It is now under two weeks away from the first round of the NFL Draft starting. The Steelers have a lot of holes to fill on their roster through this draft class. They will have to be creative to fill those voids with quality prospects coming out of college this year. Certain scenarios in the draft will affect the outcome of picks for Pittsburgh and therefore, their future roster decisions.
There are obvious players currently on the roster bubble entering the NFL Draft. They will have to work their way onto the roster, let alone into some sort of starting position. We will let the draft be our guide on which veterans on the team will have their roster spot challenged once the draft settles. The Steelers have a lot of work to do before the regular season kicks off.
The Steelers could shock many be releasing Connor Heyward
Let's start this one off with some name recognition here. Connor Heyward enters his third year in the NFL after being a late-round draft pick by Pittsburgh. He is more of a utility player who can play special teams. Heyward settled into the tight end room last year, but he has been given some opportunities at full-back and running back.
Heyward is the brother of star defensive player Cam Heyward. That might hold some weight when the Steelers make their final roster cut decisions. The younger Heyward also has a ton of special team's value, which Pittsburgh could use more of. If another tight end emerges during the preseason and Heyward can't show himself enough on special teams, then he might be on the hot seat.
Quez Watkins was just signed in Free Agency but he has a lot to prove
Just because someone was signed in free agency doesn't mean that they are locks to make the roster. We know the Steelers still have to add a receiver or two in the upcoming NFL Draft. It seems like they could target one early and potentially again late in the draft. That double-dip at the position could cause someone like Quez Watkins to be shown the door.
He is a receiver who will battle it out with the likes of Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III for different spots on the team. If the Steelers add another receiver late in the draft then it could spell disaster for a couple of the names listed above, including Watkins. He hasn't had a quality season for a couple of years now. He will have to prove something this preseason to have a shot at the roster most likely.
If the Steelers take a defensive lineman than Breiden Fehoko could be cut
The black and gold have shown a good amount of interest in the defensive lineman coming out of the NFL Draft. It will be interesting if they can attack that need early in the process. Even if they wait until later in the draft, it could cause issues for a couple of veterans on the roster. It might make a roadblock for them to make the final roster.
Breiden Fehoko is a name who could struggle to make the team if the Steelers add a quality prospect through the draft. He is a solid veteran nose tackle, but he doesn't provide much other than that. A young rookie will be given more chances than Fehoko to make the final roster. He sat on the practice squad last season, so that might be where he lands again this time around.
Damontae Kazee could get cut if they get a safety in the NFL Draft
This would be the most shocking cut of this entire list. Damontae Kazee was brought back to the team despite missing a ton of time last season and accounting for three million against the cap. They did bring in DeShon Elliott in free agency, and it seems like he could take the starting snaps. That would likely relegate Kazee to a role player for this defense.
Add in the Justin Simmons rumors that won't go away and the NFL Draft as another potential add at safety, and Kazee could see his roster spot dwindle. He is a solid option to be a depth piece for Pittsburgh, but he would likely want a bigger role. Kazee could become a trade candidate later in the preseason process if Simmons or a draft pick emerges to take his spot on the Steelers roster.