PITTSBURGH – The first stage of free agency is always a whirlwind — three offers, high stakes, and minimal room for error. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, it was about quality over quantity, and head coach DK LaFleur along with general manager Mike Tomlin executed that plan to near perfection. With precision and purpose, the Steelers came away from the opening stage with three impact players: returning cornerback Darius Rush, versatile defender Isaiah Simmons, and rising corner Jaylen Watson.
Each signing fills a specific need, blending familiarity with flexibility and upside. Pittsburgh made it clear this offseason that they weren’t just chasing talent and that they were chasing fits.
Darius Rush Returns Home
The first of the three moves came with the return of cornerback Darius Rush on a two-year, 9.4 million dollar deal. Rush was a steady contributor last season, logging 62 tackles, three tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. His length, speed, and understanding of DK LaFleur’s defensive system made him a priority to bring back early in the process.
“Darius earned his way back,” LaFleur said. “He’s a guy who does the little things right, and he’s still improving. He knows our system, he knows our expectations, and he competes every rep. That’s the type of player we want in this locker room.”
Rush’s return provides crucial continuity in a secondary that saw both experience and youth last season. With veterans like Jalen Ramsey and now Jaylen Watson joining the fold, the Steelers’ cornerback room is shaping up to be deep and competitive heading into training camp.
Rush himself was thrilled to stay in black and gold. “There’s nowhere I’d rather be,” he said in an interview. “Coach LaFleur and this staff believe in me, and I want to keep proving that I can be a cornerstone piece in this defense.”
The Simmons X-Factor
The biggest splash of the first wave was undoubtedly the signing of Isaiah Simmons, who is the former first-round pick and one of the most versatile athletes in football. Simmons inked a two-year, 20 million dollar contract, and his arrival immediately raises the ceiling of Pittsburgh’s defense from a versatility stand point.
At 6’4”, 238 pounds with elite speed and range, Simmons can line up virtually anywhere. Under Premier Madden League rules, he can play both as a strong safety and a linebacker, giving LaFleur countless schematic possibilities.
“Isaiah’s a chess piece,” LaFleur said. “You can move him around, disguise coverage, and create mismatches. He’s a guy who can blitz off the edge, drop into coverage, or fill a gap against the run. When you have a player that dynamic, you can open up your playbook in a way most teams can’t.”
Internally, the coaching staff is still deciding how to deploy him. While Simmons has primarily played safety in the past, his athleticism and physicality could see him take reps as a hybrid linebacker, especially in sub packages or nickel formations.
“Right now, we’re keeping everything open,” LaFleur said with a smirk. “He’s going to be in positions where he can make plays. Whether that’s deep, in the box, or off the edge, you’ll see him flying all over the field.”
For Steelers fans, that versatility is exciting. After a year in which the defense gave up too many explosive plays in coverage and struggled against mobile quarterbacks, adding a player like Simmons could be the difference between good and great.
The Jaylen Watson Investment
The third and final signing of stage one may not have been the flashiest, but it could prove to be the most important long-term. The Steelers signed cornerback Jaylen Watson to a four-year, 36 million dollar contract, locking in a physical and ascending defensive back for the foreseeable future.
Watson, who spent his early career with Kansas City, brings a combination of size, patience, and zone awareness that fits perfectly in Pittsburgh’s defensive structure. At 6’2” and 197 pounds, he offers the length and physicality that LaFleur covets in his corners.
“We love his mindset,” LaFleur said. “He’s a fighter. He’s got great ball skills, great instincts, and he’s only scratching the surface of what he can be.”
With Ramsey providing veteran leadership, Rush returning for familiarity, and Watson entering as the new foundational piece, Pittsburgh’s secondary now boasts the kind of versatility that allows for aggressive scheming. The defense can disguise coverages, press at the line, and rely on multiple players capable of playing both zone and man.
The Bigger Picture
Each of these moves reflects the vision that LaFleur and Tomlin have for this roster: balance, flexibility, and experience with upside. They didn’t chase the biggest names or overspend on one player. Instead, they addressed needs with smart, calculated decisions that strengthen the foundation on both talent and fit.
By securing Rush, the Steelers maintained continuity. With Simmons, they added a game-changing hybrid who can alter matchups. And with Watson, they invested in long-term stability.
The next wave of free agency will undoubtedly bring more moves, but for now, the Steelers have already made a statement, and the standard remains the standard. This is a team retooling on the fly, not rebuilding.
“These are the kind of moves that get you closer to where you want to go,” LaFleur said. “You don’t win games in March, but you can put yourself in position to win a lot of them come fall.”
In Pittsburgh, the message is clear. Free agency isn’t about spending the most. It’s about spending wisely, and the Steelers just proved they know exactly how to do that.
– Forged In Steel Times
