Advertisement
With the 2025 NFL Draft in the rearview mirror and most of free agency business wrapped up, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ roster is nearly locked in. But don’t be fooled, there are still two glaring question marks threatening to derail their season: the quarterback situation and a hole at slot corner.
Let’s start with the elephant in the locker room: the QB conundrum. The Steelers lost both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson in free agency, leaving them in a precarious position. Although rumors continue to swirl around a potential signing of veteran Aaron Rodgers, nothing’s confirmed. And if Rodgers doesn’t sign on the dotted line? Things could get messy. The current QB room features Mason Rudolph and rookie sixth-round pick Will Howard, hardly a setup to inspire Super Bowl dreams.
Outside of that, the Steelers’ depth chart is looking fairly solid. However, the cornerback position is still a soft spot, especially in the slot. The team is currently banking on Beanie Bishop Jr. to hold down that role. But after an up-and-down 2024 season that ended with a lukewarm 55.5 Pro Football Focus grade, Pittsburgh might want to start shopping for a more dependable option.
NFL Trade Rumors’ Logan Ulrich recently pegged Hilton as a top fit for a return to the Steel City. Hilton, a fan favorite who broke into the league with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent back in 2017, spent four seasons in Pittsburgh and became known as one of the nastiest run-defending slot corners in the NFL.
After a productive stint in Cincinnati, the 31-year-old was released as the Bengals opted to go younger and cheaper. But don’t let the age fool you—Hilton hasn’t lost a step. In 2024, he played 16 games and racked up 73 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, and an interception. He even led all corners with a jaw-dropping 91.7 run defense grade from PFF.
A reunion could slot Hilton right back into a familiar role, lining up alongside Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay. Financially, it’s a no-brainer, the Steelers have around $34 million in cap space. While Spotrac projects Hilton’s value at $12 million per year, the late timing in the offseason could drive that number down.
So, Pittsburgh, here’s your move: sign Rodgers or risk chaos under center. And while you’re at it, bring Mike Hilton home to patch up that leaky slot corner spot.