Nearly two weeks into free agency, the Pittsburgh Steelers remain stuck in quarterback limbo, as they await a decision from Aaron Rodgers. Although quarterback is the most important position on an NFL roster, believe it or not, it’s not the only one.

Now that the first wave of free agency is finalized and the dust is beginning to settle, let’s look at what we’ve learned and what remains unknown about the rest of the Steelers’ roster.

A first-round defensive tackle appears even more likely

Before free agency, the Steelers’ top draft priorities were at defensive tackle, wide receiver, running back and (possibly) quarterback. If defensive tackle wasn’t already atop that list two weeks ago, it sure is now.

The trade for DK Metcalf has diminished the Steelers’ need at receiver — at least in the short term. Meanwhile, the glaring hole on the defensive front has only grown.

The Steelers, wisely, cut Larry Ogunjobi to save $7 million against the cap. They also added former Patriots defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale and re-signed Isaiahh Loudermilk. Although those two players provide depth, both have been primarily role players — Ekuale ascended into a starting role only last year in his sixth season after playing the first five as a rotational piece, and Loudermilk has not started a game since 2022. On Wednesday, the Steelers signed former Viking and Jaguar Esezi Otomewo, who has just 179 career defensive snaps and falls even further down the depth chart.

If the Steelers, who allowed nearly 300 rushing yards in their postseason loss to the Ravens, are serious about stopping the run in the AFC North, they need a big upgrade, not a Band-Aid. Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, Oregon’s Derrick Harmon and Ole Miss’ Walter Nolen now feel like the three most likely options for Pittsburgh in the first round, possibly in that order.

George Pickens’ future might — and probably should — hinge on the QB decision

As soon as the Steelers acquired Metcalf, the next logical question was: What does this mean for George Pickens?

Sure, the idea of Pickens and Metcalf teaming up on the same offense is exciting. But think bigger picture. If the Steelers have already committed huge money to one receiver, it’s unlikely they would pay a second in a booming market at that position, especially one who coach Mike Tomlin said needs to “grow up” just a few months ago. With Pickens set to enter the final year of his rookie deal, his time in Pittsburgh could be running out.

Now, there are two ways to approach this. If the Steelers land Rodgers (or maybe even Russell Wilson), perhaps GM Omar Khan would be willing to push his chips into the middle of the table and go for it all in 2025, keeping Pickens on the roster.

But if Rodgers rejects the Steelers and they decide to roll with a rookie or Mason Rudolph as QB1, would they be wasting Pickens on a mediocre quarterback? Probably. If they don’t land a QB capable of unlocking both Metcalf and Pickens, the Steelers would be better served trading Pickens when his value is the highest ahead of the draft.

Don’t rule out a running back, even early

The Steelers’ running back room transformed during free agency. Najee Harris bolted for the Chargers. Meanwhile, Jaylen Warren received a second-round tender that will keep him in Pittsburgh next year for $5.3 million, and Kenneth Gainwell signed a one-year contract. For the time being, Cordarrelle Patterson is also on the payroll.

Though the Steelers now have three running backs in Warren, Gainwell and (potentially) Patterson, they’re still very much in the market for a ball carrier. Expect the Steelers to host several running backs, including some who could go as high as the first round or early in the second, during the pre-draft process.

In a deep and talented class, our draft analyst Dane Brugler has eight backs inside his top 100: Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty (No. 5), Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson (No. 35), Omarion Hampton (No. 36), Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson (No. 49), Oregon’s Jordan James (No. 62), Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins (No. 70), Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson (No. 80) and UCF’s RJ Harvey (No. 95).

Changes in secondary show faith in youngsters

Aside from Metcalf, the Steelers’ most significant addition came in the secondary when 34-year-old cornerback Darius Slay agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal. The Steelers also added a third safety in former Cleveland Brown Juan Thornhill.

They could have gone younger at cornerback with a larger investment. For example, Charvarius Ward signed a three-year, $60 million deal with the Colts, D.J. Reed inked a three-year, $48 million deal with the Lions and Carlton Davis agreed to a three-year, $60 million contract with the Patriots.

However, the one-year deal for an aging player in Slay seems to indicate the Steelers have not yet given up on 2023 seventh-round pick Cory Trice Jr. Slay is known for being a willing mentor to younger players. During his introductory news conference, the former Eagles DB said that coincidentally, former Steelers great Rod Woodson was one of his own mentors.

“That’s the best part of my job,” Slay said.

“Guys did that for me, so I’ve got to return the favor,” he continued. “I do it with genuine love, not by force. It’s because I want them to be great. I want them to always be better than me. Every guy I ever had under me, my job is to make sure they’d be better than me, as a player, person, everything.”

Trice was beginning to carve out a niche last year as one of the extra defensive backs in the dime package. That’s likely his best path to early playing time this year as he continues to develop in other ways.

Meanwhile, the addition of Thornhill means the Steelers can return to more of their three-safety packages. They’ve used an extra safety as a big nickel in that package and also sometimes in various dime looks.

Inside linebacker rotation remains TBD

The Steelers added some depth at inside linebacker — but also a bit of uncertainty — when they signed former Raven Mallik Harrison and let Elandon Roberts leave for Las Vegas. Harrison played Mike, Sam and Will linebacker in Baltimore’s defense, along with some defensive end. My understanding is he was brought to Pittsburgh to be an inside linebacker, though we won’t know for sure how he fits until OTAs.

To predict where Harrison might fit, you have to first understand how it looked in the past. In the Steelers’ typical three-man rotation, Patrick Queen plays 100 percent of the snaps, in all packages. Rising second-year linebacker Payton Wilson earned his playing time mostly in nickel packages last year as the primary coverage linebacker. As he continues to develop, his workload in the base defense should only increase.

Given his body type and physical playing style, Harrison would make sense as a replacement for Roberts in the base defense. He’ll also be a core special teamer. But what does that mean for Cole Holcomb, who is expected to return after a devastating knee injury robbed him of the entire 2024 season? The Steelers essentially asked Holcomb to take a pay cut so he could stay on the roster through the offseason and into camp.

Right now, there are too many variables to know for sure how it will come together. This will be one of the things we learn quickly in OTAs and training camp.