6 Steelers veterans on the roster bubble ahead of 2021 camp

Isaiah Buggs

There was a lot to like about Isaiah Buggs when he was drafted out of Alabama. While he was slightly undersized for a typical defensive end, he had the pass-rushing potential to make an impact as a reserve lineman and could potentially fill in at nose tackle down the road if he develops properly. The Steelers seemed to like what they saw in him his rookie season as well since the Steelers used him as a rotational player during the latter half of the season.

There was a lot of hope that Buggs would take that next step last year and either become the next man up at either nose tackle or defensive end. When the team traded for Chris Wormley, he quickly manned the rotational defensive end spot, but the battle for nose tackle was wide open. No one expected Tyson Alualu to be such a natural fit there, but snaps could still be had as a backup at the position. Unfortunately, Buggs lost out to those snaps once Carlos Davis began seeing the field more.

Even before the draft this year Buggs was on the bubble, as Henry Mondeaux is a valuable special team’s option even if he is a below-average defender. Then, the team drafted Isaiahh Loudermilk via a trade-up into the fifth round. It would be a shock to see them cut such an investment, meaning that Buggs is likely auditioning for another team during camp. He really seemed to lose favor with the team late into last season, and now it appears as he will be looking for a new home in 2021.