Steelers 53-man roster projection: Tough decisions at RB, WR, DL and DB

LATROBE, Pa. — The Steelers aren’t far away from closing up shop at Saint Vincent College and heading back to the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex to put the finishing touches on yet another training camp.

Unless something drastic happens, the final 53-man roster won’t feature many big surprises. The Steelers arrived at camp with the majority of the 53-man roster already accounted for, and not much has changed over the past two weeks as they head into Friday’s first preseason game at Tampa Bay.

The Steelers don’t have to cut their roster from 90 to 53 until Aug. 29 at 4 p.m. ET. Until then, there is little that needs to be decided, barring injury.

While Mike Tomlin tends to bring up the year Stefan Logan and Charlie Batch made the team late during the final preseason game, those are the exceptions rather than the norm.

Based on what we’ve seen and heard so far throughout the Steelers’ camp, here’s what that squad might look like against the 49ers come Sept. 10. (Rookies in italics)

Offense (24)

Quarterback (3): Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph

Unlike last year, Pickett has taken every single first-team rep through the first two weeks of practice. Last year at this time, he was toiling around as the No. 3. Trubisky has quietly put together a solid performance, as he’s taken all the second-team reps. He has looked sharp, so there’s not going to be a battle for the No. 2 with Rudolph. Morgan’s lack of reps assures that Rudolph will make the team. Maybe if a team comes calling for Rudolph, it could open a door for Morgan, but that’s doubtful. Rudolph has experience and talent at a cheap price. The Steelers will always have Duck Hodges in their minds when they think about a third quarterback.

Cut: Tanner Morgan

Running back (3): Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Anthony McFarland Jr.

Harris and Warren are locked in as No. 1 and 2. It is just a matter of how they divvy up the snaps between the two come game days. McFarland appears to be much more mature this year, so his “Mr. August” moniker might not apply. McFarland has done plenty to make this team except for being a true tailback. If he doesn’t show that he could fill in during an emergency, then there is a limited place for him on the roster. The three youngsters on the roster likely aren’t making the team, so it will be McFarland or searching the waiver wire after final cuts.

Cut: Greg Bell, John Lovett, Darius Hagans

Wide receiver (5): Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, Allen Robinson II, Calvin Austin III, Miles Boykin

It is all going to depend on what Austin can do on special teams. It is a sure thing that Johnson, Pickens, Robinson, Austin and special teams whiz Boykin will make the final cut. Where it becomes cloudy is if Austin, who is listed over the veteran Gunner Olszewski as the top return specialist, falters on special teams. That could force the Steelers to keep Olszewski. But his salary and his limited worth in the offense will make that difficult. The only other receiver who has performed well enough to get a good look is Cody White, but he could easily land on the practice squad, so there might not be a need to initially keep him.

Cut: Gunner Olszewski, Hakeem Butler, Cody White, Jordan Byrd, Dan Chisena, Dez Fitzpatrick

Tight end (4): Pat Freiermuth, Zach Gentry, Connor Heyward, Darnell Washington

All four are slam dunks, especially when you consider Heyward can play multiple positions and the plan has always been to use Washington as a blocking tight end. Gentry still might be the best blocker within the unit, and you don’t just give that up. His salary is minimal ($1.23 million cap hit), so Washington is going to have to push him out of the door. I don’t anticipate that.

Cut: Rodney Williams

Offensive line (9): Dan Moore Jr., Isaac Seumalo, Mason Cole, James Daniels, Chukwuma Okorafor, Broderick Jones, Kevin Dotson, Nate Herbig, Le’Raven Clark

The depth and the position flexibility are special with this unit. All four tackles can play both sides, Herbig can play both guard spots and center, and Daniels can play center in a pinch. When you have eight solid offensive linemen like the Steelers do, you keep all of them. You could make the argument that Dotson is expendable because of Herbig, but Seumalo has had a history of injuries, so it would behoove them to keep Dotson as well. If we are talking about the initial roster, Clark is listed among the top nine. I can see the Steelers initially keeping him but going out and scouring the free-agency market for a depth swing tackle. As for Kendrick Green, even if he has found a new twist to his talents, it doesn’t mean he will make the initial 53. The practice squad would be more like it.

