Naming the Pittsburgh Steelers biggest losers from an aggressive first week of NFL free agency

In 2023, Holcomb was a revelation to a Steelers LB corps struggled to field anything more than a warm body following the retirement of Ryan Shazier. 

With the propensity to both cover and play the run, for eight weeks, Holcomb filled the void that had plagued the middle of the Steelers' defense. But a season-ending knee injury against the Titans in Week 9 seemingly leaves Pittsburgh pessimistic about his availability given the historic signing of LB Patrick Queen. 

In my opinion, the long play is to get Holcomb back to full health, and then have he and Queen hold down the fort in 2025 and beyond given they are both in their 20’s though Holcomb is 3-4 years older than Queen. 

For the time being however, Queen and Elandon Roberts will likely be Week 1 starters if Holcomb can't go.

WR George Pickens

As great as George Pickens is and can be, like every WR, he needs help. And regardless of what you think of the Steelers QB moves, having a Pro Bowler lined up on the other side of the field is a major help, seeing as team's can't devote all their resources to one side, something Pickens dealt with while Johnson was on I.R. in 2023. 

But following the trade of Diontae Johnson, Pickens is now not only the top option, but in reality, the only option when surveying the current roster. Now there’s a chance help is on the way as soon as this week, and there just so happens to be one of the best crops of WRs in some time available in April’s draft, but for now, Pickens is on his own. 

OT Broderick Jones

As vehemently said by Steelers GM Omar Khan at this year’s NFL Combine, the goal is to get Broderick Jones back to his natural position at left tackle, instead of the one he was forced to play in 2023, right tackle. 

But with the top right tackles and centers long gone in free agency, Pittsburgh will now have to decide between center or tackle (or even WR) in the first round, meaning Jones’ growth could be on track to be stunted for the second year in a row.