With two preseason games remaining, we can start counting down the days until the Pittsburgh Steelers must be roster-compliant. Before the start of the season, Mike Tomlin, the coaching staff, and the front office will get together to decide which players to keep and who to cut.
Soon this 90-man summer roster will windle down to just 53 players. This doesn't mean that every player set to make the squad is going to be a key contributor. Quite frankly, the Steelers have some weaknesses on the roster, and there are still players who will make the final cut that will be liabilities to the team at times.
When the clock ticks down on the deadline to cut NFL rosters down to just 53 players, these seven Steelers will be the worst players remaining on Pittsburgh's roster.
Worst Steelers projected to make the 53-man roster
QB Kyle Allen
There's no downfall in having a third quarterback. Thanks to a recent NFL rule, a team's QB3 doesn't need to be activated to see the field if the starter and the backup get injured. Quarterback is the game's most important position, so it's worth having a third on the Steelers roster.
Having said that, Kyle Allen has always been unspectacular. Since joining the Panthers in 2018, Allen has a career record of 7-12 as a starter accompanied by an underwhelming 82.2 passer rating. The Steelers could do worse when it comes to the QB3 position, but Allen will be one of the worst players making the team this year.
TE MyCole Pruitt
Outside of experience and versatility, MyCole Pruitt doesn't offer much to get fans excited. Yes, the veteran tight end has a history with Arthur Smith (which is probably why he signed with the team in the first place), but he doesn't have any defining traits.
At 6'2'' and 245 pounds, Pruitt doesn't have exceptional size and is more of an H-back than a true tight end. Though he's known for his ability to wear multiple hats for a football team, he earned a run block grade of just 46.8 last season with the Falcons. We can't expect him to be significantly better at 32 years old.
OG Spencer Anderson
Every team needs depth along the offensive line and the Steelers have more of it than we've seen in years. However, Spencer Anderson is a roster bubble player who will likely make the team due to a numbers game. Anderson was Pittsburgh's seventh-round pick in 2023 out of Maryland, and there's plenty of time for him to shape his career.
However, Anderson dressed for just eight games last season and never played a snap on offense while logging a mere 26 snaps on special teams all season. Due to his inexperience and the fact that he's completely untested on the NFL stage, it's safe to assume Anderson will be one of the worst players to make the Steelers roster in 2024.
DL Isaiahh Loudermilk
The longer Isaiahh Loudermilk advances in his professional career, the less hope we have of him turning out to be anything more than a bottom-of-the-roster player. Loudermilk was a project coming out of Wisconsin, but over the years, he never showed upside as an interior pass rusher.
Loudermilk will compete with players like DeMarvin Leal and Logan Lee for one of the final defensive line spots on the team, but I would expect the veteran to win the job. Let's hope he can pick up his game in year four.
LB Mark Robinson
Outside of a few big hits here and there to go with a competent play on special teams, there isn't much reason for Mark Robinson to hang around on the Steelers roster. However, Cole Holcomb isn't going to be ready to rejoin the team by the start of the season, which means Robinson could earn a roster spot by default.
Robinson, a seventh-round pick of the Steelers in 2022, is a stout linebacker who lacks speed and change-of-direction ability in space. This makes him a liability when he's forced to see the field for defense. The Steelers could scour the waiver wire for an upgrade here if they don't like what they see from Robinson.
EDGE Kyron Johnson
With T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith making up one of the most lethal edge rusher pairings in the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers haven't invested much draft capital or free agent money at the position in recent years. Fortunately, the Steelers hit on Nick Herbig, but that still leaves one glaring hole when it comes to the depth of the position.
The final outside linebacker spot is likely to go to Kyron Johnson or Jeremiah Moon. I have Johnson earning the last roster spot at the position, but either player who makes it will be considered one of the worst on the Steelers' 53-man roster.
CB Grayland Arnold
As injuries mount at the cornerback position, it's looking increasingly likely that Grayland Arnold will make Pittsburgh's final roster. The journeyman nickel cornerback played with the Eagles and Texans before joining the Steelers but appears to be an underwhelming option at the position.
Because of the lack of competition at slot cornerback, Arnold has been splitting first-team reps with undrafted rookie Beanie Bishop Jr. Arnold's positioning in the pecking order shows that he's on track to make this team, but he will be one of the worst to do so in 2024.