The biggest swing in the Steelers’ 53-man roster projection comes under center, where the quarterback room has changed the shape of everything else.
After three weeks at Saint Vincent College and one preseason game, Pittsburgh’s roster picture looks nothing like it did at the start of camp. It even looks different from a week ago. The preseason opener and Mike McCarthy’s praise for the quarterbacks have pushed the Steelers toward a roster construction that starts with one simple idea: keep all four.
That decision would ripple through the rest of the roster, forcing cuts in places that might otherwise be secure. And at this point, the Steelers seem inclined to hold on to Drew Allar and Will Howard because of what they represent for the future at the position. The team does not have a future there right now, and those two young passers appear to be at the center of how they want to build.
One player who no longer appears to fit is Kaleb Johnson. He played only a handful of snaps against the Green Bay Packers, and the way training camp unfolded for him never really helped his case. The fit with McCarthy’s offense just does not seem to be there.
Travis Homer, meanwhile, sticks because he can help on special teams.
At fullback, there is no movement. Riley Nowakowski keeps trending in the right direction and remains a lock for the 53-man roster.
Kaden Wetjen, though, looks like a player on thinner ice than expected. McCarthy was not especially complimentary after Wetjen got trapped inside the 5-yard line against the Packers on a pass from Drew Allar, and the message seems clear enough: to make this team, Wetjen has to contribute on offense and special teams.
Elsewhere on offense, the tight end group appears settled. Robert Tonyan has been steady all camp and looks like a roster lock, while Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington are obviously staying put. Tonyan has given the offense the kind of veteran presence it wants, and he looks safe well beyond simply surviving the cut to 53.
The quarterback situation also creates a casualty at center. Ryan McCollum is the likely odd man out because of the four-passers decision. If Brock Hoffman beats out Spencer Anderson, the backup center spot gets even more crowded, but the Steelers will still hope they can get McCollum to the practice squad, even if he seems too good for that destination.
Broderick Jones is on the roster and could still carve out a larger role, but the return of Max Iheanachor can shift that picture quickly. Jones still needs to add weight and muscle, and Dylan Cook’s showing against the Packers did not help matters. If the first-round rookie is unavailable, Jones becomes even more important.
Inside, the Steelers may be forced to keep both Dean Lowry and Gabe Rubio. Rubio, the sixth-round pick out of Notre Dame, has been turning heads and making doubters rethink the pick.
He has looked strong and has had moments where he simply took over on the interior. Lowry has also been productive, and with Sebastian Joseph-Day sidelined by an unknown injury, Pittsburgh may not be able to risk losing either player.
At outside linebacker, there is no major change. The Steelers like their group of four, and while Alex Highsmith is not going anywhere this offseason, anything still seems possible.
The biggest shift on defense comes at inside linebacker, where the addition of Elandon Roberts changes the math. That likely pushes Cole Holcomb to the outside looking in.
Malik Harrison has not had much of a chance all summer, and Carson Bruener remains the special teams ace who is not going anywhere. The Steelers simply do not have room for five inside linebackers, especially with the quarterback room taking up so much space.
Cornerback is still the most impressive position group on the roster, but that depends heavily on health. Jalen Ramsey’s injury is still not clear, and it does not sound minor. At this point, it would not be a surprise if he misses regular-season time.
Joey Porter Jr. still has not signed a contract, though the expectation remains that he will do so before Week 1. Without a deal, there is still uncertainty about whether he would play this season, but the belief is that it gets done.
For now, the corner picture going into the second preseason game includes Asante Samuel Jr., Jamel Dean and Daylen Everette. Brandin Echols is dealing with an ankle injury, which leaves the group looking thinner than expected.
The Steelers are also hoping Ramsey can handle both slot cornerback and safety. If that happens, Robert Spears-Jennings could slide into the fourth safety role, which would make his spot easier to manage.
Spears-Jennings has impressed overall, even if he stumbled a bit during the final days of camp. If Ramsey cannot go, the Steelers might have to consider a veteran like Rayshawn Jenkins.
For now, the projection assumes Ramsey returns and Spears-Jennings stays.
And at kicker, the answer is still the same: Laith Marjan is not beating out Chris Boswell.
That leaves the Steelers with plenty of unresolved business, but the clearest message from this projection is hard to miss. The quarterback room is driving everything else. See you in preseason Week 3!
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