5 Steelers veteran who could be on the chopping block after the 2023 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers wrapped up an excellent 2023 NFL Draft on Saturday evening. They filled several positions of need with intriguing young talents who should be fixtures on the roster for years to come.

However, with those players coming onto the roster, they may be jeopardizing others' roster status. Here are five Steelers veterans whose jobs could be in jeopardy thanks to selections made in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Steelers could cut OLB Emeke Egbule

Emeka Egbule was signed this offseason to provide depth at outside linebacker behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. Egbule was a sixth-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2019 NFL Draft. While he appeared in 32 games from 2019 through 2021, he primarily played on special teams, only earning 98 defensive snaps.

Egbule is undersized for a 3-4 outside linebacker, so his value comes on special teams. But the Steelers used their fourth-round pick on outside linebacker Nick Herbig. Herbig is similarly built to Egbule (6'2", 240), but he was a very productive edge rusher for the Wisconsin Badgers in college. Outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin said Herbig would begin his career as an outside linebacker.

Given his pass-rushing prowess, Herbig is in prime position to take Egbule's roster spot. Egbule does not have much capital built up in the building, as he was signed to the practice squad in December and earned a reserve/futures contract in January. Even though Herbig was only a late-fourth-round pick, he gives the Steelers much more upside as a pass rusher, as a run defender, and on special teams.