With the Pittsburgh Steelers finishing their minicamp, everyone is looking forward to the start of training camp on July 23rd. There are several roster spots up for grabs and some areas on the depth chart that need to be filled. Summer is the time of year when jobs finalize in the NFL, and some members of the roster have an uphill battle to stick on the final 53-man roster.
It might not be the end of the road for some Steelers if they are let go by the team, but they're running out of time.
The good news is that their failure to stick with Pittsburgh or any other NFL club might not be the end of their football career. The United Football League has become a terrific option for players trying to sneak back into the NFL. The UFL might be the best option for some fringe roster players looking for a rebound.
Pittsburgh Steelers fringe roster players could be out of a job if they don't join the UFL
Skylar Thompson, QB
The addition of Aaron Rodgers formally puts Skylar Thompson's future into question with the Steelers.
He had a shot at being their third option before Rodgers signed with the club, but now his roster spot is on life support. He isn't going to make the 53-man roster with Mason Rudolph and Will Howard in front of him. Unless a terrible injury happens to someone, Thompson will be unemployed.
Thompson would be a fantastic addition to the UFL if he had to find a place to play. He has limited NFL starts, but he played a lot in college. He has some mobility to his game and a strong enough arm to stick in the NFL. It's possible he could sit on a practice squad before joining the United Football League. He would be an upgrade over many starting quarterbacks in the spring league.
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Mark Robinson, LB
It is time for Mark Robinson to take a step forward as a player. Pittsburgh has been cheering on Robinson since the team selected him in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He was a player new to the linebacker position entering the NFL, but that excuse is wearing thin. It's a loaded group at the linebacker spot for the Steelers, and making the team out of training camp will be a challenge.
There could be complications for Robinson's football career if he fails to make the 53-man roster with the Steelers. He is a former seventh-round pick, and his lack of progression as a player means he won't have much NFL interest if he gets cut. He might have no other choice but to join the UFL in hopes of turning his football career around; otherwise, he might have to find another profession.
Scotty Miller, WR
Pittsburgh remains in search of an upgrade at the receiver position, and that bodes poorly for Scotty Miller and other bottom-tier playmakers trying to make the club. Miller was with the Steelers last season, but he struggled to make an impact despite the coaching staff giving him plenty of opportunities. Miller is heading into his seventh NFL season, which is an astounding accomplishment.
The numbers don't paint a pretty picture for Miller when the final roster cuts arrive.
He has a lot to overcome this preseason, and he hasn't caught on much besides his flash-in-the-pan campaign in 2020, where Tom Brady carried him to 501 receiving yards. The veteran receiver is at an advanced age now, and time is running out. His lack of production since 2020 might make him a perfect candidate for the UFL.
DeMarvin Leal, DL
Nothing has been smooth for DeMarvin Leal's career ever since he was drafted by Pittsburgh. They took him in hopes of using him as a hybrid defensive player, but that experiment failed. The Steelers tried using him as a defensive lineman, but nothing positive resulted from that. Leal suffered a neck injury last year, which knocked him out of most of the season. It's been one bad thing after another.
Leal is in dangerous territory. You can safely call him a draft bust, but that doesn't mean he can't turn things around. He was viewed as a project coming out of college, but he hasn't shown much progress. The Steelers are using him as an edge player going into training camp, but there are no roster spots available at the position.
Expect Leal to get a second shot in the NFL elsewhere after roster cuts, but the United Football League could be a perfect place to reestablish himself.