The Pittsburgh Steelers made a number of grueling roster cuts to finalize their 53-man roster ahead of the 2026 season. While most of the players who made the team will have job security throughout the season, others could be on the chopping block if the team is forced to make additional roster moves.
My full breakdown of the Steelers' 53-man roster is available, but I decided to spice things up a bit. After listing the roster and discussing who made the team, I attempted to rank all 53 players, from worst to best, based on what I expect them to offer the team this year.
These rankings are also broken into tiers ranging from players who are just happy to be here to past and future stars, and are based on my expectations for the 2026 season, not for the future. With that said, here are my rankings for every player who made the Steelers' initial 53-man roster.
Ranking every player on the Pittsburgh Steelers' initial 53-man roster
Just happy to be here
53. Kevin Jobity Jr.: This was the biggest surprise of the entire Steelers 53-man roster. Kevin Jobity Jr. is hardly guaranteed to stick around for long, but he's the only rookie UDFA to make the initial roster.
52. Eli Heidenreich, RB: Let's face it: he probably should have begun his NFL career on the practice squad, based on his training camp and preseason performances.
51. Will Howard, QB: If not for the Steelers' decision to keep four quarterbacks, Will Howard clearly would have been the odd man out at the position.
50. Cameron Johnston, P: Cameron Johnston is fortunate there was no punter competition this summer.
49. Ryan McCollum, C: If not for Broderick Jones getting traded just before the NFL roster deadline, it would have been hard to envision Ryan McCollum making the team as the tenth offensive lineman.
48: Christian Kuntz, LS: No offense to Christian Kuntz, but at the end of the day, we're talking about a long snapper.
Raw, unproven rookies and draft picks
47. Drew Allar, QB: Drew Allar flashed tools and upside, but it's clear that he's nowhere near ready to see the field on Sundays.
46. Daylen Everette, CB: Daylen Everette looks the part, but he has a lot of work to do when it comes to mirroring receivers and breaking on the ball in coverage.
45. Gabriel Rubio, DL: He was a fun player to watch during the preseason and shows promise as a run defender, but Gabriel Rubio needs to do a better job playing under control and staying on his feet.
44. Kaden Wetjen, WR/KR/PR: With a punt return for a touchdown during the Steelers' preseason finale against the Bills, Kaden Wetjen showed why the Steelers spent a draft pick on a return specialist.
43. Riley Nowakowski, TE/FB: Riley Nowakowski should fill the 'Connor Heyward' role eventually as a do-it-all H-back, but he's got plenty to work on.
42. Robert Spears-Jennings, S: The physical safety was a heat-seeking missile during the preseason, and Robert Spears-Jennings needs to keep up the intensity as he hopes to carve out a core special teams role.
41. Carson Bruener, LB: Carson Bruener flashed this summer and showed glimpses of why he could potentially be more than just a special teams ace.
40. Roman Wilson, WR: Until proven otherwise, it's hard to have Roman Wilson any higher on this list. He's coming off an unspectacular preseason performance.
39. Yahya Black, DT: You won't find a player bigger than Yahya Black on the football field. Now he needs to work on playing like the biggest guy out there consistently.
38. Jack Sawyer, EDGE: We saw signs during the preseason that could make Jack Sawyer a quality rotational edge rusher, but his ceiling also feels capped.
Servicable veteran depth
37. Rayshawn Jenkins, S: Rayshawn Jenkins is new to the Steelers, but with 92 starts since 2017, the big safety has plenty of experience to lend a hand on the back end of the defense.
36. Ben Skowronek, WR: Though he's hardly a threat on offense, don't underestimate the value of a lethal special teams gunner.
35. Robert Tonyan, TE: Robert Tonyan has gone quiet in the NFL in recent years, but he's coming off an excellent summer and is reunited with Aaron Rodgers.
34. Mason Rudolph, QB: Few backup quarterbacks today have faced adversity in a pinch like Mason Rudolph. We know who he is at this point, but he's still a respectable QB2.
33. Cole Holcomb, LB: If not for a gruesome knee injury a few years back, Cole Holcomb could have had a much better Steelers career. Still, he provides quality linebacker depth, thanks to his well-rounded skill set and experience.
32. Dylan Cook, OT: After an up-and-down summer, it's possible that Dylan Cook struggles, but his sample at left tackle last year late in the season inspires optimism that he will be serviceable before rookie first-round pick Max Iheanachor is asked to take over at right tackle.
31. Spencer Anderson, G: The 2023 seventh-round pick will get his first crack at being a full-time starter at right guard. I could see this going either way, but he's worked his butt off to get to this point.
30. Brandin Echols, CB: Echols has a well-balanced skill set at cornerback with starting experience. He's a quality depth option in the secondary.
29. Brock Hoffman, G/C: I'm splitting hairs here between Anderson and Brock Hoffman, but I liked Hoffman's film a bit better during his time with the Dallas Cowboys than what Anderson has offered the Steelers to date.
Raw, young Steelers who ooze with upside
28. Gennings Dunker, G: Gennings Dunker's mechanics are all over the place, but it's rare to find a guard with the combination of size, power, traits, and tenacity. Don't be shocked if he's starting at some point this season.
