Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Malik Harrison has seen his stock drop sharply during training camp, raising the possibility he could be released before the regular season begins.
Mike DeFabo of The Athletic included Harrison among players whose value has declined as the team prepares for its first preseason game. DeFabo noted that Harrison, signed last year with expectations of starting in the base defense, now works primarily with the third unit.
“The Steelers signed Harrison a year ago to be the starter in the base defense. Now, he could be cut in a move that would save $4.75 million against the cap,” DeFabo wrote.
“It’s been hard to find Harrison during practice, as he’s slid down to a third-team role behind the aforementioned starting tandem (Queen and Payton Wilson) and second-team inside linebackers Cole Holcomb and Carson Bruener.”
Harrison, 28, joined the Steelers in free agency after five seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. The team gave him a two-year, $10 million contract that carried a $6.79 million salary-cap hit for 2026. Releasing him would free nearly $4.75 million in cap space while leaving $2.04 million in dead money.
Over six NFL seasons, Harrison has played in 87 games with 43 starts. He has recorded 215 combined tackles, including 120 solo stops, along with two sacks and one pass deflection. In 2025, his first year in Pittsburgh, he appeared in 11 games and started nine, finishing with 41 tackles, 25 of them solo, and two tackles for loss.
An early-season knee injury limited his availability last year, forcing him to miss six games after Week 1. Once he returned, he averaged nearly four tackles per contest but did not record a sack, interception or forced fumble.
Patrick Queen and second-year player Payton Wilson have locked down the starting inside linebacker spots. Holcomb and rookie Carson Bruener currently hold the second-team roles, leaving Harrison further down the depth chart. Depth charts released early in camp list Harrison behind those four players.
The Steelers entered camp with limited salary-cap flexibility. League figures showed the team ranked near the bottom in available space earlier this summer, making any potential savings attractive as roster decisions approach.
Harrison was a third-round pick by Baltimore out of Ohio State in 2020. He spent his first five seasons primarily as a rotational defender and special-teams contributor for the Ravens, posting a career-high 54 tackles and two sacks in 2024.
Steelers coaches have emphasized competition at every position during camp under new leadership. Preseason games will give Harrison additional chances to climb the depth chart, but his current standing suggests an uphill battle.
Final roster cuts are due at the end of August. Teams must reduce to 53 players, and cost considerations often influence decisions involving mid-tier veterans.
Harrison has one year remaining on his deal. If the Steelers keep him, he would enter the season as depth behind a young and proven group of inside linebackers.
If they part ways, the move would open opportunities for younger players while improving the team’s financial flexibility heading into the regular season.
