5 “roster bubble” players who deserve to make the Steelers final 53-man roster
The time for the first round of cuts is just around the corner, and the Steelers front office has some very difficult decisions to make. By 4:00 pm August 30th, Pittsburgh must cut from 90 players to 75, then down to 53 by the same time September 3rd.
While some players set to make the final 53 are no-brainers, others are making a solid case for why they should stay come September.
I have comprised a list of 5 players I believe deserve to make the Steelers’ roster this year. Here’s to hoping coach Tomlin reads this article and heeds my advice.
1. Josh Dobbs, QB
Call me biased towards the former Tennessee quarterback, but I feel Dobbs has more than earned another year on the Steelers roster. Yes, Pittsburgh just drafted Mason Rudolph in the first round, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that Dobbs has posted over a 99.0 passer rating through the first two preseason games.
Dobbs has led far more scoring drives than Rudolph in the preseason and has made tremendous strides in one year. Like Rudolph, Josh Dobbs is just 23 years old, and with his play seeming to get a little bit better with each snap, the Steelers need to find a way to keep him around.
2. Olasunkanmi Adeniyi, EDGE
Ola (as we fans have quickly come to call him) has been arguably the most impressive Steelers pass rusher in the preseason thus far. In week one, we saw shades of a young James Harrison when he bull rushed and swam under the left tackle to make an incredible strip sack.
Since then, Ola could be seen applying pressure on numerous occasions. Adeniyi doesn’t turn 21 years old until September, and his upside could be immense, as he already possesses an impressive combination of hand usage and strength. Adenyi recorded an eye-popping 20.0 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks last year at Toledo. Ola deserves to stick around and should carve a role as a situational pass rusher as early as his rookie season.
3. L.J. Fort, ILB
Though just 4th in line in the linebacker pecking order, L.J. Fort has proved to be a reliable player when called upon. He may be the most versatile inside linebacker when it comes to playing the pass and the run, as well as moving sideline to sideline.
Already at 28 years old, Fort has maxed out his potential as a football player, but that doesn’t mean he can’t contribute on defense and special teams. Fort hasn’t got a lot of play time in the preseason so far but has made a case for himself to stick around for another year.
4. Damoun Patterson, WR
After a lightning first preseason game for Damoun Patterson, he finally came back down to earth in week two. Though the rookie will be 24 years old just after the start of the season, he has certainly made his presence felt from training camp until now.
Patterson has shown impressive route running and big play ability. Though he probably wouldn’t contribute right away, his flashes have been frequent enough to warrant a longer look. If Patterson continues to play well, we should be seeing him on Sundays in the not-too-distant future.
5. Malik Golden, FS
Golden has been somewhat quiet this offseason, but when you’re a defensive back, that’s not always a bad thing. The former Penn State safety did have an impressive pass breakup in the red zone this preseason and has shown solid cover skills thus far.
Unlike every other safety on the Steelers roster, Golden is the only “true” free safety in terms of skill set. I would hate to see what Pittsburgh would try to do if Sean Davis went down. Malik Golden has been a solid contributor thus far, and his ability to play the FS position with range and some instincts make him deserving of one of the final spots on the 53-man roster.
