With the Pittsburgh Steelers' third and final preseason game in the books, now comes the moment we've all been dreading: roster cutdowns. By Tuesday, August 26, at 4 pm Eastern Time, all 32 teams must reduce their rosters to an initial 53 players. This won't be easy for Mike Tomlin and company.
The Steelers have several strong positional groups this year, with a flood of talented young cornerbacks and a quarterback situation nobody saw coming. With the preseason over, cuts will start trickling in, and the Steelers have some painful roster decisions to make.
I've taken one final stab at predicting the Steelers' initial 53-man roster to open the 2025 season... and this projection includes several big changes.
Pittsburgh Steelers make several painful cuts in latest preseason 53-man roster prediction
Quarterback (3): Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson
Skylar Thompson had yet another eye-popping preseason performance after Mason Rudolph struggled in the finale. Thompson had too good a summer to simply cut him loose. If the worst-case scenario unfolds and a No. 3 quarterback is forced to see the field this year, the Steelers would rather that be the more experienced Thompson over rookie Will Howard.
The Steelers may try to stash Howard on the initial roster with a designation to return, but I have them shutting him down for the season in IR. What are the chances the Steelers' fourth QB would have to see the field this year?
Running back (3): Jaylen Warren, Kaleb Johnson, Kenneth Gainwell
This is one of the few positional groups we felt confident about from the end of the 2025 NFL Draft until now. Jaylen Warren was always going to open the season as the starter, while Kaleb Johnson was a lock to make the team after being selected in the third round this year.
The Steelers also brought in Kenneth Gainwell early in the offseason, and Gainwell could act as a third-down back and kick returner. Pittsburgh won't make an exception for a fourth running back, even after a strong finish to the preseason from Trey Sermon and Lew Nichols.
Wide receiver (5): DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, Scotty Miller, Ben Skowronek
The wide receiver room still looks underwhelming, but we have a good feeling about how this is going to unfold (barring a trade). Scotty Miller had a brilliant preseason, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers spoke highly of him. This means that Robert Woods is the odd man out in the group of five. The Steelers will keep Ben Skowronek for his special teams ability.
Tight end (4): Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, Darnell Washington, Connor Heyward
As much as fans liked to hope that a fourth tight end would emerge to push Connor Heyward this year, that didn't happen. The top three at the position were already set in stone, and Heyward will round out the depth as the team's fourth and final tight end on the Steelers' 2025 roster.
Offensive line (8): Broderick Jones, Isaac Seumalo, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, Troy Fautanu, Spencer Anderson, Dylan Cook, Ryan McCollum
There will be plenty of predictions that have the Steelers keeping nine offensive linemen. This isn't unusual, but it's not what the talent dictates. The backup offensive line was a mess during the preseason, and it's hard to come up with players worthy of taking the final spots at the position.
I have the healthier Dylan Cook edging out Calvin Anderson and claiming the swing tackle role in my final Steelers 53-man roster prediction, with Spencer Anderson as the backup guard and the underwhelming Ryan McCollum at backup center. But don't be surprised if they look for backup O-line help on the waiver wire.
Defensive line (7): Cam Hewyard, Keeanu Benton, Derrick Harmon, Yahya Black, Daniel Ekuale, Logan Lee, Isaiahh Loudermilk
Rookie Yahya Black effortlessly played his way to not only a roster spot but an early rotational role along the interior defensive line. Though Derrick Harmon hurt his knee during the final preseason game against the Panthers, it doesn't appear to be serious enough to stash him on IR/eligible to return. To round out the depth, I have veterans Daniel Ekuale and Isaiahh Loudermilk with second-year player Logan Lee claiming the final spots.
Edge rusher (5): T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jack Sawyer, DeMarvin Leal
This is a position I thought I had figured out from the moment the Steelers drafted Jack Sawyer, and I might be overthinking this. But I have Pittsburgh bucking their trend of keeping just four edge rushers to keep DeMarvin Leal around for one more season.
Leal had a strong preseason and offers some defensive line versatility in a pinch. There's simply more value here than keeping a ninth offensive lineman like Doug Nester, and the Steelers could see it that way, too.
Linebacker (5): Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Cole Holcomb, Malik Harrison, Mark Robinson
I've gone back and forth between Carson Bruener and Mark Robinson for my fifth and final off-ball linebacker spot. Ultimately, it felt like Bruener didn't do enough this summer to convince the coaching staff to move on from Robinson, who is, at the very least, a punishing tackler and quality special teams player. This means Bruener would begin his NFL career on the practice squad.
Cornerback (6): Jalen Ramsey, Joey Porter Jr., Darius Slay, Brandin Echols, Cory Trice Jr., James Pierre
In my last Steelers 53-man roster prediction, I had Cory Trice Jr. missing the final cut due to his lingering hamstring injury. This could very well prove to be the case. However, they don't necessarily need Trice to suit up in Week 1, and he's simply more talented than the guys at the bottom of the roster.
With James Pierre sticking around for his special teams ability, that means Beanie Bishop Jr. would miss the roster in this scenario. Jalen Ramsey, Brandin Echols, and Trice each have some nickel ability, and it doesn't feel like there's space for Bishop, considering his niche role. This might be the toughest roster cut to make.
Safety (4): DeShon Elliott, Juan Thornhill, Chuck Clark, Miles Killebrew
The addition of veteran Chuck Clark was ultimately the final nail in the coffin for Sebastian Castro's chances of making the team. With DeShon Elliott and Juan Thornhill as the starters, and Miles Killebrew expected to reprise his role as the special teams captain, Castro and Quindell Johnson miss the mark.
Specialists (3): Chris Boswell, Cameron Johnston, Christian Kuntz
You've got to give Corliss Waitman credit for making the punter battle close this year. Waitman proved to be an excellent option filling in for the injured Cameron Johnston last season. However, I have Johnston reprising his role as Pittsburgh's punter with Chris Bowsell effortlessly claiming the kicker job.
Long snapper Christian Kuntz sustained a chest injury in Week 2 of the preseason, but he insists he will be ready to go by Week 1 of the regular season against the Jets.