Pittsburgh Steelers training camp is officially over a week old, and it's been a fun one after one of the most uncharacteristic offseasons in recent memory. Known for their traditionally conservative approach, the Steelers took a different path this year by making aggressive trades and signing players to large contracts to build a team that can win now.
On paper, many of these moves appear promising. But as always, the real test comes when the regular season begins. That is when it becomes clear whether the offseason decisions were smart investments or costly mistakes.
Now that camp is underway and the roster is starting to take shape, a new realization is settling in. Both fans and media may be overestimating this team. While there is talent across the board, some areas of the roster should be viewed with more concern than they currently are.
The Pittsburgh Steelers roster is much different, but is it better?
The Steelers made plenty of noise this offseason, most notably by signing Aaron Rodgers and trading for DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey, and Jonnu Smith. Despite these aggressive moves, they still left some holes on the roster or kept certain position groups largely unchanged.
Is this another case of Steelers fans drinking the yinzer Kool-Aid—getting caught up in the big-name signings and missing the bigger picture? Let’s take a closer look at the 2025 Steelers roster, position by position.
Quarterbacks
For the second year in a row, the quarterback room looks completely different from top to bottom. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are gone. Mason Rudolph returned to Pittsburgh after a one-year stint with the Tennessee Titans. Will Howard was drafted out of Ohio State, and after a long wait, Aaron Rodgers finally signed.
The Steelers should have their best quarterback play since Ben Roethlisberger retired. But Rodgers, coming off an up-and-down season while recovering from an Achilles injury, is now 41 years old. Does he still have enough left in the tank? He showed improvement toward the end of last season, which gives hope that this is the Rodgers we’ll see going forward.
Perhaps last season was just him shaking off rust after a year away and needing time to get comfortable. Only time will tell, but the Steelers should see better quarterback play than they did with Wilson and Fields.
Running Backs
The running back room has also changed significantly. Najee Harris left in free agency. Kenneth Gainwell was signed as a free agent, and Pittsburgh added Kaleb Johnson in the third round of the draft. Jaylen Warren is the only returning back, and he is expected to get the majority of carries. Compared to last year, this group is deeper, more dynamic, and more explosive.
Wide Receivers
When it comes to wide receivers, it’s mostly the same story. When DK Metcalf arrived, many thought the Steelers finally had a lethal duo with him and George Pickens after last season’s lack of playmakers. But Pickens was traded to the Dallas Cowboys, and now the Steelers find themselves in nearly the same position as last year.
They simply swapped Pickens for Metcalf and Van Jefferson for Robert Woods. The team still lacks a legitimate number two receiver. The group mainly consists of the same players, including Calvin Austin, who showed clear improvement last year, and a healthy Roman Wilson.
Both Austin and Wilson have potential but remain unproven. If the Steelers want a more explosive passing attack, they seriously need to bring in another proven wide receiver. This position group is in the exact same spot as last year, and that is a concern.
Tight Ends
The tight end group has gotten even deeper this offseason, especially with the Steelers acquiring Jonnu Smith in the trade that sent Minkah Fitzpatrick to Miami and brought Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith to Pittsburgh. Smith is a known favorite of offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
With Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, and Darnell Washington on the roster, this group is a clear upgrade from last year. However, with Connor Heyward now on the outside looking in, the question remains: will he make the 53-man roster, or will the Steelers decide to keep four tight ends?
Offensive Line
This position group should be a much bigger concern than it currently is. While most of the attention has been focused on the wide receiver room, and rightfully so, the offensive line depth is just as troubling. Last season, the offensive line depth was quietly solid until injuries started to pile up. Mason McCormick began the year as a second stringer behind James Daniels, and Broderick Jones was originally set to be a backup tackle before Troy Fautanu went down with an injury.
Now, Dan Moore and James Daniels are gone after leaving in free agency. Broderick Jones has moved to left tackle after struggling at right tackle, and the Steelers are hoping Troy Fautanu can stay healthy and replace him at that spot.
