The Pittsburgh Steelers season enters a quiet phase of offseason exercises after the majority of free agency and the NFL Draft have passed before the club meets in Latrobe, Pennsylvania for training camp in late July.
The team’s current roster of ninety players may see a few changes, but the majority of the squad who will attend camp at Saint Vincent’s College is certain. There will finally be 53 players left in that group.
We can estimate which players will be kept during that 90-player cut to 53 players to create the first official 2024 regular-season roster, much like we can imagine who the Steelers will select in the NFL Draft. These are
Quarterback positions (3)
John Rhys Plumlee, Justin Fields, and Russell Wilson
Depending, there might be a surprise at the bottom of the roster. Due to his NFL starting experience, Kyle Allen will have the advantage against Plumlee; nevertheless, Plumlee’s athleticism will allow him to surpass Allen and provide the Steelers an opportunity to observe other AFC North quarterbacks on scout teams.
Running Backs (3)
Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Daijun Edwards
Another undrafted rookie, this time from Georgia, will have a shot at making the 53-man roster as Edwards finds a spot at a position that wasn’t addressed otherwise in free agency or the draft. With the Steelers passing on Harris’ fifth-year option, they may redshirt Edwards as competition looking ahead to 2025. (Plus they have traditionally used running backs as kick returners and could have Edwards play special teams on coverage units too.)
Wide Receivers (6)
George Pickens, Calvin Austin III, Van Jefferson, Roman Wilson, Cordarrelle Patterson, Denzel Mims
Patterson is strictly a special teams player, while Wilson and Austin are still inexperienced in the NFL, paving the way for Jefferson and Mims to crack the 53. Someone will also have to replace Myles Boykin on special teams, which means Mims or Jefferson will stick to the roster in that capacity.
Tight Ends (4)
Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Connor Heyward, MyCole Pruitt
With offensive coordinator Arthur Smith using more multiple tight end sets, the team signed one of his mainstays at the position in free agency. This works out in Pruitt’s favor, as Heyward is a hybrid fullback and tight end: since he’s smaller, Pruitt should still find a role as a blocker and special teams player.
Offensive Linemen (8)
Zach Frazier, James Daniels, Isaac Seumalo, Broderick Jones, Dan Moore Jr., Nate Herbig, Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick
One of the more difficult positions to lock down, the Steelers will likely part ways with Moore if a backup tackle emerges in camp. Watch out for Dylan Cook in that role, while Spencer Anderson could make an argument for them to keep nine linemen total.
Defensive Linemen (7)
Cameron Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi, Keeanu Benton, DeMarvin Leal, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Montravius Adams, Logan Lee
This group is fairly cut and dry with returning starters and backups, plus the rookie Lee all making the squad. Breiden Fehoko is the odd man out.
Linebackers (8)
T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Patrick Queen, Elandon Roberts, Cole Holcomb, Payton Willis, Mark Robinson
The outside linebacker depth is Herbig and Herbig only, which may lead to a shift in this initial group. Watch for Holcomb’s recovery and Robinson’s development: the team may move one of the two to make room for another backup pass rusher, though with recent injuries on the interior, it’s plausible they return more than the usual four inside linebackers.
Cornerbacks (5)
Joey Porter Jr., Donte Jackson, Cory Trice Jr., Darius Rush, Beanie Bishop Jr.
Another group that’s thin to start offseason workouts, Omar Khan has to add veteran depth to this group. Bishop has the inside track on winning the slot corner job while someone else needs to replace James Pierre‘s special teams snaps. That should be Trice or Rush, but by September may not be both.
Safeties (6)
Minkah Fitzpatrick, Damontae Kazee, DeShon Elliott, Miles Killebrew, Trenton Thompson, Ryan Watts
As with the cornerbacks, the safety room is too heavy at the moment. However, with the injuries sustained here last season, the bottom half of the group (Thompson, Watts) will be fighting for a roster spot. Both may make it early on, but another roster need could bump one, or both, from the 53.
Specialists (3)
Chris Boswell, Cameron Johnston, Christian Kuntz
Boswell is the definition of having a safe spot while the Steelers added a new punter in Johnston who should be around for several seasons. Their competition in camp will be putting stuff on tape. Nothing more.
Final Thoughts
There are a few areas of fluctuation here. One of the main thoughts I had putting this roster together versus that of the 2023 prediction is the injuries that were sustained during last season at inside linebacker and safety. Also, the league’s new kickoff rules may require more bodies that come from groups such as defensive backs and wide receivers on coverage units.
The biggest offseason stories will likely be at the running back position and offensive tackle with Najee Harris (final year of contract) and Dan Moore Jr (competing to start against Jones and Fautanu.) That could see some more variation depending on trades as the Steelers continue to seek out a playmaker at the wide receiver position to place opposite of George Pickens.
Full List (53)
Here’s the remaining names compiled from the lists above and how the full 53-man roster shakes out.
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