The Pittsburgh Steelers seemed to get more questions than answers during their OTA process. There are plenty of roster holes still lurking for this club as they get ready for minicamp, which starts June 10. Following that, they will prepare for training camp, where they hope to galvanize their team. OTAs are a good time to see where players are in terms of conditioning, but they can also provide hope.
Most of Pittsburgh's roster remains incomplete.
Aaron Rodgers will officially join the team any day after he informed them of his intent to sign. While the team will primarily seek internal solutions for other roster concerns, external options could be necessary. Nothing is set in stone for which players will make the final 53-man roster, but there are clues to consider when making a list of their likeliest outcome.
Expect Aaron Rodgers to have immediate impact on Pittsburgh Steelers 53-man roster
Quarterback (3): Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard
All signs point to Rodgers being the starter for the Steelers, which will lock him into place on the roster. Mason Rudolph is a great soldier for this franchise, and he will be an adequate backup behind an aging veteran. Will Howard showed signs of struggle at OTAs, but he should get better as the process continues.
Unless Rodgers has an extreme decline this preseason, these will be their three quarterbacks.
Running back (4): Jaylen Warren, Kaleb Johnson, Kenneth Gainwell, DJ Thomas-Jones (FB)
Tomlin makes his first tough decision by letting Cordarrelle Patterson go. There will be competition between him and Kenneth Gainwell, but the first-year Steeler will have an easier path to make the team than Patterson. The top two running backs on the roster are evident. DJ Thomas-Jones makes the team as their fullback, which should be thrilling for offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
READ MORE: Steelers fans shouldn’t panic yet about Aaron Rodgers’ OTA absence
Wide receiver (6): DK Metcalf, Gabe Davis, Roman Wilson, Calvin Austin III, Robert Woods, Roc Taylor
Unless Roman Wilson or Calvin Austin III blows everyone away at training camp, it appears the Steelers will add a veteran starting at some point.
Gabe Davis is still out there and spent time in Pittsburgh on an official visit as a free agent. He can help provide starting caliber snaps at the receiver position. Roc Taylor is the surprise receiver who cracks the roster. He has the perfect size to be a solid special teams contributor.
Tight end (3): Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Marcedes Lewis
It's a sleeper position where an upgrade could show up during final roster cuts. The Steelers have their top two tight ends who will make the 53-man roster. The final spot is up for grabs, but the injury to Donald Parham Jr. makes things interesting. It wouldn't surprise anyone if the Steelers signed Rodgers' close friend Marcedes Lewis to join the roster as a reliable veteran presence.
Offensive line (8): Broderick Jones, Isaac Seumalo, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, Troy Fautanu, Calvin Anderson, Ryan McCollum, Spencer Anderson
Tomlin would be playing with fire if he only kept eight offensive linemen on the final roster.
They have their starters in place, but at least two of them are unproven. Mix that uncertainty with depth options that leave more to be desired, and it could get ugly if the worst-case scenario happens. Pittsburgh needs its starting offensive line to stay healthy and take a step forward this season.
Defensive line (7): Cam Heyward, Derrick Harmon, Keeanu Benton, Dean Lowry, Yahya Black, Daniel Ekuale, Isaiahh Loudermilk
It's a revamped group of players along the defensive line for Pittsburgh. They spent most of the offseason infusing new pieces into the trenches, which provided a youth movement. There are plenty of quality players who will be competing for jobs, which makes it hard to envision the club keeping fewer than seven players. Keep this area of the roster circled because some notable players will get cut.
EDGE (4): T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jack Sawyer
No area on the 53-man roster is more evident than their outside linebacker position.
The edge rushers will have these four on the team, barring injuries. The Steelers will keep four at the position. It might be one of the deepest groups on the team. Let's hope their star edge rushers can stay healthy and the young players behind them excel in their limited roles.
Linebacker (5): Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Malik Harrison, Cole Holcomb, Carson Bruener
Pittsburgh's group of inside linebackers could be interesting come training camp. There are players on the team who will make the roster and others who are question marks. Cole Holcomb is back, but he must work his way back onto the roster after a brutal injury. Carson Bruener makes the team in this scenario, but he will only make the club if he can produce great results on special teams.
Cornerback (6): Joey Porter Jr., Darius Slay, Cory Trice, Brandin Echols, Beanie Bishop, James Pierre
Tomlin goes with quantity over proven players in this roster prediction. The starters are crystal clear after OTAs. The problems at slot cornerback haven't been focused on enough, but it seems like Beanie Bishop will have a shot at retaining his title. The only surprise on this list is James Pierre, who fans are tired of seeing, but he remains one of their best special teamers.
Safety (4): Minkah Fitzpatrick, DeShon Elliott, Juan Thornhill, Miles Killebrew
The Steelers kept Sebastian Castro off this 53-man roster prediction. The undrafted safety has a shot at making the club, but he must find a way to sneak into the slot cornerback competition. If Tomlin decides to keep four, the choice is easy to make.
It's a group of veteran players, but Miles Killebrew's lack of quality play beyond special teams could make him a liability soon.
Specialists (3): Chris Boswell (K), Cameron Johnston (P), Christian Kuntz (LS)
No surprises among the Steelers' special team group. Chris Boswell might be the best kicker in the NFL since Justin Tucker fell apart last season. Cameron Johnston is coming back from a massive injury, but Pittsburgh paid him a lot of money last year. Christian Kuntz is the local guy who everyone loves. It is almost impossible to imagine this group not staying the same unless injuries occur.