They play positions of perceived need, the addressing of which is always an objective in veteran free agency, but what really resonates this year is the new additions play like Steelers.
Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., cornerback Jamel Dean and running back Rico Dowdle - the three newcomers announced as officially signed, sealed and delivered to the Steelers on Friday - all play with an attitude and physicality that jumps off the tape.
And that, along with cornerbacks who can cover, wide receivers who can get separation and have reliable hands, and running backs who can run and catch, is traditionally what the Steelers are after.
Pittman, acquired via a trade rather than in free agency, is a 6-foot-4, 223-pound former second-round pick of Indianapolis out of USC in 2020. He's played six NFL seasons, two of which resulted in 1,000-yards receiving campaigns (1,082 in 2021 and 1,152 in 2023). In 2025 Pittman established a career high with seven touchdown receptions.
He also blocks with a purpose.
A couple of them, actually.
"Being that guy who catches passes but also blocks his tail off, that opens up extra yards," Pittman said. "Maybe instead of a 5-yard run play it turns into a 30-yard run play or turns into an explosive run and then that sets up the pass game.
"And just showing my teammates that I'm not here just to catch the ball and that I'm willing to do all that dirty work, too."
Pittman can get open but he also excels at making combat catches when necessary.
There's a reason he holds himself to that standard, as well.
"That comes with me just trying to show the quarterback that if he throws it, I'll catch it no matter what," Pittman said. "Being able to fight for that football, I feel like that just gives the quarterback confidence to throw you the ball.
"And more targets leads to more yards. And more yards, hopefully, leads to more wins."
Dowdle, 5-11, 215, first entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina in 2020 with Dallas. He became a starter for the first time in 2024 with the Cowboys and was a starter again, for the most part, in 2025 with the Panthers. He's gone over 1,000 yards rushing both times (1,079 in 2024 and 1,076 in 2025) while averaging 4.6 yards per carry.
Dowdle also caught 39 passes in each of the last two seasons but his intent has always been to be a punishing runner.
"I wouldn't necessarily say it's angry," Dowdle said of his style. "I just think I run physical and try to impose my will on a defense. I know it's hard for them to tackle all four quarters, just try to wear them down and things like that.
"You know when you're a little kid you see somebody get trucked, you're like 'Oooh, you ran him over,' that's just one thing you want to do. I've always just had that mindset to run through a guy since I was little."
Dean, 6-1, 206, started seven of the 14 regular-season games he appeared in and all four playoff games in Tampa Bay's 2020 Super Bowl-championship season. He was initially a third-round selection out of Auburn in 2019 and became a starter for the Bucs in 2021. His reputation as a speed cornerback who is also a willing contributor on run defense precedes him to the Steelers.
Dean's physicality is a matter of practicality.
"You play defense so you gotta be able to cover and tackle at the same time," he maintained. "Nowadays, offenses, they're gonna have plays designed for you to (have to) tackle (as a cornerback). If you don't want to tackle you're going to have a long game.
"I'd rather set the tone early, 'Hey, I'm willing to tackle.'"
