Updated Steelers 53-man roster and practice squad predictions

The Steelers have played their first week of the preseason and here we will take a look at who has the inside track to make the roster and the practice squad.

With one week of preseason in the books, we now have a better indication of which players stand the best chance to make the roster in 2019. Most of the starters were out for the Steelers, but many players on the roster bubble earned significant snaps Friday night.

After one week of preseason, here is my projected 53-man roster for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019:

Quarterbacks (3)

Ben Roethlisberger

Mason Rudolph

Josh Dobbs

Mason Rudolph had the best night of the three that played against the Buccaneers. It is still a tight battle for who will be the primary backup. I think Devlin Hodges did well, but has a hard road to unseat Mason Rudolph and Josh Dobbs who we early to mid round draft picks. Maybe he catches on as a number three quarterback with somebody else.

Running Backs (3)

James Conner

Jaylen Samuels

Benny Snell Jr.

This is a clear-cut and very good group. I think these three will be the backfield for a couple years going forward. Benny Snell wasn’t running behind Foster, Pouncey, and DeCastro but I think he will be effective when given the chance to do that.

Fullbacks (3)

Roosevelt Nix

This has long been the amount of fullbacks kept. Nix is a very good special teamer. The Steelers usually don’t keep any other fullbacks on the roster. They might ask a tight end or Sutton Smith to play this role. Smith is not a guarantee at this point though.

Wide Receivers (6)

JuJu Smith-Schuster

Donte Moncrief

James Washington

Ryan Switzer

Diontae Johnson

Johnny Holton

I think Eli Rogers is a trade candidate if this group remains healthy at the end of the preseason. Switzer and Holton make it as special teams players. James Washington showed against the Buccaneers that he deserves to be the number three receiver.

Tight End (3)

Vance McDonald

Xavier Grimble

Zach Gentry

Gentry had a nice touchdown catch in the end zone using his height and that play made a case for him being kept on the roster. He might be a nice red zone target early in his career. I think Gentry looks more like a roster worthy player than Scotland-Williamson at this point. It is nice to see that Scotland-Williamson is progressing though.

Offensive Line (9)

Alejandro Villanueva

Ramon Foster

Maurkice Pouncey

David DeCastro

Matt Feiler

B.J. Finney

Chukwuma Okorafor

Zach Banner

Fred Johnson

This group has had a few pleasant surprises. The first seven were locks to begin the season. It also looks like Matt Feiler is the right tackle going forward. Okorafor is still the future, but maybe he need to focus more on playing the blind side. Zach Banner played well in the first preseason game with a lot of snaps. I think the weight loss has helped his athleticism. Fred Johnson is a player they should keep as he is starting to turn the corner in his pro career.

Defensive Line (6)

Cameron Heyward

Stephon Tuitt

Javon Hargrave

Tyson Alualu

Dan McCullers

Isaiah Buggs

This group is looking very clear at the moment. All six are deserving of their role on the team. The starting three are the strength of this team and they look like they have good depth on the defensive line as well. I think the rest are battling for a practice squad role at this point. This may also be the end of Lavon Hooks.

Outside Linebacker (4)

T.J. Watt

Bud Dupree

Olasunkanmi Adeniyi

Anthony Chickillo

The first four are really well set on the roster. Adeniyi is blossoming into the player we have wanted him to be. He is a strong pass rusher. I think Sutton Smith is off the roster at this point until he gets healthy. He needs to get on the field if he wants to make the 53 or even the practice squad.

Inside Linebacker (5)

Vince Williams

Devin Bush

Mark Barron

Tyler Matakevich

Ulysses Gilbert III

This group is shaping up nicely. Vince Williams is a very good Buck linebacker and should be a starter. Devin Bush dominated and deserves to be the Mack linebacker. The Steelers gave Mark Barron too much money not to be on this team. I could see him being the top backup. The inconvenient truth is that he will be payed a lot to be a reserve linebacker. On the bright side they have depth at this position. Gilbert had a nice night against Tampa Bay but will need to show more on special teams to stay on this list.

Cornerback (6)

Joe Haden

Steven Nelson

Mike Hilton

Cameron Sutton

Artie Burns

Justin Layne

This group has a lot of locks on it. Haden, Nelson and Hilton are all proven starters. I think Sutton will be a core special teamer and the fourth cornerback in the dime defense. Artie Burns will make it because he can provide depth if one of the outside corners go down. Justin Layne is a project, but he will make the team because he is a third round pick. He probably will be inactive unless he wins a job on special teams.

Safety (4)

Sean Davis

Terrell Edmunds

Kameron Kelly

Jordan Dangerfield

The Steelers are probably looking for more depth at the safety position. I think Kameron Kelly has the inside track to make the team as he has been getting reps while Sean Davis has been hurt. This would be a really good story if he made the team. I do want to see him play special teams more though. I think Marcus Allen is in danger of not making this team.

Specialists (3)

Chris Boswell

Jordan Berry

Kameron Canaday

These battles are not over, but it looks better for the incumbents. Chris Boswell has had a good start to the preseason and the hope is that he can keep this up. Jordan Berry may have the edge as Ian Berryman had a touchback on a punt that should have been kept inside the 20 yard line and out of the end zone.

Practice Squad (10)

Trey Edmunds

Tevin Jones

Diontae Spencer

Christian Scotland-Williamson

Patrick Morris

Derwin Gray

Casey Sayles

Sutton Smith

Robert Spillane

Brian Allen

Marcus Allen

This is the hardest part to predict. I think Edmunds gets kept because of his special teams ability. Tevin Jones got in the game early and that is a sign that his game is progressing. Diontae Spencer had some nice returns and may give this team return depth in case Ryan Switzer gets hurt.

Scotland-Williamson is the international player and so that gives them a free spot on the practice squad. I also think he could get called up to the roster this year and I don’t think they need another tight end on the practice squad like last year.

Patrick Morris seems like a logical keep as he is a center and the Steelers lack depth at center after B.J. Finney. Derwin Gray might be a player the team wants to develop as a project on the practice squad.

Casey Sayles seems like the best option at as a defensive lineman but there is still a competition for the role as a practice squad defensive lineman. Sutton Smith may be kept because they want to get a look at the draft pick. I also could see Tuzar Skipper winning this role but for now I will stick with the draft pick. Robert Spillane had a nice game versus the Buccaneers and so I see a reason to keep him around.

The Steelers may want to keep Brian Allen around on the practice squad like they did last year. He is still capable of being an average special teamer. Marcus Allen may get kept on the practice squad but his football career is in a downhill trend.