The issue is what comes after the starting five. Unlike last year, there is not much proven depth behind them. If injuries strike again, and we have already seen one with Isaac Seumalo going down on the first day of camp, this offense could be in serious trouble.
With a 41-year-old quarterback under center, Pittsburgh cannot afford to risk poor protection. They do not have the benefit of a quarterback who can move around and escape pressure. The Steelers need to address these depth concerns during training camp to make sure the offense stays on track. If they do nothing and decide to stand still, they are putting the entire season at risk.
Defensive Line
The defensive line is in a similar situation to the offensive line. After getting gashed on the ground in the wild card loss to the Ravens, the front office made it a clear priority to upgrade the unit with bigger, more physical run stoppers. They selected Derrick Harmon in the first round and added Yahya Black in the fifth, hoping those additions would shore up the depth and strengthen the line overall.
However, relying on two rookies to contribute immediately is a gamble. At 36 years old, Cameron Heyward is no longer someone you can count on to stay healthy for a full season. Keeanu Benton is a solid piece, but if either Heyward or Benton misses time, this defensive front could be in real trouble. Depth remains a major question, and if the young players are not ready to step up, this group could quickly become a weakness once again.
Edge Rushers
The Steelers already had one of the deepest pass rushing units in the league, but they added even more talent by drafting Jack Sawyer in the fourth round. With T.J. Watt coming off a contract extension, alongside Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, and now Sawyer, Pittsburgh has assembled a pass-rushing group that is not only dominant but also built for sustainability.
This depth allows the Steelers to keep their edge rushers fresh throughout games, making them an even more dangerous and consistent threat to opposing offenses.
Inside Linebackers
The inside linebacker group remains mostly the same, though the team did lose a fan favorite in Elandon Roberts to free agency. With Patrick Queen still here, Payton Wilson expected to take on a larger role as a full-time starter, and with the hope that Cole Holcomb returns healthy, this group has the potential to take a step forward. While improvement is still needed compared to last season, the talent is there for this to become a strong and reliable unit.
Cornerbacks
The front office made serious moves to upgrade the cornerback room. Joey Porter Jr. was a major disappointment last season, and while Donte Jackson managed to force some turnovers, he was often a liability in coverage and frequently targeted by opposing offenses. General manager Omar Khan wasted no time addressing the issue, first by signing Darius Slay and then pulling off a blockbuster trade to bring in Jalen Ramsey.
This is the strongest cornerback group the Steelers have had in a very long time. While the exact plan for Ramsey is still unclear, the projected starting trio of Porter and Slay on the outside, with Ramsey as a versatile chess piece who can line up anywhere, is going to be exciting to watch. With added depth from players like Cory Trice, Beanie Bishop, and Brandin Echols, this group finally has the kind of depth and flexibility it has lacked for years.
Safety
After an excellent first season in Pittsburgh, Deshon Elliott earned an extension. But shortly after that move, the Steelers traded away Minkah Fitzpatrick, leaving free safety as another glaring need on this defense. Juan Thornhill is a dependable third safety, but asking him to take over as the full-time free safety at this stage of his career is a concern. The recently signed Chuck Clark brings plenty of experience, but he offers very little upside.
The Steelers will likely look to address the position before the season begins, but if they are unable to land a capable replacement, this decision could come back to haunt them. There are still solid options available, but trading away Fitzpatrick has created a new and unexpected hole in the roster.
Overall thoughts
The Steelers took an aggressive and uncharacteristic approach this offseason in an effort to fix the team. While they made some bold moves, they also made a few questionable decisions that raise concerns about the thought process behind them. In some areas, the team has clearly improved compared to last season, but in others, they either stayed the same or may have even taken a step back.
There is still most of training camp ahead, and plenty can change, but as things currently stand, this feels like largely the same team in many key ways. Because of that, their win total and overall results may end up looking very similar to last year. The front office tried to shift the narrative and push the team forward, but honestly, it does not feel like they have done enough to truly get over the hump.