Mid-Training Camp Steelers 2024 53-Man Roster Projection
With one week to go in Pittsburgh Steelers training camp 2024, we update our 53-man roster projection.
Pittsburgh Steelers training camp is nearly over, with just two more practices under the shadows of the Laurel Mountains at St. Vincent College before the team breaks camp and returns to Pittsburgh. Shortly after that, Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin will be tasked with trimming the current 90 players on the Steelers active roster to just 53. Who has played their way into a roster spot and who has played their way out of one?
Let’s take a look with our updated Steelers 53-man roster projection midway through preseason.
QUARTERBACKS (3)
Keep: Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Kyle Allen
Cut: John Rhys Plumlee
This hasn’t changed one bit since the four players were signed.
Last year: Mason Rudolph, Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky
RUNNING BACKS (3)
Keep: Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Cordarrelle Patterson
Cut: Aaron Shampklin, Jack Colletto, Daijun Edwards, Jonathan Ward, La’Mical Perine
I’ve really been impressed with the depth running back options, and to me, Jonathan Ward has been the best of the bunch, but I still see them having their fourth running back be on the practice squad instead of the active roster.
Colletto has been used way more than any other Steelers fullback I can remember, but I’m not sure his play has screamed “you have to keep me.” For right now, I still have him on the outside of the Steelers 53 best on the roster, but if no one else ever takes any fullback reps, that might have to change.
Last year: Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Anthony McFarland Jr.
WIDE RECEIVERS (5)
Keep: George Pickens, Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, Someone else
Cut: Scotty Miller, Dez Fitzpatrick, Jacob Copeland, Quez Watkins, Duece Watts, Jaray Jenkins
Whether it’s Brandon Aiyuk or someone else, I just can’t see the Steelers entering this season with this group of wide receivers. They have struggled to separate — both from the defensive backs and one another — throughout camp, and the team clearly is in need of an injection in talent. The Steelers spend so much time playing in 12 and 13 personnel that it’s hard to justify a sixth wide receiver that doesn’t play special teams. Quez Watkins seems to have crossed himself off that list, so I’ll move him to the cut line here.
Last year: Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, Allen Robinson, Calvin Austin III, Gunner Olszewski, Miles Boykin
TIGHT ENDS (4)
Keep: Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Connor Heyward, MyCole Pruitt
Cut: Rodney Williams II, Matt Sokol
Pat Freiermuth is extremely important to this team’s offense and the Steelers don’t really have a backup for him, but my gut is that they try to piece something together using multiple players. MyCole Pruitt can play fullback and blocks well, so if they’re not keeping Colletto, I think he’s a lock.
Last year: Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Connor Heyward
TACKLES (4)
Keep: Dan Moore Jr., Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu, Dylan Cook
Cut: Devery Hamilton, Tyler Beach
Troy Fautanu missing the last two preseason games takes away the intrigue about who is going to start, and probably crosses Dan Moore Jr. off the list of Steelers who could be traded before the opener.
Last yar: Dan Moore Jr., Chukwuma Okorafor, Broderick Jones, Dylan Cook
CENTER/GUARDS (5)
Keep: Isaac Seumalo, James Daniels, Zach Frazier, Nate Herbig, Mason McCormick
Cut: Spencer Anderson, Ryan McCollum, Anderson Hardy, Joey Fisher
This is probably the hardest cut on the team. Spencer Anderson can play at the NFL level, but with fourth-round rookie Mason McCormick unlikely to be cut, Anderson could be the odd man out along the offensive line. This is a place where the Steelers can afford to trade from their depth, whether it’s James Daniels in Aiyuk trade or just moving one of the depth pieces like they did with Kendrick Green and Kevin Dotson in the past.
Last year: Isaac Seumalo, James Daniels, Mason Cole, Nate Herbig, Spencer Anderson
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (7)
Keep: Cam Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi, Keeanu Benton, Montravius Adams, Dean Lowry, Isaiahh Loudermilk, DeMarvin Leal
Cut: Logan Lee, Marquiss Spencer, Jacob Slade, Willington Previlon
This is another very difficult cut. DeMarvin Leal has been great this camp and preseason, Isaiahh Loudermilk has been solid and still ahead of Leal on the depth chart. We’ve yet to see where Dean Lowry fits in, but it seems to me that rookie Logan Lee has a bit of a hill to climb to get to the 53-man roster.
Last year: Cam Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi, Keeanu Benton, Montravius Adams, Armon Watts, Isaiahh Loudermilk, DeMarvin Leal
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (4)
Keep: T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jeremiah Moon
Cut: Kyron Johnson, Julius Welschof
It looked like the fourth outside linebacker spot was going to be Markus Golden’s until his sudden retirement. Now Jeremiah Moon is back in the driver’s seat.
Last year: T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Markus Golden, Nick Herbig
INSIDE LINEBACKERS (5)
Keep: Patrick Queen, Elandon Roberts, Payton Wilson, Tyler Matakevich, Mark Robinson
PUP: Cole Holcomb
Cut: Luquay Washington, Jacoby Windmon
Cole Holcomb has yet to practice in training camp, and it seems nearly assured that he will start the season on the PUP list. Mark Robinson is kind of hanging by a thread here, and if the Steelers want to make another roster spot on offense to find a way to fit Colletto in, this is the one on defense I’d take.
Last year: Cole Holcomb, Elandon Roberts, Kwon Alexander, Mark Robinson
SAFETIES (5)
Keep: Minkah Fitzpatrick, DeShon Elliott, Damontae Kazee, Miles Killebrew, Ryan Watts
Cut: Jalen Elliot
Ryan Watts looks like a natural at safety and, to me, has played his way onto the 53-man roster. No one else here is going anywhere.
Last year: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Damontae Kazee, Keanu Neal, Miles Killebrew
CORNERBACKS (5)
Keep: Joey Porter Jr., Donte Jackson, Cory Trice Jr., Darius Rush, Beanie Bishop
Suspended: Cam Sutton
Cut: Kalon Barnes, Thomas Graham, Anthony Averett, Grayland Arnold, Kyler McMichael
There are ton of moving parts here, as Cam Sutton is suspended for the first eight weeks of the season, meaning undrafted slot corner Beanie Bishop is going to start. Will the Steelers keep a slot backup to Bishop like Grayland Arnold or Thomas Graham? Or will they want a more experienced backup on the outside than either Cory Trice Jr. or Darius Rush? Only Anthony Averett has extensive experience there. This is a tough cut, and it’s possible the Steelers find a way to manipulate the roster to get another player in here. Perhaps one less linebacker? We’ll see.
Last year: Patrick Peterson, Levi Wallace, Joey Porter Jr., Chandon Sullivan, James Pierre, Elijah Riley
SPECIALISTS (3)
Keep: Chris Boswell, Cameron Johnston, Christian Kuntz
Cut: Matthew Wright
Matthew Wright is so good, he might be tradable. But I can’t see him overtaking Chris Boswell.
Last year: Chris Boswell, Pressley Harvin III, Christian Kuntz
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