Steelers roster: 4 young players on the outside looking in

Pittsburgh has some decisions to make in the coming weeks, but these four players are currently on the outside looking in on the Steelers roster in 2021.

All of the sudden, the Pittsburgh Steelers are currently deep at a few positions we thought would be really shallow in 2021. Obviously, this will have implications on which players ultimately make the final roster in 2021.

Like every other NFL team, Pittsburgh has certain trends they typically follow when it comes to allowing a select amount of spots at each position on the roster. This can fluctuate at times depending on the position and the strengths/weaknesses on the team. Despite their best efforts, these four young players are currently on the outside looking in on the Steelers roster in 2021:

RB Jaylen Samuels

This one is probably the least surprising name on this list. While Jaylen Samuels has been an asset to the Steelers in the passing game, I just can’t really see a clear route in which he makes the team in 2021, barring an injury to one of the players ahead of him.

Pittsburgh spent the 24th overall pick on running back Najee Harris this past April, and the rookie is expected to get a bulk of the touches from the gate this year. Likewise, second-year running back Anthony McFarland seems to have done enough this year to cement himself into a roster spot and could be used as a change-of-pace runner thanks to his home run speed.

This means that Samuels, Benny Snell, and Kalen Ballage are three running backs likely fighting for two spots at the most. Of the three, Ballage has been the most impressive in training camp this year. Samuels may have a slight chance to best Snell for the final spot on the team (as Snell has been banged up), but Pittsburgh is likely to value Snell as a runner in the event of an injury to Harris. I would certainly put Samuels on the outside of the 53-man roster.