With the 2026 NFL Draft in the books, the Pittsburgh Steelers\u2019 roster is mostly set. Largely, this will be the group that gets carried into training camp and makes up the opening day roster. Knowing that, it\u2019s time to make my first Steelers\u2019 roster prediction of who will be part of that 53-man group right after last August\u2019s roster cutdowns.<\/p>\n
Below is my first guess at the Steelers\u2019 53-man roster. My next prediction will either come right before training camp or before\/after the first preseason game. Feel free to share what changes you would make below. I\u2019ll be focusing this prediction on players currently on the roster, not free-agency placeholders.<\/p>\n
Offense \u2013 25\u00a0<\/p>\n
Quarterbacks (3) \u2013 Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard, Drew Allar<\/p>\n
Analysis: The one exception I\u2019ll make to \u201cadding players not currently on roster\u201d is Rodgers for what I hope are obvious reasons. Even after Tuesday\u2019s quirky tender news,<\/a> the odds are still better-than-not that he returns.<\/p>\n An inexperienced depth chart behind him is disconcerting, but Mason Rudolph still feels like the odd man out based on all the evidence. Shipping him to Tampa Bay for a late 2027 draft pick<\/a> makes a lot of sense.<\/p>\n Running Backs (4) \u2013 Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle, Kaleb Johnson, Riley Nowakowski<\/p>\n Analysis: Adding Nowakowski to the running backs since the team is calling him a fullback<\/a>, and he\u2019ll work in the room with Ramon Chingyoung Sr. and the other backs. Johnson\u2019s spot isn\u2019t set in stone, with Travis Homer and Eli Heidenreich set to push him. Johnson must earn his roster spot, but I\u2019ll put him on inside-looking-out for now, with the summer being crucial for him.<\/p>\n Finding a way to put Heidenreich on the 53 would be great, but he\u2019s ultimately lost in the numbers crunch. The fact that he has a similar skill set to Germie Bernard and Kaden Wetjen, players who will make the roster, hurts his cause. Heidenreich will begin on the practice squad (this is the part where you tell me he won\u2019t make it through waivers).<\/p>\n Wide Receivers (6) \u2013 DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Germie Bernard, Kaden Wetjen, Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek<\/p>\n Analysis: Rookies Bernard and Wetjen join the rest of the group. Wilson, like Kaleb Johnson, has to play well this summer to keep his roster spot. He\u2019s no longer on scholarship. The group feels thin at the end, and Pittsburgh could explore more help at cutdowns. A.T. Perry is an internal name to watch, but he\u2019ll have to impress in the preseason to stick on the 53.<\/p>\n Tight Ends (3) \u2013 Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Lake McRee<\/p>\n Analysis: Freiermuth and Washington are solid, but the group is thin. With Nowakowski at fullback, there\u2019s no clear No. 3 tight end on the roster. Pittsburgh has 2025 UDFA JJ Galbreath and 2026 UDFAs Lake McRee and Chamon Metatyer to compete.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll pick with McRee with the best odds of the three. He had good USC tape, but two ACL injuries hurt his draft stock. Pittsburgh really needs to sign another veteran into the mix.<\/p>\n Offensive Tackles (4) \u2013 Troy Fautanu, Max Iheanachor, Dylan Cook, Jack Driscoll, Broderick Jones (PUP)<\/p>\n Analysis: Guessing Broderick Jones\u2019 status is difficult. Until we know he\u2019s cleared, I\u2019ll assume he\u2019s not, and he\u2019ll begin the year on the Reserve\/PUP list. Meaning, he won\u2019t count against the 53-man roster. That puts a veteran like Driscoll on the roster. Multiple starting tackle combinations will be figured out in camp\/preseason.<\/p>\n Interior Offensive Line (5) \u2013 Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, Gennings Dunker, Brock Hoffman, Spencer Anderson<\/p>\n Analysis: Expected group here. Dunker, Hoffman, and Anderson are poised to battle for the left guard spot, though there are plenty of combinations of how this offensive line could look come Week One. It\u2019ll come out in the wash this summer. Ryan McCollum loses his spot and could go to the practice squad as a veteran exception.<\/p>\n In total, nine offensive linemen made the 53. That feels right.<\/p>\n Defense \u2013 25<\/p>\n Defensive Ends (5) \u2013 Cam Heyward, Derrick Harmon, Yahya Black, Gabriel Rubio, Esezi Otomewo<\/p>\n Analysis: Despite being an unknown sixth-rounder, Rubio makes it thanks to his steady and strong run defense. Of course, that assumes he\u2019s healthy, something he\u2019s struggled to show throughout his college career. Otomewo flashed last year, and his pass rush and athleticism get him the nod over Logan Lee and Dean Lowry if\u00a0he ends up signing back with the team.<\/a><\/p>\n Nose Tackles (2) \u2013 Keeanu Benton, Sebastian Joseph-Day<\/p>\n Analysis: Joseph-Day or Black could be the backup nose tackle. Maybe they mix and match. But Joseph-Day played in the A-gap during his time in Los Angeles when Aaron Donald was the three-tech, and he feels like a stouter fit. Still, he and Black will play up and down the line. Both are on the roster to plug the run.<\/p>\n EDGE Rushers (4) \u2013 T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jack Sawyer<\/p>\n Analysis: Not much to note here. The same four as last season, only injury (or a surprising trade) could impact the complexion of this group.<\/p>\n Inside Linebackers (5) \u2013 Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Malik Harrison, Carson Bruener, Cole Holcomb<\/p>\n Analysis: Right or wrong, Pittsburgh\u2019s free agent movement, or lack thereof, made it clear they like the look of the unit. Not trading Queen to the Dallas Cowboys, not cutting Harrison, and re-signing Holcomb to a two-year deal.<\/a> The team opted against drafting the position despite it being a deep class. Health permitting, it looks like this group will be carried into Week One.<\/p>\n Cornerbacks (5) \u2013 Joey Porter Jr., Jamel Dean, Asante Samuel Jr., Daylen Everette, Brandin Echols<\/p>\n Analysis: A little lighter here than usual, with just five cornerbacks. But it\u2019s a versatile and deep group. Porter and Dean as the starters. Samuel, a veteran, to backup on the outside. A slot-first Echols, who can also play outside. And the rookie, Everette, who will likely cut his teeth on special teams to begin. Jalen Ramsey\u2019s ability to play in the slot gives them a de facto sixth cornerback.<\/p>\n Cory Trice Jr. and Donte Kent feel the squeeze. Health has been an issue for both, and they were drafted under the previous coaching staff.<\/p>\n Safeties (4) \u2013 Jalen Ramsey, DeShon Elliott, Jaquan Brisker, Sebastian Castro<\/p>\n Analysis: And just four safeties. Going with seven defensive linemen (I\u2019ve consistently put six and always been wrong about it) created the numbers crunch here. The top three safeties are quality. Ramsey was retained, Elliott returns from injury, and Brisker was a smart and shrewd signing.<\/p>\n Castro beats out seventh-round pick Roberts Spears-Jennings. Castro could become the next Miles Killebrew<\/a> and serve as the upback, the quarterback of the punt team. It\u2019ll be a good battle between them this summer.<\/p>\n Special Teams (3)<\/p>\n Kicker (1) \u2013 Chris Boswell<\/p>\n Analysis: No brainer here. Boswell will return, and likely with a contract extension to make him no worse than a top-three paid kicker in the league.<\/p>\n Punter (1) \u2013 Cameron Johnston<\/p>\n