PITTSBURGH — With the new front office — Omar Khan, Andy Weidl and company — through the entire calendar year now, you could say it’s created a roster that was put on paper months ago.
If there’s a player (or two) from the Kevin Colbert era who doesn’t fit their mold, Khan and his team move on. A schematic change was promoted in free agency and the draft, bringing physical players to positions of need. Now (or soon) it’s up to Mike Tomlin and his coaching staff to put together the puzzle of the initial 53-man roster.
Teams do not have to cut their rosters from 90 to 53 until August 29 at 4 pm ET. More than two months away, with plenty of practices, preseason games and day-to-day decisions yet to be figured out.
It’s a long way from the Sept. 10 start against the 49ers.
Although the Steelers have 48 different faces from last year’s 90-man roster this season and as many as nine new starters in the mix, there aren’t many surprises to be expected.
Based on what we’ve seen and heard so far throughout the Steelers’ offseason, here’s how that squad will look against the 49ers. (Rookies in italics)
Steelers receiver George Pickens. (Charles LeClaire / USA Today)
Violation (24)
quarterback (3): Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph
Unlike last year, there’s nothing to see here, especially after the Steelers surprisingly brought Rudolph back after the draft. There might be an outside shot of Rudolph beating out Trubisky for the backup job, but I think we knew last year that no matter what Rudolph does in camp and the preseason, he’s going to be the No. 3. year.
Others: Tanner Morgan
Running back (2): Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren
I can’t even begin to tell you the last time the Steelers went with only two running backs on their 53-man roster. Right now, I’m only with Harris and Warren making it for Week 1, but that’s sure to change. A lot of that will depend on special teams and coordinator Danny Smith’s ability to find replacements for the nearly half-dozen core players he lost. If he can do that, there’s no need to keep Anthony McFarland on the 53-man roster. Connor Heyward can always play that role in a pinch. He spent most of his time at Michigan State as a running back. I’m not sure if they want to do that with Heyward, so the RB3 spot is one of the few that is fluid.
Others: Anthony McFarland Jr., Jason Huntley, alphonso graham, Darius Hagans, Places called Monte Pottebaum in the United States (FB)
Wide receiver (5): Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, Allen Robinson II, Calvin Austin III, Miles Boykin
The first four are set in stone. After that, it will depend on a couple of different scenarios. Gunner Olszewski isn’t needed when Austin is your punt and kick returner as well as your slot receiver. If he fails in either of these, Olszewski drops to the 53-man. If he doesn’t, then that opens the door for a luxury roster spot to be filled by Boykin, one of the NFL’s top gunners. Tomlin loves Olszewski, but I don’t think he will put love over principle in this instance.
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Finally healthy, Steelers WR Calvin Austin III will be part of the solution in the slot
Others: Gunner Olszewski, Hakeem Butler, Cody White, Jordan ByrdJa’Marcus Bradley, Dan Chisena, Dez Fitzpatrick
Tight end (4): Pat Freiermuth, Zach Gentry, Connor Heyward, Darnell Washington
This is probably the simplest forecasting position. All four were slam dunks. If there’s anyone to watch as a surprise release, it’s Gentry, but that should be a clear and distinct separation between him and Washington. Gentry is still arguably the best blocker within the unit (for now), and you can’t give up on that. Gentry’s salary is low ($1.23 million cap hit), so Washington should push him out the door. I didn’t see it the first year in Washington.
Others: Rodney Williams
Offensive line (10): Dan Moore Jr., Isaac Seumalo, Mason Cole, James Daniels, Chukwuma Okorafor, Broderick JonesKevin Dotson, Nate Herbig, Le’Raven Clark, Kendrick Green
At first glance, you can’t help but notice that line depth is important. Whether they keep nine or 10 doesn’t matter because all it means is whether they keep Kendrick Green or not. Right now, that doesn’t make a bit of difference. The biggest question going into and out of camp was: Can rookie Jones push incumbent Moore out of the left tackle spot? It could go either way now, but I still think Moore will hold him back early in the season. As far as the 53-man roster goes, I don’t see many changes to what I have listed other than possibly dropping Green.