27. Germie Bernard, WR: Bernard isn't an elite athlete, but he flashed his upside with the ball in his hands during the preseason and could be a menace after the catch. Expect his role to increase as the season goes on.
26. Max Iheanachor, OT: You can't hope for many more tools and upside at the offensive tackle position than what Max Iheanachor possesses, and it's only a matter of time before he supplants Dylan Cook at right tackle.
25. Derrick Harmon, DL: Derrick Harmon still has a lot to prove, and he needs to stay healthy, but he's an explosive defensive tackle who flashes promise as a run defender and pass rusher from the interior.
Quality veterans with experience
24. Jaquan Brisker, S: Jaquan Brisker was one of the best Steelers free-agent additions this offseason, and with DeShon Elliott on IR for at least the first four games, he'll likely never leave the field on defense, barring an injury.
23. Asante Samuel Jr., CB: We don't know exactly what Asante Samuel Jr's role will be in the secondary, but he was too good this summer not to be out there somewhere on defense.
22. Patrick Queen, LB: Patrick Queen has become a polarizing figure in the middle of Pittsburgh's defense, so it only makes sense to have him in the middle of my Steelers 53-man roster rankings.
21. Michael Pittman Jr., WR: I'm not the biggest fan of Michael Pittman Jr.'s game, but he can still be a quality possession receiver who could carve out a sizable role on offense.
20. Sebastian Joseph-Day, DL: My favorite free-agent signing, Sebastian Joseph-Day has had a sneaky-good career before joining the Steelers, and he will be heavily involved in the defensive line rotation.
Breakout candidates and up-and-comers
19. Payton Wilson, LB: Year 3 could finally be the year that Payton Wilson establishes himself as the splash-play linebacker we all hoped he would be.
18. Darnell Washington, TE: Darnell Washington has a niche role on the Steelers, thanks to his unmatched size at the tight end position. He might not be productive, but that doesn't mean he won't be valuable.
17. Keeanu Benton, DL: With a rich new deal and a potential new role in Patrick Graham's defense, Keeanu Benton could be poised for a breakout season.
16. Troy Fautanu, OT: A lot is riding on Troy Fautanu to take the next step in his game. He sometimes struggles with power, but the foot quickness and mirroring ability are remarkable.
15. Mason McCormick, G: Mason McCormick looks the part of a long-time starting NFL guard, and the former South Dakota State Jackrabbit should only take another step forward in his third season.
Veterans in key roles for the Steelers
14. Pat Freiermuth, TE: Pat Freiermuth could see a career year with Mike McCarthy calling the shots, as the new head coach and play-caller will look to exploit the middle of the field more often.
13. Aaron Rodgers, QB: Aaron Rodgers is nowhere near the same quarterback he was five years ago, but so much rides on his performance. The reunion with McCarthy could do him good.
12. Jalen Ramsey, CB/S: The soon-to-be 32-year-old defensive back's performance will gradually decrease as he ages, but he may have one more quality year in the tank for Pittsburgh.
11. Jamel Dean, CB: Coming off a quietly great season with the Buccaneers, Jamel Dean could keep the momentum going in his first season with the Steelers.
10. Rico Dowdle, RB: After back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons on two different teams, Dowdle will do his best to make it three in a row, as he could lead the Steelers in carries this year.
9. Jaylen Warren, RB: The second half of a true '1A, 1B' pairing, Jaylen Warren could get more third-down work than Dowdle as a pass-catcher blocker out of the backfield.
8. DK Metcalf, WR: DK Metcalf underwhelmed in his first season in Pittsburgh, but with a new McCarthy offense, he could look more like a true go-to target this year.
7. Alex Highsmith, EDGE: Highsmith has quietly been one of the best and most consistent players on the Pittsburgh Steelers' roster for years now, and there's no reason to expect that to stop in 2026.
Past, present, and future Steelers stars on the 53-man roster
6. T.J. Watt, EDGE: I want to give T.J. Watt the benefit of the doubt, but the former superstar has shown signs of aging these past two seasons. Still, he's certainly talented enough to rebound, assuming there's at least a little gas left in the tank.
5. Joey Porter Jr., CB: The gritty cornerback is coming off a career year, and we hope the contract dispute doesn't get in the way. But assuming he suits up, he's going to have an all-important role on defense as the Steelers' CB1.
4. Zach Frazier, C: Zach Frazier flashed Pro Bowl and even All-Pro potential in his first two seasons in Pittsburgh, and there's no reason to expect him to take a step backward in 2026.
3. Nick Herbig, EDGE: Somehow still just 24 years old and with an arsenal of moves to get after the quarterback, Nick Herbig could take the leap into the elite pass rush specialist category.
2. Cameron Heyward, DL: At 37, Cameron Heyward is going to slow down at some point, but I'm not going to be the poor sap who doubts the ageless wonder.
1. Chris Boswell, K: Chris Boswell wasn't perfect last season, but he's still one of the best in the game, and he'll no doubt save the Steelers a time or two this season with his clutch leg.
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