Which of the Steelers’ new veteran additions are most likely to make the 53-man roster?
Since the draft, excluding Aaron Rodgers, the Steelers have signed four veteran players, but which will make the 53-man roster? Some signings already had indications, specifically DL Dean Lowry and S Darnell Savage. In both cases, initial reports indicated their signing, only to have them sign much later.
More recently, the Steelers signed two veterans to the roster after trying out during minicamp. TE Robert Tonyan is an old teammate of Aaron Rodgers, while ILB Jamin Davis is a former first-round pick. Former Steelers HC Mike Tomlin loved his pedigree, but what about Mike McCarthy?
In isolation, any of these recent signings has a reasonable chance to make the 53-man roster. To have all of them make the team, however, is more of a stretch. Which of them is the most likely, and how many will make the cut in total?
The safest assumption, I would think, might be Darnell Savage. While his career trajectory hasn’t gone as planned, he is the only veteran reserve safety on the Steelers’ roster. They have DeShon Elliott and Jaquan Brisker starting, and whatever Jalen Ramsey is. Behind them, though, are Sebastian Castro and rookie Robert Spears-Jennings.
Dean Lowry, like Savage and Robert Tonyan, has a history with Aaron Rodgers, at least. In Lowry’s case, he’s old enough to have been drafted by Mike McCarthy in Green Bay. The Steelers have an opening for a sixth defensive lineman on the roster, and maybe a seventh. Lowry is in the thick of it, along with Logan Lee, Esezi Otomewo, and rookie Gabriel Rubio.
As for Robert Tonyan, he has plenty of experience and would slot in behind Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth. That would mean finding a spot for Riley Nowakowski, too, though, potentially. It’s possible, and the Steelers have shaped their 53-man roster in similar ways often.
As for Jamin Davis, he has the toughest road ahead of him. Now more distanced from some major injuries in the past, he is clearly at a different point in his career. And he hasn’t played a lot of special teams, which will be necessary to crack the Steelers’ 53-man roster. They already have five inside linebackers, including two special teams aces. His best bet, probably, is Pittsburgh cutting ties with Malik Harrison. But he’ll have to prove himself on special teams to open that door.
The Steelers have a long road ahead of them under Mike McCarthy, along with his cadre of quarterbacks.With seven consecutive postseason losses and no wins in nearly a decade, they are under fire for their repeated playoff failures. While we have seen many changes, none could dream of topping Mike Tomlin’s resignation.
We’re already deep into the offseason, with free agency and the draft already reshaping rosters. The Steelers, of course, are used to early offseason mode as a team thatloses by the middle of January all the time. Enjoy the ride, even the turbulence, because it’s the only way we know how to travel anymore.
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