

No. 2: Carolina Panthers - QB Arch Manning, Texas (via trade with Pittsburgh)
No. 3: Minnesota Vikings - DT Bear Alexander, Oregon
No. 4: New York Jets - QB LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
No. 5: Pittsburgh Steelers - WR Ryan Williams, Alabama

Not everyone was sold on Pittsburgh's selection. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. questioned the decision to add a third receiver to a run heavy offense anchored by 2026 NFL MVP Anthony Richardson.

"Ryan Williams is a great talent, no doubt. But he is going to be a third receiver in Pittsburgh, with an offense that features a lot of running with Anthony Richardson," Kiper said during ESPN's draft coverage. "Pittsburgh won a Super Bowl with its defense. They have little depth behind Derrick Harmon and an aging D.J. Reader. Why they didn't go after one of the two DTs in Jaheim Oatis or Justin Scott, I don't know. But they should have."

Both Oats (Colorado) and Scott (Miami) were considered premier interior defensive line prospects and remain on the board.

Despite the criticism, the Steelers' front office views the pick as a strategic move ahead of Richardson's looming contract extension. The 2026 MVP is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and his next contract is expected to consume a significant portion of Pittsburgh's salary cap.

"To me, this is about consolidating cost-controlled assets to keep Richardson succeeding," one AFC executive told ESPN. "They aren't going to have the money to pay WRs in the future, so snag a premier talent on a cheap five year deal while collecting another first-round pick? They got Khaned again."

Williams, who caught 102 passes for 1,644 yards and 19 touchdowns last season at Alabama, is considered one of the most polished route-runners in the draft. He'll join DK Metcalf and last year's 3rd round pick Zachariah Branch to form a fearsome trio in the Steel City.


2026 1st Round Selections
EDGE Dylan Stewart, South Carolina
QB Arch Manning, Texas
DT Bear Alexander, Oregon
QB LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
WR Ryan Williams, Alabama
DT Justin Scott, Miami
DT Jaheim Oatis, Colorado
HB Fluff Bothwell, Mississippi State
WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
CB Leonard Moore, Notre Dame
TE Dorian Fleming, Maryland
CB Jeremiah Wilson, Florida State
RT Brian Parker II, Duke
CB Martel Hight, Vanderbilt
CB Eli Bowen, Oklahoma
DT CJ Fite, Arizona State
LT Jordan Seaton, Colorado
QB DJ Lagway, Florida
LT Caleb Lomu, Utah
RT Kage Casey, Washington
MLB Drayk Bowen, Notre Dame
CB OJ Frederique, Miami
DE Elo Modozie, Georgia
C Brady Small, Army
G Charles Jagusah, Florida State
LB Jaylen Sneed, Notre Dame
LB Josiah Trotter, Missouri
C Matt Craycraft, Duke
TE Trey'Dez Green, LSU
T Teague Andersen, NC State
LB Teitum Tuioti, Oregon
T Anthonie Knapp, Notre Dame