Steelers roster: 4 big names on the bubble prior to training camp
By Tommy Jaggi
The Pittsburgh Steelers enter training camp with a number of notable position battles. Here are four big-name veterans who are on the roster bubble.
It’s not hard to predict a majority of players that will make the roster for any given NFL team. However, competition always throws a curveball in the accuracy of projections. While the Pittsburgh Steelers ignored some pretty important positions in free agency and the NFL Draft this offseason, some positions now have a surplus of talent.
This will result in cutting some quality depth. Obviously, we all hope the best man wins out, but these four players are certainly on the roster bubble heading into Steelers 2021 training camp:
RB Benny Snell Jr.
Despite having two years remaining on his rookie deal, Benny Snell Jr. has his work cut out for him this summer. Snell is entering his 3rd NFL season and turned just 23 years old earlier this offseason, but his youth and rookie deal may not be enough by itself to convince the Steelers to keep him around come September.
Pittsburgh drafted Najee Harris in the first round of the NFL Draft this year – a move that clearly bumps every other running back down on the depth chart – and I would go as far as to say that last year’s 4th-round pick, Anthony McFarland, is a roster-lock this year. That means that Snell will likely be in a heated competition with Kalen Ballage, while Jaylen Samuels and Trey Edmunds have an outside chance at sticking around.
Though Snell was a workhorse back for Kentucky and performed well against SEC competition, he thoroughly disappointed in 2020 – averaging just 3.3 yards per carry and being a non-factor in the passing game. Consider him on the roster bubble prior to training camp this year.