As the Pittsburgh Steelers work to build the best possible roster for the 2025 NFL season, there are many variables at play. More and more teams are making compensatory picks a key part of their roster-building strategies, a trend that has gained significant attention among NFL fans. The league introduced compensatory draft picks in 1994 to promote competitive balance, awarding extra selections to teams that lose more (or higher-valued) free agents than they sign.
These picks, given at the ends of rounds three through seven, encourage smart roster management by rewarding teams that develop talent, but may not have the cap space to retain certain players. The system also discourages reckless spending in free agency while ensuring teams maintain a steady influx of young talent.
In 2020, the NFL expanded the program to include additional third-round picks for teams that lose minority coaches or executives to head coaching or general manager positions elsewhere.
According to Spotrac, the Steelers have 24 pending free agents, and if they experience a net loss in free agency, they could receive compensatory picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. With uncertainty surrounding key players like Najee Harris and Dan Moore Jr., Pittsburgh may find itself in a position to benefit from the compensatory pick system if certain players depart.
The Steelers find themselves in a tough spot with several difficult decisions ahead. After the way their 2024 season ended, many fans are hoping for significant roster changes in Pittsburgh. One of the biggest questions surrounds Harris, with many assuming he won’t return in 2025. However, some Steelers insiders suggest otherwise, speculating that he could be offered a three-year deal or another contract to keep him in Pittsburgh.
Moore is another key player whose future remains uncertain. While the Steelers' front office views him as a developmental success who has exceeded expectations, fans aren’t as convinced. If Moore leaves in free agency, he could help Pittsburgh gain a compensatory pick. The complex compensatory formula primarily depends on contract size, playing time, and postseason awards, and the Steelers have several free agents who logged significant snaps and are positioned to earn solid contracts elsewhere.
Ultimately, whether the Steelers receive compensatory picks will depend on their own free agency moves. The formula offsets losses with signings, meaning if Pittsburgh brings in comparable free agents, potential compensatory picks could be canceled out. This is why teams like the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers are strategic in free agency, often prioritizing draft capital over immediate additions.
Over the years, teams like the Ravens, New Enlgand Patriots, and 49ers have strategically used compensatory picks to build long-term success. The Steelers haven’t been one of the most aggressive teams in accumulating compensatory picks, especially compared to franchises like the Ravens or 49ers, but they have received a few in recent years.
Steelers Have Been Awarded Just Five Compensatory Pick Since 2020
From 2020 to 2024, Pittsburgh was awarded five compensatory picks, including a third-rounder in 2020 for losing Le’Veon Bell, a fourth-rounder in 2021 for Javon Hargrave, and another fourth-rounder in 2022 for Bud Dupree. However, they did not receive any compensatory picks in 2023 or 2024, largely due to their approach of re-signing key players rather than letting them walk for draft capital.
With 24 pending free agents in 2025, Pittsburgh could find itself in a position to benefit from the compensatory pick system if they lose more players than they sign in free agency. Steelers fans will surely be very curious about how all of that ends up playing out. The 2025 offseason is a massive one for the Steelers. With so many fans upset about how the 2024 season ended. Pittsburgh can't afford to get the 2025 offseason wrong.
