Final Steelers 2024 53-man roster prediction
The NFL regular season is now less than two weeks away. With training camp and the preseason concluded, teams around the league will trim their rosters. While some of those teams only have 90 players, the Pittsburgh Steelers have one additional player by way of the NFL’s International Pathway Program (IPP). That means they will be cut down from 91 to 53 players by 4:00 p.m., New York time on Tuesday, August 27th.
My exercise today is to guess which players will be retained during that cutdown. During my previous Steelers roster predictions, I had some surprises but feel the final 53 is a bit more cut and dry due to injuries, suspensions, and more.
I will also add a few more names to this list below that should be considered for the Steelers’ 17-player practice squad. I don’t believe that all 17 of those players are currently on their roster or have been with the team this offseason, as they’ll add from other teams’ released players too. Let’s see how close I get with my predictions this season. Enjoy!
Quarterbacks (3)
Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Kyle Allen
Russell Wilson will be this year’s starter followed by Justin Fields and Kyle Allen as the experienced backups. Allen will serve as the team’s emergency quarterback on game days.
Running Backs (3)
Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Cordarrelle Patterson
While Warren was injured in the Steelers’ second preseason game all indications are he’ll be healthy to play for Week 1. He’ll create a one-two punch with Najee Harris in the backfield, while Patterson, who was signed primarily as a kick returner, will contribute in special ways too. (As evidenced by his angry running against the Lions on Saturday.)
There will be at least one back retained on the practice squad. The battle is between undrafted Georgia rookie Daijun Edwards, who led the team with 28 yards on three carries against the Texans, and Jonathan Ward, a journeyman who has showed his skills more in practice than in the exhibition games.
Connor Heyward, who is listed as TE/RB, makes the team with the tight ends group below. However, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith seems determined to install a fullback for short yardage situations, and thus, Frank Colletto will make the 53-man cut as well.
Wide Receivers (5)
George Pickens, Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, Scotty Miller
This group is far from safe outside of George Pickens, however, it feels as if these are the five players the Steelers will roll into Atlanta with for Week 1.
Van Jefferson has impressed enough to win the WR2 job. Outside of he and Pickens, it’s anyone’s race for the WR3 snaps.
It looks as though the Steelers staff is giving Scotty Miller a chance to return punts and also cover on special teams, which means his fairly impressive camp and preseason should win him the final spot on the depth chart alongside rookie Roman Wilson, who will probably start the season as a weekly inactive. (Until he can get up to speed.)
Dez Fitzpatrick (6-2, 208) and Jaray Jenkins (6-2, 206) offer size that Austin, Wilson, and Miller do not have. Both have shown enough to earn a practice squad spot to start the season.
Tight Ends (3)
Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Connor Heyward
While these are the three tight ends to be locks to make the roster, I’m still uneasy about Heyward’s lack of usage out of the backfield. He’s still a key special teams player, but could be passed on for a larger body. Keep an eye out for veteran MyCole Pruitt and Rodney Williams for a practice squad spot.
Offensive Linemen (9)
Zach Frazier, James Daniels, Isaac Seumalo, Broderick Jones, Dan Moore Jr., Spencer Anderson, Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick, Dylan Cook
A torn rotator cuff injury reshapes this prediction as Nate Herbig was placed on injured reserve and will miss the entire 2024 season.
I don’t feel as if the Steelers have a defined backup center, though McCormick and Anderson could both fill that role if necessary: but have not during training camp. Ryan McCollum has an outside shot of making the 53, but could also pass through waivers easier than the others listed and be re-signed on the practice squad.
Depending on Fautanu’s readiness to start the season, I would expect Dylan Cook to make the team. He was quietly on Pittsburgh’s roster for all of 2023, though inactive on game days. Cook will provide further tackle depth that is lacking otherwise.
This is also a position group where the Steelers could roll with eight players to make room for another position spot, such as linebacker, cornerback or wide receiver, perhaps even one of the extra tight ends mentioned in the last group.