Steelers OTA winners, losers: Dan Moore, Allen Robinson impress, rookies don’t https://t.co/sMYex2IZ0Q
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) June 16, 2023
Others: Spencer AndersonJarrid Williams, Dylan Cook, Ryan McCollum, William Dunkle
Cam Heyward and TJ Watt. (Philip G. Pavely / USA Today)
Defense (26)
Line of defense (7): Cameron Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi, Keeanu BentonDeMarvin Leal, Breiden Fehoko, Isaiah Loudermilk, Montravius Adams
The Steelers brought in a bunch of role players on the defensive line this offseason and will use training camp to sort it all out. Heyward, Ogunjobi, Benton and Leal are locks, with Fehoko and Loudermilk almost identical. The biggest question mark is whether Adams and/or Armon Watts can slide into a roster spot. The Steelers aren’t opposed to keeping seven defensive linemen, but they’ll have to find a roster spot somewhere to clear in order to do that. This can be done at inside linebacker.
Others: Armon Watts, Jonathan Marshall, Manny Jones, James Nyamwaya
With Cam Heyward close to the Steelers record in sacks, I was curious in a sleepy open OTA locker room if he could name all 48 he rode.
So, I asked and this is the calamity that happened (appearance from K. Pickett).
🚨$1 per month for year subscriptionhttps://t.co/YkPwep3f5l
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) June 20, 2023
Outside linebacker (4): TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, Markus Golden, Nick Herbig
This might be the deepest position in years after drafting Herbig and signing Golden. Watt and Highsmith played so many snaps that No. 1 didn’t get much. 3 men. Golden showed during the spring that he’s more than capable of filling in short- or long-term, and Herbig won’t be cut as a rookie. The odd man out here is Quincy Roche. A few weeks ago, he appeared as a contributor. Now, he won’t join the team unless an injury occurs.
Others: Quincy Roche, David Perales, Toby Ndukwe
Inside linebacker (4): Elandon Roberts, Cole Holcomb, Mark Robinson, Tanner Muse
The top three could rotate through the season’s snaps, leaving Nick Kwiatkoski and Muse to battle for the final spot. Both are very special teams friendly meaning whoever can play the most special teams positions gets the last spot. It can be done anywhere. With Kwiatkowski joining the team during minicamp, I have to give Muse the initial benefit of the doubt. That could easily change in the six weeks of camp before the season begins.
Others: Nick Kwiatkoski, Chapelle Russell
Cornerback (6): Patrick Peterson, Levi Wallace, Joey Porter Jr., Cory Trice Jr.James Pierre, Chandon Sullivan
Cornerback also appears to be a bit cut-and-dried. Peterson, Wallace, Porter and Sullivan will play in some capacity in 2023. Trice is still a work in progress but good enough to keep him off the waiver wire in hopes of getting him on the practice squad, and Pierre has been a beautiful one. good gunner himself. The slot will be the key. Can Duke Dawson or Elijah Riley play enough to upset those plans? I don’t think so.
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Mapping Joey Porter Jr.’s 2 roads. to early playing time as a Steelers rookie
Others: Duke Dawson, Elijah Riley, Luq Barcoo, Madre Harper, Chris Wilcox
Safety (5): Minkah Fitzpatrick, Damontae Kazee, Keanu Neal, Tre Norwood, Miles Killebrew
The biggest question surrounding the sureties is not who makes the team but what roles they will play. Will Kazee and Neal split duties depending on distance and distance? Can Neal be safe in the box against running teams? Camp will do that. Right now, Killebrew is a lock because of his special teams ability, and Norwood’s ability to play anywhere has kept him employed by the Steelers.
Others: Kenny Robinson, Scott Nelson
Steelers kicker Chris Boswell. (Katie Stratman / USA Today)
Special groups (3)
Kicker (1): Chris Boswell
Boswell’s salary and resume make him a sure thing to make the roster, but remember this: He missed a career-high eight field goal attempts and had the second-worst field goal percentage (71.4 percent) of his career last year, and that was in just 12 games. The only other time he was worse was during the 2018 season (13 of 20, 65 percent), which puts his job in jeopardy next year. That won’t happen this year.
Others: BT Potter
Punter (1): Pressley Harvin III
Harvin has had two inconsistent years. I think he will eventually win the job, but his camp battle with former Jets draft pick Braden Mann could go down to the wire. And, oh yeah, Mann can dropkick better than anyone I’ve ever seen.
Others: Braden Mann
Long snapper (1): Christian Kuntz
Kuntz hasn’t had a bad snap since taking over the job in 2021. He’s 29 years old and still making the league minimum, so even if they bring in Rex Sunahara for the competition, it’s Kuntz’s job.
Others: Rex Sunahara
(Top photo of Najee Harris, Kenny Pickett and Dan Moore Jr: Shelley Lipton/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
