Post-Draft Steelers Roster Projection

Parker Hurley |

Updated: May 1, 2019

Heinz Field, Pittsburgh Steelers and Pitt Panthers home ground -- Asamudra at English Wikipedia | CC-BY 3.0

With the NFL Draft over, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be done making moves, for the most part. They have their 90-man roster set and are ready to move into training camp with the competition to make the 53-man roster.

With that in mind, who are the players who are set to make the roster, and who are the players on the fringe? While there may be some fine tuning, this should be what the 53-man roster will look like for the most part.

Quarterback

(3) Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph, Joshua Dobbs

Dobbs will make the roster again, but the Steelers better hope that third-round pick Mason Rudolph is ready to be a backup by this point.

Running Backs

(4) James Conner, Jaylen Samuels, Benny Snell, Roosevelt Nix

Benny Snell replaces Steven Ridley and the team moves forward with the same group from last year.

Wide Receiver

(6) JuJu Smith-Schuster, Donte Moncrief, James Washington, Diontae Johnson, Eli Rogers, Ryan Switzer

With Donte Moncrief, James Washington, and Diontae Johnson the Steelers may have enough outside threats to keep JuJu Smith-Schuster in the slot. Slot options Eli Rogers and Ryan Switzer remain, but Rogers is on the chopping block.

Tight End

(3) Vance McDonald, Xavier Grimble, Zach Gentry

Zach Gentry may use a year on the practice squad, depending on how Jake McGee recovers from his ACL injury. If McGee is healthy, he could push Gentry.

Offensive Line

(8) Alejandro Villanueva, Ramon Foster, Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, Matt Feiler, Chuks Okorafor, B.J. Finney, Jerald Hawkins

Despite many saying the Steelers lost a “starter” on the line, Matt Feiler has started nine more games in the past two seasons than Marcus Gilbert. The Steelers are bringing back their entire starting group with rookie Derwin Gray and Zach Banner on the outside looking in.

Defensive Line

(6) Cam Heyward, Stephon Tuitt, Javon Hargrave, Tyson Alualu, Isaiah Buggs

With limited depth, Isaiah Buggs has an easier path to the roster than most of his peers.

Outside Linebacker

(5) Bud Dupree, T.J. Watt, Anthony Chickillo, Ola Adenyi, Sutton Smith

Rookie Sutton Smith gets the nod over the oft-injured Keion Adams due to special teams value.

Inside Linebacker

(5) Devin Bush, Vince Williams, Mark Barron, Tyler Matakevich, Ulysses Gilbert

Ulysses Gilbert and Tyler Matakevich may compete for a final roster spot. However, for now, both have enough special teams ability to get by.

Cornerback

(6) Joe Haden, Steven Nelson, Mike Hilton, Cameron Sutton, Brian Allen, Justin Layne

With Justin Layne drafted and Steven Nelson signed, Artie Burns is going to need to play special teams to keep a job. Brian Allen, Matakevich and other present better options and the Steelers admit they were wrong and move on from Burns.