Defensive Linemen (7)
Cameron Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi, Keeanu Benton, DeMarvin Leal, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Montravius Adams, Dean Lowry
I haven’t seen anything from rookie Logan Lee that would indicate he will make the final roster, other than head coach Mike Tomlin typically retains most of his rookie class.
There’s also little chance the Steelers roster fewer than seven defensive linemen, which means veteran Dean Lowry will make the cut as a versatile player and experienced hand for special teams play.
Linebackers (8)
T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Patrick Queen, Elandon Roberts, Payton Wilson, Tyler Matakevich, Mark Robinson
What a difficult set of decisions that lies ahead for the Steelers. This might be the most talented group of linebackers in years to enter a season, with Nick Herbig buried behind two top-salary Pro Bowl level players on the outside in T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. Behind Herbig, however, there’s no depth, unless DeMarvin Leal does spot duty as an edge rusher.
On the inside the group is very deep, with Queen and Roberts the presumed starters, the rookie Wilson in the rotation and then Matakevich and Robinson providing special teams prowess.
Julius Welschof, who is on the roster as the IPP designated player, has a tremendous opportunity to make the 53 and should be a lock for the practice squad after a great showing in all three preseason games. Jeremiah Moon is another name to note for the scout team.
Cornerbacks (5)
Joey Porter Jr., Donte Jackson, Cory Trice Jr., Darius Rush, Beanie Bishop
I’ve largely revised my defensive backs predictions, noting on the SCU Podcast that Anthony Averett was in danger of not making the team: he was released ahead of the third preseason game against the Lions.
That move shows the staff has growing confidence in 2023 seventh round pick Cory Trice as a primary backup. Darius Rush, who has been used as a special teamer, is in greater danger of being cut than undrafted rookie Beanie Bishop. The latter should start the season as the team’s nickel corner.
Cameron Sutton will start the season on the commissioner’s exempt/suspended list for eight games. The hope may be that Bishop can last that long on a fast-paced learning curve. Otherwise, look for Omar Khan to make a move for a slot corner.
Thomas Graham, who has competed with Bishop for the slot corner duties, should make the practice squad.
Safeties (5)
Minkah Fitzpatrick, Damontae Kazee, DeShon Elliott, Miles Killebrew, Ryan Watts
Fitzpatrick, Kazee, and Elliott will combine forces in multiple safety subpackages to make up for the lack at the nickel corner position. Watch for rookie Ryan Watts to potentially get more playing time to start than some of his rookie class peers: he could be in the rotation in those subpackages and also play special teams.
Miles Killebrew is a special teams force all his own having made the AFC’s Pro Bowl team last season for his work in this phase.
Jalen Elliott is a name to watch for the practice squad.
Specialists (3)
Chris Boswell, Cameron Johnston, Christian Kuntz
Johnston has shown that he is a special player, raising awareness to fans this preseason even as a punter. Boswell and Kuntz are also locks to make the roster.
Offensive Weapon (1)
As with my previous prediction, I see now way, shape, or form that Tomlin doesn’t hold onto John Rhys Plumlee. He will return kickoffs alongside Patterson, and has been used as a quarterback (his college position) and wide receiver. He will also add value in practice to mimic other AFC North quarterbacks, where the Steelers won’t want to have Justin Fields running another team’s playbook.
It’s entirely plausible that “J.R.” is only signed to the practice squad, and then elevated to start the season, but it leaves doubts as to who else has logged enough time in practice for the league’s new kickoff rules. Typically, Coach Tomlin will not place a wide receiver or defensive back in that role, and there are no other running backs to fill the hole that would be left if Plumlee is cut.
This is definitely one development to keep an eye on through September as teams adjust to the new dynamic kickoff.
Full List (53)
Here’s the remaining names compiled from the lists above and how the full 53-man roster shakes out.
