Steelers’ top players must re-sign in 2024 NFL free agency.

There are no game changers among them, but here are four pending free agents who the Steelers should re-sign next season.

Stability is a fundamental principle for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Look no further than the revelation that Mike Tomlin will return for his 18th season as head coach in 2024 to illustrate this. The Steelers are adept at identifying and implementing what works.

That is a lengthy way of saying the Steelers have few intriguing free agents this offseason. Which should come as no surprise. Simply simply, Pittsburgh does not allow players it actually values to enter the free market. Elite performers are signed to extensions before contracts are even considered, and the rest? Well, the team’s leadership believes they can be replaced.

At the same time, the Steelers are coming off a 10-7 season that included a playoff participation. It’s not like they’re going to have 53 new players by 2024. Some of these players are valuable contributors, if not stars, and should be re-signed at the appropriate price.

Who are “these guys” we’re talking about? I’m glad you asked. Let’s look at who the Steelers’ potential free agents are and who the team should ask back.

Quarterback Mason Rudolph
If this article had been written even a month earlier, Rudolph might not have made the list.

But it wasn’t written then, yet he’s on the list. What’s the point?

Anyway, Rudolph had a third consecutive season of primarily clipboard duty before being thrust into starting duties in Week 16. With Kenny Pickett injured and Mitch Trubisky playing like Mitch Trubisky, the Steelers resorted to their previous starter, Rudolph, and were reasonably pleased with the results.

Three regular-season starts, three victories, and zero interceptions on 71 pass attempts made for a strong audition. His postseason performance was up and down (failing to complete 60% of his throws while throwing for two touchdowns), but what do you expect from a third-string quarterback?

The Steelers’ Week 1 quarterback in 2024 is unlikely to be on the roster right now. Trubisky will be released, and Pickett has started 24 games without demonstrating he is Pittsburgh’s guy.

Rudolph has been with the organization since 2018. He’s shown that he can play well off the bench, and having a reliable backup quarterback is an undervalued asset. As long as he is not brought back to start, the Steelers should keep Rudolph.

OLB Markus Golden

There has never been an NFL team with too many effective pass rushers. It is not a thing. Modern defenses prioritize taking down the quarterback, and Golden excels in this area.

Everything revolves around T.J. Watt on Pittsburgh’s defense, and for good reason. However, as far as we know, Watt can only cover one side of the field. Alex Highsmith has been an effective secondary edge player, but there is still place for Golden in the rotation.

The experienced defender concluded the 2023 regular season with four sacks, ten quarterback hits, and six tackles for loss while playing less than 40% of a game’s defensive snaps.

Golden, who filled in for an injured Watt in the playoff defeat to the Buffalo Bills, recorded another sack, QB hit, and tackle for loss. He won’t be too expensive given his age (33 when the next season begins), but the Steelers know how to use him. Bring him back, we say.

S. Miles Killebrew
Killebrew is Pittsburgh’s special teams dynamo, having recently earned his first All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. His season highlight occurred in Week 5, when he blocked a punt, resulting in a safety in a 17-10 victory for the Steelers.

That play demonstrates the value of a player like Killebrew to a squad structured like the Steelers.

With an up-and-down offense, the defense and special teams play an especially important role. Watt produced numerous game-changing defensive plays, including a timely sack, fumble recovery, and clutch interception.

However, to win close games with mediocre or poor quarterback play, the special teams unit must be a game changer. The Steelers, as they stand now, must win by the slimmest margins. Killebrew and other players help to ensure this happens.

The fact that most fans outside of Pittsburgh are unfamiliar with his name does not imply he is not a valued contributor. Killebrew should remain in black and gold.

CB Chandon Sullivan
Teams cannot have too many pass rushers, nor can they have enough coverage players. Joey Porter Jr., a 2023 second-round pick, is developing into a star, which is great news for Tomlin and company, but they will need to preserve secondary depth.

That is what Sullivan gives. In a large sample size, Sullivan was quite effective as the team’s nickel corner. Would he get more playing time? Quite possible. But he showed that he can manage the workload of a third or fourth cornerback with promising outcomes.

Sullivan is a clever player who does not rely solely on his athletic abilities. He should be on the Steelers roster in 2024.