With Pittsburgh Steelers training camp finally underway, we can get a good sense of the plans the front office has for this team ahead of the 2025 season. Free agency and the NFL Draft are long off in the rearview mirror, and general manager Omar Khan recently stated that he feels good about the current makeup of the team.
This seems to suggest that we won't be in for any more big surprises like the pair of blockbuster trades we saw during the 2025 offseason (DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey).
With the 90-man summer roster set for Steelers training camp and practices now taking place, I've taken a stab a predicting the final 53-man roster for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025... and it includes a few surprises.
Pittsburgh Steelers 53-man roster prediction as training camp begins
Quarterback (3): Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard
This is pretty chalk, and it's what I've predicted since Aaron Rodgers officially joined the team before the Steelers minicamp. Rodgers will start at quarterback with Mason Rudolph as the backup. I also have sixth-round rookie draft pick Will Howard edging out veteran Skylar Thompson for the third and final QB spot.
Running back (3): Jaylen Warren, Kaleb Johnson, Kenneth Gainwell
While the third running back spot is hardly set in stone, perhaps the Pittsburgh Steelers' coaching staff will make this a bigger battle than we anticipated. We know that Jaylen Warren and third-round pick Kaleb Johnson are locks to make the team. I have former Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell claiming the third RB spot, thanks to his kick return chops and ability to operate as a third-down, change-of-pace back.
Receiver (5): DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, Robert Woods, Ben Skowronek
The Steelers have kept six wide receivers at times in the past, but based on the team's current roster makeup, it would be hard to justify using an additional valuable roster spot on a wide receiver. The depth simply doesn't call for that this year. Instead, I've got the Steelers keeping five receivers, with Robert Woods and Ben Skowronek rounding out the positional group. Still, I wouldn't be shocked if Omar Khan added another veteran to this group during training camp.
Tight end (4): Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, Darnell Washington, Connor Heyward
It's almost a lock that the Pittsburgh Steelers will keep four tight ends (or at least three tight ends and a fullback). Though there's a case to be made already for newcomer DJ Thomas-Jones or JJ Galbreath, I have the Steelers keeping Connor Heyward once again as the fourth tight end. The top three tight ends—Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, and Darnell Washington—should be used heavily this season.
Offensive line (9): Broderick Jones, Isaac Seumalo, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, Troy Fautanu, Calvin Anderson, Spencer Anderson, Ryan McCollum, Max Scharping
Isaac Seumalo begins Steelers training camp on the NFI list with a soft tissue injury, but it doesn't sound serious, and he could be ready to go soon. The starting five O-linemen are easy to figure out, but the backups get a bit tricky. I have Pittsburgh going with Calvin Anderson as the swing tackle, Spencer Anderson as the primary backup guard, and Ryan McCollum as the backup center to Zach Frazier. With the ninth and final spot, I have Max Scharping claiming it—a guard who can play anywhere on the OL in a pinch.
Defensive line (6): Cameron Heyward, Derrick Harmon, Keeanu Benton, Daniel Ekuale, Yahya Black, Logan Lee
The Pittsburgh Steelers are once again likely to keep six interior defensive linemen. The first four are easy to figure out—Cam Heyward, Derrick Harmon, Keeanu Benton, and Daniel Ekuale. After that, it gets a bit trickier. I have the Steelers rostering rookie Yahya Black and 2024 sixth-round pick Logan Lee. This means that veteran Dean Lowrey and former draft picks Isaiahh Loudermilk and DeMarvin Leal miss out on the 53-man roster this year.
Edge rusher (4): T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jack Sawyer
Of all the Steelers' positional groups, this is the easiest one to predict. The Steelers never keep more than four edge rushers (or outside linebackers, as some refer to them). T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig are roster locks, while fourth-round rookie Jack Sawyer has virtually no competition for the fourth and final EDGE spot on the roster.
Linebacker (5): Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Malik Harrison, Cole Holcomb, Carson Bruener
Like they often do, I predict the Steelers to keep five off-ball linebackers on their 53-man roster, but this unit will look different in 2025. With Elandon Roberts and Tyler Matakevich gone, I've got Cole Holcomb returning to the team after suffering a gruesome knee injury in the middle of the 2023 season. Malik Harrison will make the roster after the contract he received in free agency, while Carson Bruener takes Mark Robinson's place as the final linebacker who will cut his teeth on special teams.
Cornerback (7): Jalen Ramsey, Joey Porter Jr., Darius Slay, Brandin Echols, Cory Trice, Beanie Bishop Jr., James Pierre
This is where things get really interesting. The Pittsburgh Steelers have kept as few as five cornerbacks in the past, but in my early 53-man roster prediction, I have them going with seven CBs. Jalen Ramsey, Joey Porter Jr., and Darius Slay are locks to make the team. After that, Cory Trice should earn a role, potentially as a dime backer, while Brandin Echols is unlikely to get cut after signing a two-year contract this offseason. Additionally, I have Beanie Bishop making the roster as nickel CB specialist, with James Pierre even cracking the list for his ability as a special teams gunner.
Safety (4): DeShon Elliott, Juan Thornhill, Miles Killebrew, Sebastian Castro
Like wide receiver, I have the Steelers cutting back on safety depth this year. With Minkah Fitzpatrick now in Miami, the depth on the roster simply doesn't call for a fifth safety to stick around, and some corners (like Ramsey and Trice) even have versatility to line up at safety if needed. Instead, I have DeShon Elliott and Juan Thornhill pegged as starters with Miles Killebrew as the backup and special teams ace. Sebastian Castro is also the only rookie undrafted free agent I project to make the team.
Specialists (3): Cameron Johnston, Chris Boswell, Christian Kuntz
Corliss Waitman made a great case to be a starting NFL punter last season when filling in for Cameron Johnston, but the Steelers paid Johnston the big bucks, and I think he retains his starting role this year. He'll be accompanied by Chris Boswell and long snapper Christian Kuntz.