Kozora: Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 53-Man Roster Prediction (Ultimate Model)
For the ultimate time this summer season, my Pittsburgh Steelers’ 53-man roster prediction. My greatest guess as to what the preliminary roster will appear like at 4 PM/EST on Tuesday. Emphasis on preliminary as it’s a group topic to alter after the waivers course of and veterans signal across the league. The preliminary roster can typically look odd and isn’t the precise group carried to a stadium Week 1.
As at all times, let me know your ideas within the feedback beneath. Linked beneath are my earlier predictions from post-draft up till right now’s version.
Earlier Steelers Roster Predictions
Put up-Draft Prediction
Pre-Coaching Camp Prediction
Put up-Jaguars Recreation
Put up-Buccaneers Recreation
OFFENSE – 25
Quarterbacks (3) – Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson
Evaluation: Thompson makes his manner onto the 53-man roster. A constant and robust exhibiting inside stadiums makes him price maintaining given his NFL expertise with regular-season and playoff begins particularly engaging. It’d *solely* be third string but it surely’s one snap away from being one snap away.
Will Howard missed your entire preseason on account of a damaged finger on his throwing hand and my prediction is he’ll start the yr on IR, nonetheless in a position to watch and study whereas he totally recovers. Mike Tomlin used Russell Wilson’s calf harm to purchase time final yr and does related right here, maintaining his quarterbacks so long as attainable.
Thompson gained’t leap Rudolph because the No. 2, however he’ll begin off because the No. 3.
Working Backs (4) – Jaylen Warren, Kaleb Johnson, Kenneth Gainwell, Trey Sermon
Evaluation: A transfer I didn’t anticipate, Trey Sermon will get added as a fourth-string operating again. Pittsburgh usually retains three backs however in 2021, the Steelers had 4 on their preliminary 53-man roster with Kalen Ballage rounding out the room. Sermon brings related vibes however is a greater participant and extra precious particular teamer.
He loved a gentle and well-rounded summer season. He can run, catch, block, and is a multi-phase particular teamer. His 38 particular groups snaps ranked fourth amongst Steelers this preseason. Carrying so many hats is price maintaining him round and all 4 might gown Week 1.
Fullback (0) – None
Evaluation: No fullback on the roster means nobody will get saved.
Tight Ends (4) – Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, Darnell Washington, Connor Heyward
Evaluation: As a lot as followers need to push Connor Heyward off the roster, he’s poised to remain. Primarily for his particular groups worth, partially so Arthur Smith can trot out the occasional four-tight finish set. Total, it’s a very good group.
Huge Receivers (5) – DK Metcalf, Roman Wilson, Calvin Austin III, , Ben Skowronek, Scotty Miller
Evaluation: Scotty Miller cemented his spot with one other spectacular preseason exhibiting in opposition to the Carolina Panthers. He has pace and is quarterback pleasant and simply beats out veteran Robert Woods whereas Brandon Johnson suffered a foot harm within the finale. Austin missed a number of the summer season with an indirect harm however returned to partial apply late final week and can seemingly be cleared for Week 1.
Offensive Tackles (3) – Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu, Dylan Prepare dinner
Evaluation: The most important query and most unknown reply I’ve in mapping out this roster is OT Calvin Anderson’s well being. Is he prepared to start the season or will probably be begin it on IR/designated to return? Provided that he hasn’t practiced since Aug. 1 and there’s no reporting or commentary mentioning him even working in apply (as has been reported for Calvin Austin, Donte Kent, and even Cory Trice Jr.), it’s logical participant Anderson begins 2025 on injured reserve.
That leaves Pittsburgh skinny at sort out. Prepare dinner is a shaky subsequent man up and his subsequent NFL regular-season snap will probably be his first. On this situation, the Steelers would seemingly search for assist after cutdowns, however that is the preliminary roster. Prepare dinner has performed each sort out spots and has at the very least been wholesome all summer season.
Offensive Guards (4) – Isaac Seumalo, Mason McCormick, Spencer Anderson, Andrus Peat
Evaluation: Peat edges out Max Scharping for one of many last spots. His sort out/guard flexibility is extra precious than Scharping’s capability to play middle and guard. Nonetheless, depth alongside the o-line is suspect. Anderson is the following man up at guard.
Facilities (2) – Zach Frazier, Ryan McCollum
Evaluation: Although McCollum wasn’t at his greatest in opposition to Carolina, he was wholesome sufficient to play a lot of the recreation. Meaning he’ll keep away from IR and may open the yr as Frazier’s understudy. The workforce appreciated what he did filling in for the injured Frazier in two video games final season. That trumps a bumpy preseason.
