Pittsburgh Steelers: Practice squad roster candidates

The practice squad for every NFL team has diamonds in the rough. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, they’re full of talent, even on a roster that doesn’t suit up on Sundays.

The Steelers are almost a week into camp and that is a time where we can see which players are good candidates for the practice squad. Below is a list of players that they could keep on that 10 man squad.

Jarvion Franklin, RB

Franklin is a bigger back who has done a decent job in camp. The Steelers like to keep bigger backs on the practice squad because they can take on the wear and tear of running the scout team. I see Franklin as a candidate for the practice squad also because he is also playing fullback and position flexibility is always important to being kept around.

Quadree Henderson, WR

Henderson was a successful return man at Pitt and that is why I could see him being kept on the practice squad. He could be used as insurance in case a punt returner or kick returner goes down during the season. The practice squad will also be a place he can develop as a wide receiver.

Bucky Hodges, TE

Bucky Hodges has been brought in after being on his fourth NFL team in two years. He flashes as a receiver and can be lined up in the slot. There was a lot of promise for him coming out of the draft because of his measurables. He may not have succeeded yet, but the Steelers could keep him as a project and have him run scout team tight end. His physical tools could help the Steelers prepare against top tight ends that they will be facing this year like Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce.

Patrick Morris, OL

The Steelers don’t have a lot of depth at center behind BJ Finney. Even Finney is better suited to be a guard. Matt Feiler will probably be the third team center, but he is new to the position. Having a true center like Morris would give the Steelers some depth in case there was a serious injury. Morris has also reportedly been running second-team center in practice.

Jake Rodgers, OL

The Steelers will want to keep some more depth at tackle and Rodgers seems to be a good fit to play that role. He has stuck with the team this year and was on the practice squad a lot of last year. Maybe this year he takes a step forward and they can bring him on the roster if they need him.

Casey Sayles, DT

This is one of the quieter names that I could see on the practice squad. There are reports that he has done well in camp and he is the type of player the Steelers like. Tony Pauline says he is “a blue-collar type of player.”

Joshua Frazier, DT

Joshua Frazier was the Steelers seventh-round pick and you have to think new defensive line coach Karl Dunbar played a part in his drafting. Frazier played for Dunbar at Alabama. Frazier was brought in to compete with Daniel McCullers for the sixth lineman position and if he does not hold off the veteran, he could be a nice fit for the practice squad.

Olasunkanmi Adeniyi, OLB

This is one of the higher priority undrafted free agents by the Steelers. He is battling Farrington Huguenin and Kion Adams for the fourth outside linebacker job. I see Adams being the guy who wins that job, but I could see Adeniyi being kept on the practice squad as a consolation.

Dashaun Phillips, CB

Phillips has played for the Cowboys and the Redskins albeit only has a bottom of the roster type and practice squad member. His ability to stay in the league could give the Steelers someone with some experience to play on the scout team defense.

Malik Golden, S

I could also see Marcus Allen being put here if he does not show up on special teams. Golden was in camp with the Steelers last year and had a good enough showing to be signed this year.

Pittsburgh’s talent runs very deep in 2018. There may be some surprises on the horizon as the team prepares for the upcoming preseason schedule. Meaning any of these guys can have a make or break moment at any time.