The entire league has to make some hard cuts every offseason. The back half of any given roster has to be trimmed down, and some names that fans have grown to like are ultimately waived. This includes anyone from unheralded players from previous seasons to training camp standouts.
I was trying to compile a list of fan favorites that are at risk of being cut, and knowing the opinion of most fans, it was a harder-than-expected list to make. Every fanbase, ours included, seemingly gets frustrated when their reserves aren’t superstars. The perfect example? James Pierre, who isn’t locked into a roster spot by any means, is a good reserve with special teams ability, but the fan base seems mostly against him for some reason.
That being said, I have found some names that make sense. While most would argue that these players are safe, and the fanbase has a generally positive outlook on the player, they are at serious risk of getting cut. Here are four Steelers fan-favorites that may get cut in training camp.
Steelers may cut Quincy Roche (again)
The Quincy Roche hype train isn’t as hot as it once was. When the Steelers drafted him in the sixth round a few seasons ago, he seemed like a steal. He was a productive player in college and had the potential to go late on day two.
He had a fine training camp, but ultimately lost his spot to the special teams savvy Jamir Jones. The Giants claimed him and he went on to play 42 percent of the defensive snaps for them as a rookie, and he logged 2.5 sacks. The same couldn’t be said for last season, as he only saw six snaps on defense and was eventually cut. The good news is that he was a regular special teams player with New York.
He now enters a very crowded edge rusher room and is the fifth option at a position that may only keep four. Frankly, I could see him battling for a spot with another name on this list as the final linebacker kept. While the fanbase has cooled on Roche, those expecting a redemption story may be disappointed.
The Steelers Zach Gentry fan club may end
As many of you know, I am a proud member of the Zach Gentry fan club. It looked like he was going to be a draft bust a few years ago, but he transformed himself into a solid blocker and became a viable second tight end for this team. His play did take a step back this past offseason though.
That said, Gentry was still resigned by the Steelers, but he is far from a roster lock. Darnell Washington was drafted in the third round and will likely take on the role of blocking tight end and top backup sooner than later. Gentry can still be kept as the third tight end, and for a team that plans to use some heavier sets, it would still be worth doing.
The issue comes down to Connor Heyward. While listed as a tight end, there is a very real chance he assumes the role of hybrid-full back and backup tight end. If he doesn’t, and the Steelers opt to keep a traditional fullback, Gentry could be in trouble.
I doubt the team keeps a pure fullback and four other tight ends. If Heyward is to stay as just a unique tight end, Gentry could be out the door. His contract doesn’t have much in it that would make cutting him a hassle.
As of this writing, I’m assuming Heyward is going to absorb the fullback role while also still being used as a tight end. If he does, then Gentry should be safe. Fans of his should be sweating a little bit though, as he isn’t a lock to be on the roster this year.
Steelers may not have room for Mark Robinson
Mark Robinson was a name that I, and a lot of Steelers fans, were high on this offseason. Rightfully so, as he looked the part in training camp last year and flashed in limited work as a rookie on defense. That said, things haven't gone as planned for the second-year linebacker.
The linebacker room was completely overturned this offseason as well. The only remaining member of the group from last year is Robinson. While the team didn’t bring in any major names, the only player locked into a significant role is Cole Holcomb. Elandon Roberts is, on paper, the other starter, but there was good reason to believe that Robinson would be in competition for the other spot.
Then Teryl Austin shot down the possibility of Robinson starting. He made it pretty clear that Robinson isn’t the plan for this season, and something would either have to go horribly wrong for him to see the field, or he would have to completely surpass expectations during camp. This was confirmed with the addition of veteran Nick Kwiatkowski, who can serve as a backup and special teams ace.
I think the fanbase, myself included, is higher on Robinson than the team is. He is now the fourth option on the depth chart, and a name like Tanner Muse is a far better special teams fit behind him. The Steelers usually like to have a core special teams linebacker around (see Allen, Marcus), so Robinson could conceivably be the fifth man on the depth chart.
I’m assuming nine total bodies are kept between edge rusher and linebacker. If that is the case, Robinson could very well be battling with the field (like Roche above) for that final spot. While I think he is on the inside looking out, I can’t lock him into a spot anymore. At the bare minimum, a quiet season from the former seventh-round pick would no longer shock me.
Steelers may not keep Cory Trice
I was as happy as anyone when the Steelers landed Cory Trice in the seventh round of the draft. He isn’t your usual late-round prospect, as he is an established cornerback with great measurables and potential. Many saw him as a day-two pick, but a strong cornerback class and some injury questions seemed to drop him down boards.
While I have high hopes for Trice, I also realize that he is only a seventh-round pick. Those players get cut all of the time, and while Trice has a path to the roster, he isn’t a lock to be kept. While lacking elite talent, the cornerback room is rather deep, especially with outside cornerbacks.
The first key for Trice will be special teams. He needs to prove that he can serve on the return units and not be a liability there. That will be the quickest way he gets playing time and ensures that he can be kept as depth. Likewise, he also needs to hold up in practice and during the preseason on defense.
If all goes to plan, he should be one of the cornerbacks kept. That said, he isn’t a lock, and as a seventh-round pick, he could realistically miss out on the roster. While fans have quickly gotten behind him, Trice could easily be amongst the cuts at the end of training camp.
The Steelers have a very new roster, which hasn’t given us a chance to latch onto some lesser players. That said, these four fan favorites are at risk of getting cut during training camp. They need to show up and earn their spot, or else they could quickly be looking for work somewhere else.