DEFENSE – 25
Defensive Ends (4) – Cam Heyward, Derrick Harmon, Yahya Black, Isaiahh Loudermilk
Evaluation: Derrick Harmon’s knee sprain, even when he misses only a couple weeks, complicates the scenario. However I can’t discover a seventh defensive lineman to placed on right here and Pittsburgh could need to wait out Harmon’s restoration. Logan Lee got here shut however didn’t flash sufficient within the finale to make the 53. Black’s wonderful summer season will make Pittsburgh snug about giving him further snaps within the opener whereas NT Daniel Ekuale can play base finish too. Loudermilk is a identified run defender as properly.
Harmon might start the yr on IR, however the Steelers would possibly take a number of additional days to make that analysis. He doesn’t must go on injured reserve Tuesday to land there earlier than Week One. Pittsburgh might select to maintain him on the roster within the hopes he returns by Week Three or 4.
Nostril Tackles (2) – Keeanu Benton, Daniel Ekuale
Evaluation: Ekuale primarily ran second-string nostril sort out however he’s versatile to maneuver up and down the road. Not a lot else to debate right here as Pittsburgh retains six defensive linemen. That’s one participant lighter than regular however the high backups are higher than yr’s previous.
EDGE Rushers (4) –T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jack Sawyer
Evaluation: Sawyer may not have met lofty summer season expectations, however he performed a heavy quantity of snaps and confirmed a excessive degree of conditioning. He’ll fall again right into a No. 4 position after seeing a ton of time within the preseason. This can be a nice set of go rushers and one of many strongest place teams on the workforce.
Inside Linebackers (5) – Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Cole Holcomb, Malik Harrison, Mark Robinson
Evaluation: Carson Bruener closed the hole on Mark Robinson, but it surely wasn’t sufficient to bump him off the 53. The opposite 4 spots really feel sewn up, although it stays to be seen if Holcomb and Harrison can have any form of defensive position. Queen and Wilson are clearly the highest guys.
Cornerbacks (6) – Jalen Ramsey, Joey Porter Jr., Darius Slay, Brandin Echols, James Pierre, Beanie Bishop Jr.
Evaluation: Beanie Bishop Jr. grabs one of many last spots on my roster. His zero-snap outing in opposition to Carolina makes his scenario even muddier to learn. Presumably, he sat out on account of harm and, if critical sufficient, may very well be an IR-candidate. In the long run, nobody else made a greater case to stay than Bishop. He has no defensive position to start the season but it surely’s necessary to have good nook depth and Pittsburgh’s made an effort to bolster that room as a lot as attainable this offseason.
Since 2019, solely as soon as has Pittsburgh saved lower than ten defensive backs on its preliminary 53-man roster (2020 when the workforce carried eight). With solely 4 safeties, that leaves six corners and Bishop the final man on the lifeboat.
Safeties (4) – DeShon Elliott, Juan Thornhill, Chuck Clark, Miles Killebrew
Evaluation: These 4 spots are locked in. Clark would be the high backup at security though Ramsey will play security reverse Elliott within the Steelers’ base 3-4 protection.
SPECIAL TEAMS – 3
Kicker (1) – Chris Boswell
Evaluation: Ben Sauls had a terrific preseason end, however he was by no means a risk to Boswell.
Punter (1) – Corliss Waitman
Evaluation: This one nonetheless seems like a coin flip. Waitman or Cameron Johnston might win the job, and I wouldn’t bat an eye fixed. Pittsburgh might even hold each punters on the preliminary 53 simply because it did two years in the past within the hopes of discovering a commerce companion. But when Omar Khan can’t make a deal by Tuesday at 4 PM/EST, he most likely gained’t have any extra luck doing it afterwards.
I’ll keep on with Waitman over Johnston. Primarily for his left-footed benefit that creates a distinct spin on the soccer and trigger points for punt returners. However both man might come away with the victory right here and each are worthy of punting for a workforce this season.
Lengthy Snapper (1) – Christian Kuntz
Evaluation: Jake McQuaid was launched Friday, however the indicators had been already pointing to Kuntz being wholesome for Week 1. If not, McQuaid may very well be saved on the apply squad and be elevated the day earlier than. No have to hold two snappers on the 53.
