The Steelers play their final preseason game of the year Friday night in Carolina. The team’s leadership will then decide what 53 players they will keep on the active roster, who goes to the practice squad, and who will be looking for work elsewhere.
93.7 The Fan’s Josh Rowntree gives his predictions for what the 53-man roster will look like, and The Fan’s Jim Colony debates those projections (where applicable) and provides his own insight on the potential makeup of Mike Tomlin’s 2021 team.
Quarterback (3): Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph, Dwayne Haskins
Rowntree: Josh Dobbs is the lone man out. I expect the Steelers to try to trade him, and for there to be no takers. Unless they pull a stunner, Mason Rudolph will be the backup quarterback. Dwayne Haskins got no snaps with the first team offense in the first three preseason games.
Running Backs (4): Najee Harris, Anthony McFarland, Kalen Ballage, Jaylen Samuels
Rowntree: Benny Snell Football becomes Benny Snell, Free Agent. Like Dobbs, the Steelers may look to trade him, especially with a lack of middle round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. It all comes down to Snell and Samuels, and Samuels has been healthier, and is a good special teams player.
Colony’s Comment: I predict Snell over Samuels, although Samuels could survive If Snell is hurt or underperforms in Carolina.
Fullback (1): Derek Watt
Rowntree: Not a hard call here. Watt is the only true fullback on the roster. Trey Edmunds has been working there, and could be a free agent option if Watt gets injured again. But it seems like Watt will be a bigger part of Matt Canada’s offense than he was last season with Randy Fichtner.
Wide Receivers (5): Diontae Johnson, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chase Claypool, James Washington, Mathew Sexton
Rowntree: The top four are obvious, but Sexton may be a surprise. His two great punt returns in the preseason have shown that he’s just as capable as Ray-Ray McCloud in that department. Plus Sexton has shown to be a big play threat who can line up in various positions to utilize his top end speed.
Colony’s Comment: Sexton is a nice story and he had a couple of decent punt returns but Ray-Ray McCloud is still better and more experienced. Plus both Anthony Johnson and Cody White are superior receivers.
Tight Ends (3): Pat Freiermuth, Eric Ebron, Kevin Rader
Rowntree: It’ll be Rader or Zach Gentry. And it's close. I like Rader, the Pine-Richland grad, just a little more. He’s looked solid enough in the run game and doesn’t play as stiff as Gentry. That said, if there’s a quality free agent available following final cuts, I could see the Steelers trying to upgrade.
Colony’s Comments: As much as I am partial to Pine-Richland (and have the tax receipts to prove it), Zack Gentry is a better complement to Freiermuth and Ebron. He has bulked up and even looks improved as a pass-catcher, so I’ll keep him.
Offensive Linemen (9): Zach Banner, Trai Turner, Kendrick Green, Kevin Dotson, Chukwuma Okorafor, Dan Moore, B.J. Finney, J.C. Hassenauer, Joe Haeg
Rowntree: The question here is if Rashaad Coward has done enough to upend either Hassenauer or Finney to earn a spot. Both of those guys can be the backup center if Green goes down, but Coward is a pure guard. Haeg isn’t a great option at tackle, the position where the Steelers are weakest. But he’ll do, for now.
Colony’s Comment: I agree with Josh but feel the need to step in because Coward is, to be kind, not good. Another team’s cast-off tackle is a distinct possibility, especially since Haeg was essentially a Tampa Bay cast-off.
Defensive Linemen (6): Cam Heyward, Stephon Tuitt, Tyson Alualu, Chris Wormley, Isaiah Buggs, Isaiahh Loudermilk
Rowntree: Behind the top four, there’s a wide open battle. Buggs and Loudermilk will narrowly beat out Henry Mondeaux and Carlos Davis, who should be primary practice squad targets, especially considering Tuitt’s continual absences from practice. The Steelers traded up for Loudermilk, so clearly they’re intrigued by his potential. Defensive line depth is a very, very good thing in the NFL.
Colony’s Comment: I will take Carlos Davis over Loudermilk, who hasn’t shown me much. Maybe I missed his good practice days.
Inside Linebackers (5): Devin Bush, Joe Schobert, Robert Spillane, Ulysees Gilbert, Buddy Johnson
Rowntree: Johnson, a draft pick, hasn’t been a preseason sensation by any means. But he’ll get a shot. Marcus Allen had a sack against Detroit, showing that his path from safety to inside linebacker is developing. Just not enough. Barely.
Colony’s Comment: Ever since I saw Buddy Johnson’s personalized knit cap on a Zoom I have been rooting for him but, much like Loudermilk, I just haven’t seen much – if anything. Marcus Allen survives.
Outside Linebackers (4): TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, Melvin Ingram, Cassius Marsh
Rowntree: The top three spots look really, really good. I wouldn’t be stunned if the Steelers hit the free agent market for a fourth outside linebacker. But Cassius Marsh edges out rookie Jamir Jones, who has had a stellar preseason. Marsh just has a little more experience. If the Steelers can keep Jones on the practice squad, they definitely will.
Colony’s Comment: Jamir Jones has been better than Marsh. Keep him.
Cornerbacks (6): Joe Haden, Cameron Sutton, James Pierre, Justin Layne, Arthur Maulet, Free Agent TBD
Rowntree: With Tuesday’s surprising release of Antoine Brooks due to injury, there is now real uncertainty at slot corner. Sutton will likely move inside, and either Pierre or Layne will play on the outside. But, if they can find one, adding an experienced outside corner should be the Steelers’ top free agency prerogative. I think they’ll find one, somewhere.
Colony’s Comment: Layne has been my most pleasant surprise of the pre-season. He finally looks like he can play a little bit. I also agree with the idea of a veteran free agent.
Safeties (4): Minkah Fitzpatrick, Terrell Edmunds, Tre Norwood, Miles Killebrew
Rowntree: Donovan Stiner has come on late in the preseason and could find himself on the practice squad. Tre Norwood has some good upside, and Killebrew makes the team almost by default. The Steelers just aren’t very deep at safety, which is a big concern if Fitzpatrick goes down.
Kicker (1): Chris Boswell
Rowntree: He’s the only kicker on the roster. And is reliable. So let’s wrap this up. Jim's done arguing with me.
Punter (1): Pressley Harvin III
Rowntree: Yes, the position battle of the summer goes to the rookie. Harvin III finally dethrones Jordan Berry from the punting job. The Steelers used a draft pick on Harvin III, and that will carry more weight than it did when the team drafted longsnapper Colin Holba a few years ago, only to cut him later in the preseason.
Longsnapper (1): Kameron Canaday
Rowntree: Speaking of longsnappers, Canaday keeps his job over Chartiers Valley and Duquesne grad Christian Kuntz, who does have a real shot. But I think special teams coach Danny Smith won’t want to throw too much change at Boswell, and will keep Canaday around for another season.