While these players would appear to be safe, don’t be surprised if these three Steelers end up getting cut following training camp.
Though there is still a lot of time between now and when the Steelers have to make their final cuts, there are some names that naturally appear to be safe.
That said, the team has made quite a few surprise cuts in recent years, and this year will be no different. Here are three players that could be surprise cuts for the Steelers after training camp.
Steelers Olszewski
The Steelers lost their primary return man during the offseason when Ray-Ray McCloud signed a deal with the 49ers. The team turned around and signed a more established special teams threat in Gunner Olszewski. There is a lot to like about his game. He can return kicks and punts, and work on the coverage unit for special teams.
While he provides a niche role for the team, he is now facing some stiff competition as a return man. Calvin Austin has some experience returning in college, and the Steelers may want to try and get their rookie investment on the field sooner than later. If that happens, Olszewski suddenly loses half of the value he added to the roster.
Though being able to serve on the coverage unit can keep Olszewski around even if he isn’t returning punts and kicks, it makes his path to the roster that much harder. He needs to prove himself to the team early and establish himself as a leader on special teams. If not, his tenure with the Steelers may be a short one.