The Steelers are heading into training camp with plenty of their 53-man roster already accounted for, but the real intrigue is tucked into one spot group that could turn into a full-blown fight.
There are battles worth watching elsewhere - Roman Wilson vs Germie Bernard, plus the offensive guard competition - but those are the kinds of jobs where everyone involved still looks like a safe bet to stick around. The defensive line is different. That’s where the roster math gets messy, and where the most is on the line.
The biggest question is simple: how many defensive linemen will Pittsburgh keep? Six has traditionally been the standard, but the Steelers have leaned toward seven lately because of the depth. That leaves at least one opening, and possibly two.
And there’s no shortage of names trying to grab those spots.
Among the younger options, Gabriel Rubio looks like the clearest front-runner. His run defense at Notre Dame gives him a real case.
Kevin Jobity, an undrafted rookie, brings more juice as a pass rusher. If one of those two lands on the roster, the other feels like a natural practice squad candidate.
Logan Lee is another young name in the mix, even if he’s the least likely of that group. He has already made a team before, and that kind of pro experience still matters.
The veteran side of the battle is just as crowded. Esezi Otomewo offers rotational pass-rush ability, while Dean Lowry brings a more complete, traveled-veteran profile. Both should be right in the thick of things.
Then there are the deeper sleepers: Kyler Baugh and Anthony Goodlow. Baugh is undersized but athletic.
Goodlow has the kind of size teams like and has already had a cup of coffee in the NFL. Either one could force his way into the conversation with a strong stretch of practices.
That’s what makes this such a fascinating camp battle for Pittsburgh. The Steelers can shape the group in a lot of different ways.
They can lean toward Rubio and Otomewo for a blend of pass-rush help and run defense. They can chase upside with Jobity.
They can roll the dice on Baugh or Goodlow and keep Lowry around as insurance.
However it shakes out, the defensive line looks like the most open competition on the roster, and one of the most important ones the Steelers will have this summer.
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Steelers Camp Battle Is Brewing At Their Deepest Defensive Spot
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For defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, the challenge is less about finding talent than finding enough snaps to keep everyone involved and fresh. One answer could be leaning into three-edge rusher looks, a wrinkle that would let the Steelers put more of their best pressure players on the field at once while also giving Sawyer a chance to prove he belongs in the rotation rather than getting lost behind the veterans. [Read more 🡒]
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The Steelers backup quarterback picture is already one of the more delicate camp battles in Latrobe, with Aaron Rodgers entrenched as the starter and Mason Rudolph, Drew Allar and Will Howard all trying to carve out a place on the roster. It is the kind of decision that can look routine in July and feel a lot bigger once the games start, especially for a team trying to balance present-day stability with whatever comes next at the position.
Ben Roethlisberger added another layer to that conversation on his podcast, making it clear he sees more value in the younger options than in leaning on Rudolph as the fallback. His view is rooted in the long game, with Allar and Howard representing the sort of developmental swings that could matter down the road, while the Steelers still have to decide how much room they can realistically give four quarterbacks in one camp. [Read more 🡒]