Landing a spot on a 53-man roster in the NFL is not easy, and with a new coaching staff for the Pittsburgh Steelers, it could be more challenging. With new decision-makers in the mix, some of the players on the roster bubble could struggle to hang on to their jobs.
The outcome of training camp will be the ultimate guide when it comes to final decisions on the depth chart, and the battles have already begun. Both veterans and rookies alike will be fighting for their football dreams this summer.
Some of the fringe players on the roster must find ways to stick out to the coaching staff, or they could be among the final cuts when transactions need to occur. There are several positions on offense and defense full of talent, and just from the numbers game alone, we will see notable players potentially get the axe.
These Pittsburgh Steelers on the roster bubble must make up a lot of ground at training camp
RB/WR Eli Heidenreich
Many have been intrigued by Eli Heidenreich through OTAs and minicamp, but he must keep that positive momentum going. He is still firmly on the roster bubble with plenty of capable running backs in front of him on the depth chart. Heidenreich must prove his worth as a running back, receiver, and returner to have a shot at sticking on the 53-man roster.
Failure to show his versatility would keep him far away from making it past final cuts.
S Darnell Savage
After weeks of speculation, Darnell Savage signed with the Steelers late in free agency. Although he might be favored to secure a roster spot, his job is far from secure. It's a strong secondary group, and there are some younger players who are legit competition for Savage. Pittsburgh might be forced to keep the veteran around, but they could always look for external upgrades if they don't feel confident.
QB Will Howard
There is a scenario where the team holds four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, but ideally, they only keep three. This is still a veteran team, so hanging onto Mason Rudolph as the backup makes sense. This isn't a great sign for Will Howard, who doesn't have so much as a preseason snap under his belt at this point.
The dream scenario would be if Drew Allar, and more importantly, Howard, prove they can take over Rudolph's job without a second thought from the Steelers.
DL Logan Lee
It's going to be an uphill climb for many of the younger defensive linemen regarding their potential to jump past some veterans on the depth chart. Logan Lee hasn't shown enough during his two years in the NFL, and a new coaching staff could lower his chances of keeping a job. There is a shot for him to make the roster, but Lee must finally take a step forward in his progression as a player.
C Ryan McCollum
He has been the backup center for a while now, but Ryan McCollum is facing another year of being on the roster bubble. This time will be more difficult for him to stick around, as the depth chart around him has improved.
The Steelers will only keep McCollum around if he proves he is a strong backup at the center position. His issue will be the versatile options around him who could cost him his spot.
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