IR To Return (2)
OT Calvin Anderson, QB Will Howard
Evaluation: Guessing accidents turns into the toughest a part of roster predicting. Underneath a 2024 rule change, two gamers can go instantly to injured reserve with a designation to return after 4 video games. I’ll mark down the 2 gamers who aren’t working towards because the most secure candidates. Anderson hasn’t practiced since Friday Night time Lights whereas Howard hasn’t thrown since breaking a finger on his proper hand.
We’ll see if every other gamers land on injured reserve and never designated to return. Offensive lineman Aiden Williams and large receiver Brandon Johnson are believable candidates.
Gameday Inactives (Week 1): Skylar Thompson, Andrus Peat, Derrick Harmon, Cole Holcomb, Beanie Bishop Jr.
Inactives will probably be fluid all through the season however it is a cheap place to begin. Thompson would be the emergency third quarterback. I’ll assume Harmon misses the opener and be grateful if he can swimsuit up for the Jets recreation. Holcomb isn’t as sturdy a particular teamer as Malik Harrison or Mark Robinson, although he’s gotten a number of work there this summer season. Bishop isn’t as precious to Danny Smith as James Pierre is. Scotty Miller may not gown each week however with Austin getting his legs below him and Skowronek coping with a toe harm, it’s good to have Miller accessible within the opener.
Final 5 In: ILB Mark Robinson, OT Dylan Prepare dinner, OL Andrus Peat, RB Trey Sermon, CB Beanie Bishop Jr.
And in that order from No. 49 (Robinson) to No. 53 (Bishop). The again finish of the roster might change within the 24-48 hours after roster cutdowns. It’s why we at all times warning this because the *preliminary* 53.
First 5 Out: DL Logan Lee, OL Max Scharping, WR Ke’Shawn Williams, P Cameron Johnston, ILB Carson Bruener
Lee was given additional consideration due to Harmon’s harm however he will be elevated from the apply squad if actually wanted. Williams was the one Steeler to return punts this preseason. Accidents to Austin and Donte Kent had been partial explanation why but when Austin isn’t prepared for the opener, Williams may very well be thought-about extra strongly. Johnston was thought-about, considering the Steelers would possibly initially hold two punters, however I opted in opposition to. Bruener pushed laborious for a spot however had an excessive amount of floor to make up. He ought to make it by means of waivers.
CB Cory Trice Jr. and DL Esezi Otomewo had been the sixth and seventh gamers on the outs.
Observe Squad (17)
RB: Lew Nichols
WR: Ke’Shawn Williams, Max Hurleman
TE: JJ Galbreath
OL: Max Scharping, Steven Jones
DL: Esezi Otomewo, Logan Lee, Domenique Davis
EDGE: Eku Leota, Julius Welschof
ILB: Carson Bruener
CB: Donte Kent, Cory Trice Jr, Daryl Porter Jr.
S: Sebastian Castro
LS: Jake McQuaid
Nichols ran properly in all three preseason video games and deserves a spot. Williams had a formidable summer season and whereas Hurleman cooled off on the finish, he’s price hanging onto. I haven’t forgotten about WR Brandon Johnson and his nice summer season, however his foot harm makes issues murky. Possibly he goes straight to IR. Galbreath is an effective athlete however had a tricky time blocking. Scharping is a veteran exception whereas Jones is flexible, in a position to play sort out and guard.
Three defensive linemen are heavy however with solely six saved on the 53, Harmon’s harm, and Cam Heyward set to obtain loads of relaxation days, it is sensible. Davis will function third-string nostril sort out. Leota is Herbig-like along with his dimension and get-off. Welschof is the worldwide exemption.
Kent appears wholesome sufficient to keep away from injured reserve, however he missed your entire preseason and can land on the apply squad. Trice is an fascinating case. I wouldn’t put him on the 53 due to his accidents; he hasn’t earned that spot. However I additionally wouldn’t place him on IR to return as a result of he’s begun rehabbing and may’t afford to overlook extra time. Putting him on IR means he wouldn’t apply for at the very least two months. So put him on the apply squad (and if some cornerback-needy workforce needs to say an always-injured nook, have at it) and go from there. The different Porter, Daryl, earned reward from DC Teryl Austin and leapt Kyler McMichael by summer season’s finish.
Castro confirmed properly in preseason motion and earned a p-squad spot. McQuaid will be elevated to the 53 if Christian Kuntz isn’t prepared by Week 1.
Count on Pittsburgh so as to add a handful of outdoor gamers right here however these are unattainable for me to foretell.
