Steelers Roster Projection: Who is going to make the final cut in 2023?

After a nearly perfect pre-season for the Pittsburgh Steelers, it's time for GM Omar Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin to decide who's going to make the team. While most of the spots were already wrapped up heading into the final pre-season game, there were a few players who could have played their way onto the team with strong performances against the Falcons.

Here's my take on how the Steelers' 53-man roster will look following cutdown day on August 29.

Note that there's a good chance at least one player who initially makes the team could be replaced by another team's veteran who was cut. There's also the possibility that the Steelers trade away a player who initially makes the team.

Steelers roster projections: Offense (24)

Quarterbacks (3): Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky, Mason Rudolph

No surprises here. I believe Pickett is on his way to having a breakout season after finishing last year with a flourish and having a full off-season to prepare as the starter. According to PFF, Pickett finished the three-game pre-season with a 94.7 grade, completing 13-of-15 passes for 199 yards, 2 TDs, and 0 Interceptions for a perfect 158.3 passer rating.

Trubisky and Rudolph each led TD drives in their pre-season efforts and will be the No. 2 and No. 3 quarterbacks respectively.

Rookie Tanner Morgan is a candidate for the practice squad.

Running Backs (3): Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Anthony McFarland

Steelers "X" (formerly Twitter) now believes that Warren should be the starter over Harris following the former's 62-yard TD run against the Bills in pre-season week two. But let's get real...I could have gotten at least 20 yards on that run and I'm old. In the words of my old high school football coach, "You could have driven a Mack Truck through that hole", which was created by Dan Moore, Jr., Isaac Seamalu, Mason Cole, and James Daniels.

I will say that the difference is that I would have been smashed like a bug after getting into the secondary, while Warren made a shifty move and turned on the jets to break away for the long score. That's something Harris doesn't have -- breakaway speed -- but he does have something that Warren doesn't have...the starting halfback position.

Harris was the Steelers' No. 1 draft pick just a couple of years ago and he's done nothing to lose the starting role. The former Alabama product has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons and put the Steelers' struggling offense on his back at times late last season. I firmly believe that Harris is due for his best season yet, and that's saying a lot since he made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2021.

Warren will continue to spell Harris, being the ying to his yang, the peanut butter to his jelly, and the salt to his pepper. These guys are a perfect complement to each other...think of a modern-day version of Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker. Warren, while not as fleet-a-foot as "Fast Willie", still hits the hole with burst and provides a nice change of pace. He'll see even more playing time in 2023.

After a couple of years bouncing from the Steelers' active roster to the practice squad, McFarland has played his way onto the 53 during this Training Camp. The 1-2 punch of Harris and Warren will make it difficult for him to see much playing time, but the coaching staff is confident in McFarland's ability if needed. He will also contribute on special teams.