With the Pittsburgh Steelers finished with their minicamp, there will be plenty of rumors around the club. Steelers General Manager Omar Khan must locate an upgrade at the second receiver spot. With Aaron Rodgers officially on the roster, the team will do its best to compete this season.
Adding some upgrades across the roster between now and Week 1 of the regular season is mandatory.
Khan and Mike Tomlin will face unique challenges when they set the 53-man roster. It is clear they must find upgrades to their depth chart outside of their roster. No matter whether that's in free agency, via trade, or putting in a waiver claim when players get cut. Don't expect the Steelers to only stick to their current choices. They will search far and wide to try and improve the roster.
Pittsburgh Steelers 53-man roster could see familiar faces on chopping block
Quarterback (3): Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard
There are no surprises at the quarterback position, and it would be crazy to think anything will change unless an injury occurs. Skylar Thompson should get plenty of snaps this preseason, but the chances of him sticking with the team are slim. He should land a roster spot elsewhere or revert to the practice squad. The Steelers have a solid room at the quarterback position, but Rodgers is the headliner.
Running back/fullback (4): Jaylen Warren, Kaleb Johnson, Kenneth Gainwell, DJ Thomas-Jones (FB)
The odds of Cordarrelle Patterson making the 53-man roster continue to dwindle with each passing day. Jaylen Warren and Kaleb Johnson have done well during minicamp, and they will battle for snaps at training camp. Patterson will battle with Kenneth Gainwell for a spot, but it would be shocking if Gainwell got the boot.
DJ Thomas-Jones is a fascinating fullback who could get a massive role on offense.
READ MORE: Steelers' veterans already looking expendable as minicamp comes to a close
Receiver (6): DK Metcalf, Romeo Doubs, Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, Robert Woods, Ben Skowronek
Khan wants to get an upgrade at the receiver position, and he does that here by landing Packers receiver Romeo Doubs. He is a familiar target for Rodgers, and it could make for a seamless transition. Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson will battle for snaps on offense, while Robert Woods and Ben Skowronek can help block in specific situations. Tomlin pined for more numbers at the position this time around.
Tight end (3): Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Durham Smythe
With Donald Parham suffering a season-ending injury at minicamp, expect the Steelers to add a tight end to their roster at some point. One name who could be a surprise cut after the preseason is Durham Smythe. The veteran tight end has become a reliable depth piece in the NFL. He would be a nice pickup for Pittsburgh late in the team-building process.
Offensive line (9): Broderick Jones, Isaac Seumalo, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, Troy Fautanu, Calvin Anderson, Spencer Anderson, Brett Toth, Dylan Cook
The starting offensive line is in place for this season. The depth pieces behind them could use some juice. They have some players who have been with the organization for a while, but Calvin Anderson is the only player guaranteed a job. Brett Toth has been with the Philadelphia Eagles for a while, but he could be a surprise-cut candidate who could bring experience and versatility.
It's also time for Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook to take a step forward in their progression as key depth pieces in the trenches.
Defensive line (6): Cam Heyward, Derrick Harmon, Keeanu Benton, Daniel Ekuale, Yahya Black, Dean Lowry
Pittsburgh's coaching staff spoke glowingly about both rookies along the defensive line at minicamp. Both will play key roles for the defense this season. It is a young group mixed with some new blood. Daniel Ekuale and Dean Lowry provide versatility to their game. They can start at nose tackle or defensive end when needed. They also have plenty of starting experience in case injuries pile up.
EDGE (4): T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jack Sawyer
Other than the quarterback position, the Steelers' roster spots at their EDGE position are the most solidified. T.J. Watt leads the way, despite his absence at minicamp. He will eventually sign a contract extension before the season. Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer must take advantage of their extra snaps at training camp with Watt holding out. It could help grow their game and potentially land them a role.
Linebacker (5): Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Malik Harrison, Cole Holcomb, Mark Robinson
Word out of their minicamp is that Cole Holcomb looks ready for his NFL comeback.
Holcomb suffered a devastating injury in 2023, which knocked them out of last season. He will battle with Malik Harrison for the prime third linebacker role. The final roster spot will come down to Mark Robinson and Carson Bruener unless someone emerges out of the shadows. The time is now for Robinson to take the next step in his career, or he could be on the verge of being out of a job.
Cornerback (6): Joey Porter Jr., Darius Slay, Ja'Quan McMillian, Cory Trice, Beanie Bishop, James Pierre
Pittsburgh decides to hold onto a bunch of cornerbacks in this 53-man roster projection. If they're smart, they will target an upgrade at the slot cornerback position. Ja'Quan McMillian isn't in danger of losing a roster spot with the Denver Broncos, but they have a new starting slot corner in rookie Jahdae Barron. He would be an experienced player for the Steelers to bring in. That addition makes this group better.
Safety (4): Minkah Fitzpatrick, DeShon Elliott, Juan Thornhill, Miles Killebrew
The Steelers hold onto four safeties on the roster, but Sebastian Castro will be a key practice squad member for this roster. His lack of reps at the slot cornerback competition during their minicamp and OTAs is concerning. Keep an eye on Miles Killebrew this preseason. He is a terrific special teams player, but that will eventually come to a close, which could result in his shocking release.
Specialists (3): Chris Boswell (K), Cameron Johnston (P), Christian Kuntz (LS)
There shouldn't be much change for the specialists in Pittsburgh this season. Chris Boswell is fantastic, and Christian Kuntz has no competition. Cameron Johnston should be healthy from last year's season-ending injury. Expect Corliss Waitman to push for his job, but if Johnston is ready to start, he will beat Waitman out. That will result in Waitman landing a job elsewhere.