It’s cutdown day around the NFL, and the Steelers still have some roster sorting to do before they land on their initial 53. Most of that work will come from trimming the players already in camp, but Pittsburgh isn’t boxed in by its own depth chart. Omar Khan has already swung one notable deal, sending Broderick Jones to the Dallas Cowboys, and there could be more trade activity if the right names hit the market.
With depth looking shaky in a few spots, Pittsburgh could do worse than checking the cost on a few possible bargain pickups. Three names stand out as players who might be available for the right price.
One option is Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders, whose pro career has not gone the way Denver hoped when it made him a third-round pick in 2023. Injuries have limited him to 21 career games and four starts, and even when he’s been on the field, the results haven’t been encouraging.
Still, the Steelers may be looking for exactly the kind of hybrid piece Sanders can offer. Pittsburgh cut Jamin Davis on Saturday after he spent the summer in that linebacker/edge role, and Sanders brings a similar skill set from his college days, where he worked both spots.
He’d also come cheap, with the kind of profile that could begin on the practice squad and grow from there.
Another Broncos player worth monitoring is running back Jaleel McLaughlin. He’s been one of those players who seems to get lost in the shuffle despite showing real production.
Over his first two seasons, the former UDFA averaged 4.8 yards per carry on 189 attempts. Last season, the arrival of 2025 second-round pick RJ Harvey pushed him down the pecking order, and he opened 2025 as a healthy scratch.
Then J.K. Dobbins got hurt, McLaughlin got back into the mix, and he made the most of his 37 carries by averaging 5.1 yards per attempt.
If Pittsburgh wants a reliable third back - one it trusts more than Kaleb Johnson - McLaughlin looks like the kind of affordable trade target that makes sense.
The most proven name on the list is Saints safety Jordan Howden. New Orleans has invested heavily at the position, with Julian Blackmon and Justin Reid projected as starters and 2025 third-round pick Jonas Sanker working in the slot.
That setup could leave Howden with even less room to play after he logged just 25% of the snaps last season. For the Steelers, though, he’d immediately be the top backup safety behind DeShon Elliott and Jaquan Brisker, both of whom have dealt with injury issues that could force him into a bigger role.
Rayshawn Jenkins and rookie Robert Spears-Jennings have held their own this summer, but Pittsburgh still has reason to keep looking for an upgrade.
In Other News...
Steelers Just Created An Inside Linebacker Battle Nobody Saw Coming
The Steelers made a notable move at inside linebacker by releasing Elandon Roberts ahead of the 53-man roster cutdown deadline, thinning a position group that has been worth watching throughout camp. Roberts, a vested veteran who signed a one-year deal in August, appeared in two preseason games before the team decided to move on, and his status means he will not have to pass through waivers.
Cole Holcomb and Carson Bruener now find themselves with a clearer path as Pittsburgh sorts out the back end of its roster. The open spot created by Roberts release adds another layer to a competition that already had plenty of intrigue, and it leaves the Steelers with one less established name in the mix as they finalize the defense. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Rookie Is Forcing A Real Aaron Rodgers Debate
A preseason performance like Germie Bernards is exactly the kind that gets a young receiver noticed in Pittsburgh. Drafted with the No. 47 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Bernard has flashed early for the Steelers by averaging 12.8 yards per catch through three preseason games and finding the end zone on a 13-yard bubble screen, the sort of play that shows both timing and trust in a hurry.
What has made Bernard stand out even more is the way he has already earned the confidence of teammates and coaches, which matters in an offense led by Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers are not handing out snaps just because a rookie looks promising in August, but Bernard has clearly put himself in the mix for playing time, and that alone makes his role worth watching as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Linebacker Shakeup Says A Lot About This Final Roster Spot
The Steelers made a quiet but telling change in their linebacker room, signing veteran Elandon Roberts to a one-year deal and moving on from Malik Harrison. On the surface, it adds another experienced body to a group that already includes Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson and rookie Carson Bruener, but it also sharpens the competition around the edges of the roster. With Cole Holcomb in the mix as well, Pittsburgh suddenly has more depth and more age at inside linebacker than it did a short time ago.
What makes the move notable is how much special teams work appears to matter in sorting out the final spot. The Steelers are not just weighing who can play inside linebacker in a pinch, but who can help on kick units and give the coaching staff dependable weekly value. Roberts brings that kind of profile, and Bruener remains part of the conversation too, which means the room is set up for a real test as the team decides how much versatility it wants to keep when the roster tightens. [Read more 🡒]