Following an active first week of 2026 NFL free agency signings that addressed key roster gaps (see prior coverage in this series), Robert Mays of The Athletic approves of the Pittsburgh Steelers' low-risk additions but doubts their alignment with building a championship roster beyond 2026.
Analyst Robert Mays expressed approval for the Pittsburgh Steelers' targeted free agency moves, which added depth at receiver, running back, secondary, and lines without high-risk contracts. Speaking on his Athletic Football Show, Mays noted the immediate boost for 2026 but raised concerns about the bigger picture: “They are absolutely better... But when this team is ready to compete, are any of the things they did going to be in service of that goal?” He questioned how these additions support a Super Bowl-caliber roster, observing that many serve short-term competitiveness rather than 2027 contention. While players like those signed offer multi-year value that could pair with a rookie quarterback's affordable contract, Mays emphasized Pittsburgh is not yet a Super Bowl favorite. The moves position the team to contend during early quarterback years, but long-term vision remains unclear.
