4 players the Steelers must make room for on the final 53

1. Anthony McFarland Jr. has a niche the Steelers could use

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a long history of keeping three running backs on their 53-man roster, and I'm not sure if they are willing to break that trend in 2023 despite knowing that Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren will carve out the vast majority of touches from the backfield. Though Anthony McFarland has been the clear-cut RB3 this summer, he doesn't fit the mold of what the Steelers typically look for in this role.

In the past, it has essentially been a requirement for Pittsburgh's third running back to help out on special teams coverage units. That's something McFarland just can't do. But that also doesn't mean the team should part ways with him.

While he may not be the most consistent runner, it's clear that McFarland possesses an extra gear that could really help this offense create more explosive plays -- even if this means only giving him a few touches per contest. The young speedster has the juice to go the distance on any given carry.

McFarland has had an excellent summer at Steelers training camp and has had some explosive plays in the preseason. I know that he doesn't have the core special teams ability they covet, but there's a role for a player with his skill set. Pittsburgh needs to find a way to not only keep him on the 53-man roster in 2023 but to use his niche to their advantage this year.