In just two months from now, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be required to cut their 90-man offseason roster down to 53. With OTAs and mandatory minicamp in the rearview mirror, we can now make a slightly more educated guess on who will ultimately stick. With one of the deepest and most talented rosters in quite some time, Pittsburgh has some difficult decisions to make.
Ahead of training camp next month, let’s take a stab at another 53-man roster prediction for the 2026 Pittsburgh Steelers. You can view my Pre-OTAs prediction, which had a couple of big surprises, here.
Offense – 25
Quarterbacks (3) – Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard, Drew Allar
Analysis: Pittsburgh is giving Howard every opportunity to win the top backup job. If that happens, Rudolph is as good as gone unless Pittsburgh surprisingly keeps four QBs. A minor injury to any of the backups in camp could help alleviate the roster crunch here.
Running Backs (4) – Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle, Kaleb Johnson, Travis Homer
Analysis: I left Johnson off last time. I still wonder what his role will be as a distant third at running back with very little special-teams value. But I don’t think Pittsburgh wants to move on from their 2025 third-round pick so soon. Can Eli Heidenreich show enough to supplant Homer as a core special teamer? Until I see it in camp, I’ll say no. Losing Heidenreich may be the cost of keeping Johnson as a non-special-teams depth running back.
Wide Receivers (6) – DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Germie Bernard, Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek, Kaden Wetjen
Analysis: There isn’t a ton of wiggle room here if Roman Wilson makes the roster, which seems like a pretty good bet at the moment. Ben Skowronek and Kaden Wetjen fill vital roles on special teams. Count them as locks. It’s one of the deepest WR rooms Pittsburgh has fielded in recent years.
Tight Ends (4) – Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Robert Tonyan, Riley Nowakowski (FB/TE)
Analysis: Rodgers will likely show off his chemistry with Tonyan at training camp, doing enough to secure him a roster spot as a former Rodgers (and McCarthy) tight end. The rest of the group is basically a lock, with Nowakowski expected to fill a bunch of roles in Pittsburgh’s offense.
Offensive Tackles (3) – Troy Fautanu, Max Iheanachor, Dylan Cook
Analysis: With Broderick Jones likely to start the season on PUP, they can get away with just three true tackles to begin the season. Gennings Dunker and Spencer Anderson can also kick out in a pinch. The practice squad can stash another tackle, like Lorenzo Thompson or Jack Driscoll, for game-day elevations.
Interior Offensive Linemen (5) –Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, Gennings Dunker, Brock Hoffman, Spencer Anderson
Analysis: Hoffman could very well be the Week 1 starting guard if he wins the competition over Gennings Dunker and Spencer Anderson. If not, he is the perfect interior swing with the ability to play center or guard. It also helps to have history with Mike McCarthy and his offensive system. Ryan McCollum gets squeezed out as a result, and Pittsburgh keeps just eight offensive linemen.
Defense – 25
Defensive Ends (5) – Cameron Heyward, Derrick Harmon, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Esezi Otomewo, Gabriel Rubio
Analysis: Rubio was the least-known draft pick coming in, and he has remained the forgotten man throughout the spring. Part of me wonders if the Steelers liked him that much to surprise everybody in the sixth round of the draft, could he surprise again by making the roster as a physically imposing run-stuffer? DL depth is good this year, but his main competition for the final spot is Logan Lee and Dean Lowry. I don’t view that as a terribly large mountain to climb.
Nose Tackles (2) – Keeanu Benton, Yahya Black
Analysis: There’s been an awful lot of buzz about Black at nose tackle. I think he’ll end up playing more snaps there than Benton this season. Regardless, both players should comfortably make the roster. Benton may even be millions of dollars wealthier as Pittsburgh weighs giving him an extension.
Outside Linebackers (4) – T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jack Sawyer
Analysis: Unless Pittsburgh hangs onto Jamin Davis or Jacoby Windmon as an ILB/OLB-capable flex player, this group is set in stone. Watt, Highsmith, and Herbig are all well compensated, and Sawyer is reportedly boasting a new and improved body ahead of Year 2. It’s the strongest group on the roster, bar none.
Inside Linebackers (4) – Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Cole Holcomb, Carson Bruener
Analysis: I still think Malik Harrison could be cut prior to the start of the season to save some money against the salary cap. If that happens, it will be because Carson Bruener shows enough on defense to earn the trust of the coaching staff. He was nearly a 20-tackle special teamer as a rookie, and his skills should translate well to defense. He is being slept on as an up-and-coming defender on the roster.
Cornerbacks (5) – Joey Porter Jr., Jamel Dean, Brandin Echols, Daylen Everette, Asante Samuel Jr.
Analysis: It may be the deepest and most talented CB group in Pittsburgh since the 2000s, and maybe earlier. Brandin Echols isn’t being talked about, but he’s a key insurance policy for the Steelers in case Ramsey has to move full-time to safety again. Everette is ahead of schedule as a rookie, which could position him to get snaps ahead of Samuel as the first CB off the bench.
Safeties (5) – Jalen Ramsey, DeShon Elliott, Jaquan Brisker, Darnell Savage, Sebastian Castro
Analysis: Spears-Jennings’ speed is tempting to keep around, but Pittsburgh thought enough of Castro to bring him back after he was poached from the practice squad last year. Savage is another player with ties to McCarthy and his Green Bay coaching staff, so he should have an inside track to making the cut.
Special Teams – 3
Kicker (1) – Chris Boswell
Analysis: Fresh off a new extension, Boswell is a lock.
Punter (1) – Cameron Johnston
Analysis: Johnston doesn’t even have competition on the 90-man roster right now. That may change before camp, but he’s still the clear favorite.
Long Snapper (1) – Christian Kuntz
Analysis: Kuntz also lacks competition at the moment since Cal Adomitis was released.
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