Cut: Kendrick Green, Spencer Anderson, Dylan Cook, Ryan McCollum, William Dunkle

Defense (26)

Defensive line (7): Cameron Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi, Keeanu Benton, DeMarvin Leal, Breiden Fehoko, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Montravius Adams

The Steelers have a nice mix of experience and youth along the defensive line. It was obvious in the offseason that the front office wanted to create an influx of depth and talent at the position. Beyond Heyward and Ogunjobi, the Steelers committed assets in the draft over the past few years with Benton, Leal and Loudermilk. Fehoko has solidified his spot with a good first two weeks. It is just a matter of whether they feel comfortable moving on from Adams, who is quite versatile and experienced. Good defensive linemen are hard to find, so they will keep as many as they can.

Cut: Armon Watts, Jonathan Marshall, Manny Jones, James Nyamwaya

Outside linebacker (4): T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Markus Golden, Nick Herbig

When you have that kind of money invested in guys like Watt and Highsmith, you expect them to play a lot, and they will. What they are looking for is someone who can spell the two or who can be used in an emergency. Golden provides a veteran who can fill in due to injury, and Herbig is having one of the best camps of anyone on defense. It’s quite cut and dried at the outside linebacker position.

Cut: Quincy Roche, David Perales, Toby Ndukwe

Inside linebacker (4): Elandon Roberts, Cole Holcomb, Mark Robinson, Kwon Alexander

There isn’t much to see here, either. Omar Khan signed Kwon Alexander a week into camp, which will likely cause a guy like Nick Kwiatkowski or Tanner Muse not to make the cut. There is little doubt that Roberts, Holcomb, Robinson and Alexander are sure bets. It’s whether or not they feel the need to hold onto Kwiatkowski or Muse for special teams purposes. With Robinson and Alexander already being used on special teams, that likely won’t be needed.

Cut: Nick Kwiatkowski, Tanner Muse, Chapelle Russell

Cornerback (6): Patrick Peterson, Levi Wallace, Joey Porter Jr., James Pierre, Elijah Riley, Chandon Sullivan

The cornerback position could fall in several different ways. The top four of Peterson, Wallace, Porter and Pierre are sure bets. Riley has played well and can play multiple positions, and Sullivan is listed as the top slot cornerback. Coming in, it was going to be hard for both Sullivan and Riley to make the 53, but the season-ending injury to Cory Trice Jr. will allow both to make the initial cut.

Cut: Duke Dawson, Luq Barcoo, Madre Harper, Chris Wilcox, Isaiah Dunn

Safety (5): Minkah Fitzpatrick, Damontae Kazee, Keanu Neal, Tre Norwood, Miles Killebrew

Kazee and Neal are listed as co-starters, and Killebrew was a team captain last year. Along with Fitzpatrick, there are four sure things. They have historically gone with five safeties, and Norwood’s ability to play everywhere puts him slightly ahead of Robinson, who has had a good camp.

Others: Kenny Robinson, Trenton Thompson, Jalen Elliott

Special teams (3)

Kicker (1): Chris Boswell

Boswell 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 only 12 games. The only other time he was worse was in 2018, which put his job in jeopardy the next year. That won’t happen this year.

Cut: B.T. Potter

Punter (1): Pressley Harvin III

Harvin has been inconsistent, so Tomlin brought in another Ray Guy Award winner, Braden Mann, to create competition. The battle has been close for two weeks. This position will be won and lost during preseason games. Right now, the edge has to go to Harvin, but not by much.

Cut: Braden Mann

Long snapper (1): Christian Kuntz

Kuntz hasn’t had a bad snap since taking over the job in 2021. He’s 29 and is still making the league minimum, which is significant.

Cut: Rex Sunahara

(Top photo of Kenny Pickett and Matt Canada: Charles LeClaire / USA Today)

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