Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7). Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY SportsNow that training camp is approaching, the players fighting for a spot on the Steelers 53-man roster will become more clear. Who will make the cut?
With mandatory minicamp over, the Steelers coaching staff should be starting to get a feel for this year’s group. With training camp soon to follow, how many of the new faces will make the final 53? Here is an early prediction of the Steelers 2021 opening week roster, starting with the most important position in sports.
The Quarterbacks: Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph, Dwayne Haskins
Nothing surprising here, with Ben Roethlisberger the unquestioned starter and Mason Rudolph locked in as the #2 after his 1-year extension this offseason. The question here is whether former Washington 1st-round pick Dwayne Haskins can do enough to convince the team to keep him as the #3 QB. Josh Dobbs was the #3 last year, but Haskins has much more upside and should be able to beat him out as long as he shows he can learn the playbook. The Steelers had 3 QBs on their roster all of last year, so Haskins appears to have a clear path to making the final 53.
The Running backs: Najee Harris, Anthony Mcfarland, Benny Snell, Derek Watt
Despite typically having 4 true halfbacks on the roster for depth and special teams, this year is a bit different. The addition of Najee Harris gives the Steelers a true bell-cow to give a huge workload to, which will create less need for depth. Snell and Mcfarland will get occasional touches of course, but I highly doubt it becomes any type of committee like we saw last year.
Jaylen Samuels has done nothing over the past 2 seasons to earn a spot on the roster, and Trey Edmunds doesn’t bring much to the table. The one wild-card is Kalen Ballage, who has more physical ability than Snell but has struggled to produce on the field. My guess is familiarity with the team and his fit as a power runner gives Snell the edge. Finally, Watt continues to be the fullback as the team tries to create an identity as a physical rushing offense.
The Wide Receivers: Chase Claypool, Juju Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson, James Washington, Ray-Ray McCloud
I know what you may be thinking: this is the same group that made the roster last year. Unless you are willing to give up on this group due to drops and making too many Tik Toks, I don’t see a reason to believe this won’t be the group they stick with. Unless someone were to beat out McCloud for return and gadget-play duties (Mathew Sexton perhaps?)
I expect nothing to change from last year. What does need to change is the way these 5 are used. That will fall on new OC Matt Canada, who at least should know what he has in this group with all of them returning.
The Tight Ends: Eric Ebron, Pat Freiermuth, Zach Gentry
Similar to the QB position, the #1 and #2 spots are locked up with Eric Ebron and rookie 2nd-round pick Pat Freiermuth. Freiermuth could very well supplant Ebron as the top TE, but that would not change anything roster-construction-wise. The third spot could be up for grabs between Zach Gentry and Kevin Rader, with Rader being the more prototypical #3 TE. Still, Gentry has more receiving upside and is cheap enough as a former 5th-round pick not to be cut for cap reasons. I give the edge to Gentry here.
The Offensive Line: Chukwuma Okorafor, Zach Banner, Joe Haeg, Dan Moore Jr., David Decastro, Kevin Dotson, Rashann Coward, B.J Finney, Kendrick Greene
This group seems to be pretty set in stone to me, and I wish it was for good reasons. Both tackle and guard spots are locked in barring a surprise signing, but center is up in the air. The hope is that rookie Kendrick Greene takes the job by clearly outperforming returning Steeler B.J Finney, but having a veteran like him as an option is good to have.
Either way, the quality of both the starters and the depth is a concern, with Joe Haeg and Rashaad Coward the only players with moderate starting experience at guard and tackle. Moore Jr. should make the team barring a catastrophic training camp, but I don’t expect much from him as a rookie. If there is any group that the Steelers could look to add to this summer, it is definitely the O-line.
The Defensive Line: Cam Heyward, Stephon Tuitt, Tyson Alualu, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Chris Wormley, Carlos Davis
As much as I love TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith at edge (more on them later), the Steelers defensive line is clearly the strength of the team. The trio of Heyward, Tuitt, and Alualu is as good as it gets in the NFL. Chris Wormley dealt with injuries last year but has been a reliable rotation player in the past, and Isaiahh Loudermilk should be locked on as a backup end after the team traded up for him. Carlos Davis and Isaiah Buggs will compete for the final spot, and my money is on Davis. He is the much better athlete, and Buggs hasn’t done enough in two years to guarantee himself a spot.
The Edge Rushers: TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, Quincy Roche, Cassius Marsh
As strong as the duo of Watt and Highsmith can be, the lack of depth is concerning. I loved the pick of Quincy Roche, and he should be a great speed rusher from day 1. Cassius Marsh gets the nod as the 4th rusher, but I would not be surprised if they add competition for that spot in training camp.
Marsh didn’t show much at all last year for any of the teams he was on, so I doubt the Steelers are comfortable with him being an injury away from major playing time. Luckily, there are plenty of free agents available to add before the season.
The Linebackers: Devin Bush, Vince Williams, Robert Spillane, Marcus Allen, Buddy Johnson
Devin Bush is the clear top linebacker for the Steelers, and they will benefit greatly from his return after a torn ACL ended his 2020 season. Who his running mate will be is unclear, but I expect all of these guys to have a shot at the role. Vince Williams could continue to play his blitzing/run defense role while one of Spillane, Allen, or rookie Buddy Johnson plays on passing downs. My guess is Allen and Spillane fight for that role while Johnson plays special teams while developing as defender.
The Cornerbacks: Joe Haden, Cameron Sutton, James Pierre, Arthur Maulet, Justin Layne, Shakur Brown
The Steelers are going to need contributions from several inexperienced players if they want their secondary to be a strength, and luckily there are a few standing out so far in the offseason. James Pierre and Shakur Brown did well in minicamp, which hopefully will continue into training camp.
Veteran Arthur Maulet looks to help with slot duties with Cam Sutton playing outside more, and Joe Haden should remain the #1 corner. Justin Layne needs a strong camp if he wants to have a role this season, but I don’t see him being cut if he hasn’t been already after his off-the-field incident.
The Safeties: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Terrell Edmunds, Tre Norwood, Antoine Brooks Jr., Miles Killebrew
Minkah Fitzpatrick is one of the best deep safeties in the NFL, and Terrell Edmunds improved in coverage last year while remaining a physical presence in the secondary. The depth behind them is a big question mark, however.
Rookie Tre Norwood has looked strong as a versatile defensive back in minicamp, and Antoine Brooks Jr. is more of a slot defender than a true safety. Miles Killebrew is the most experienced depth player but is more of a special teamer than anything else. If Fitzpatrick or Edmunds were to miss time, we could see a big drop-off in quality of play.
The Specialists: Chris Boswell, Presley Harvin III, Kameron Canaday
Chris Boswell and Kameron Canaday are the unquestioned kicker and long snapper, but the punting job is up for grabs between veteran Jordan Berry and rookie Presley Harvin III. Considering the Steelers used a draft pick on Harvin III, I would be very surprised if he doesn’t win the job. Just look at his highlights.
A lot could change between now and when the Steelers have to cut the roster down to 53 players, and I hope it comes in the form of some free-agent additions. For now, though, these are the 53 guys I would be going into the season with if I had to pick today. While there are some weak spots, I think this would be a very competitive roster if all the pieces fall into place.