Outdoors Additions Steelers May Think about Following Roster Cutdowns
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 53-man roster is ready, but it surely’s removed from settled. Two rookies could possibly be positioned on injured reserve, permitting veterans to circle again to the staff. However Pittsburgh might additionally look outdoors the group to spherical out its 53-man roster and positively to compile a 17-man observe squad (assuming worldwide exemption EDGE Julius Welschof is retained).
Who might Pittsburgh add? From the previous a number of days of cutdowns, listed below are names to think about. In fact, not each single one can be added, and a few are merely price mentioning, however right here’s who caught my eye.
Extensive Receiver
– Pittsburgh might look to spherical out its 53-man roster with extra receiver assist, because it nonetheless has one of many weakest teams within the NFL.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling/Seattle Seahawks
As soon as teammates with Aaron Rodgers in Inexperienced Bay, MVS is a downfield menace. In eight video games with New Orleans final season, he averaged a scorching 22.6-yards per reception and 4 touchdowns on simply 17 receptions. Because the 1970 merger, his profession 17.4-yards per reception ranks twentieth amongst receivers with 200-plus catches. It’s the third-best of the century (Devery Henderson and Desean Jackson are No. 1 and No. 2).
A scarcity of particular groups worth is an issue on the again finish of the roster. However Ben Skowronek can maintain these duties, Calvin Austin II handles punts, and even Roman Wilson noticed motion on a number of items. Even when Valdes-Scantling is a No. 6 receiver or on the observe squad, there’s worth right here ought to accidents strike. Pittsburgh likes having a field-stretching receiver room.
Replace: Since scripting this publish Tuesday night, the Steelers reportedly have curiosity in Valdes-Scantling.
Trey Palmer/WR Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A preferred identify in social media circles, Palmer did not crack the Bucs’ roster regardless of Jalen McMillan and Chris Godwin’s accidents. A sixth-round choose in 2023, Palmer was productive in his rookie yr (39/385/3 line) earlier than cooling off as a sophomore (12/171/1). He brings some dimension and a 4.33 40, but it surely’s honest to surprise if he’s misplaced his previous luster. Palmer caught only one cross for 13-yards this summer season. Nonetheless, he can’t be dominated out as a observe squad addition.
Zach Pascal/New York Giants
An older participant, Pascal received’t deliver huge performs to the Steelers’ offense. However he’s a bodily blocker lower from the Robert Woods mould, however with extra dimension (6’2, 219) and way more particular groups worth (200-plus snaps every of the final three years). Pascal’s caught simply 4 passes the previous two years, however he wouldn’t be a nasty observe squad stash if the Steelers maintain three extensive receivers. Rookies Ke’Shawn Williams and Max Hurleman could possibly be the opposite two.
Tight Finish
– A blocking tight finish can be sensible insurance coverage ought to Darnell Washington get injured. Pittsburgh doesn’t have one other blocker like him on the roster.
Keleki Latu/Buffalo Payments
Some underrated names right here for the observe squad. Latu has dimension at almost 6’7, 249 kilos and 33 5/8-inch arms. Constructed within the Drew Pattern mould, Latu received’t supply a ton as a receiver, although he caught 40 passes final yr and a 29-yard snag within the preseason, however he’s a succesful blocker. Professional Soccer Focus named Latu the No. 2 run blocker amongst qualifying tight ends this summer season. He additionally logged 33 non-field purpose particular groups snaps this summer season, exhibiting he can supply greater than being an in-line blocker.
Latu could possibly be signed both alongside or instead of rookie JJ Galbreath, who’s extra of a receiver sort.
Hayden Rucci/Miami Dolphins
Like Latu, Rucci is a blocker first. Molded within the Wisconsin offense, Rucci went undrafted final season and couldn’t follow Miami’s 53 this yr. At his Professional Day, he measured in at 6047, 247 kilos. He lacks size however earned excessive reward for his blocking this preseason and ranked fourth in run blocking.
Rucci additionally picked up 20 non-field purpose particular groups snaps this summer season, giving him versatility and extra worth ought to he ever gown on gameday. These reps got here on the kick return and punt protection items.
Offensive Deal with
– With simply three true tackles on the roster, Pittsburgh is as skinny on the place as wherever else. I received’t repeat the names I beforehand talked about that have been lower – Jackson Barton, Carter Warren, and Kadeem Telfort – however all three ought to nonetheless be on Pittsburgh’s quick record.
Demontrey Jacobs/New England Patriots
Jacobs could possibly be a preferred identify on Tuesday’s waiver wire. A part of main roster turnover beneath new head coach Mike Vrabel, Jacobs spent the summer season working at left and proper deal with (101 and 38, respectively). Undrafted in 2023, he began 13 video games for New England final season. At over 6’6 with 36-inch arms, his presence alone is intriguing.
Like many groups, the Steelers are in search of deal with assist, and Jacobs’ mixture of relative youth with expertise is engaging. Pittsburgh could be too far down within the waiver order to nab Jacobs, but it surely received’t harm to place in a declare.
Jaelyn Duncan/Tennessee Titans
Duncan almost made my weekend publish linked above, however most indications have been that he’d make the staff. As an alternative, he turned a shock launch. Enhancing this summer season and discovering his stride, Duncan is athletic and versatile. He’s spent most of his NFL time on the left facet however has additionally performed a bit on the precise. Nonetheless simply 25 with over 400 regular-season snaps, he might fill in as a No. 4 deal with, assuming Calvin Anderson can be cleared for Week One.
Our 2023 draft scouting report famous Duncan was a developmental prospect and wasn’t Day One prepared. That’s confirmed to be true however he’s coming into his personal. Tennessee was simply one of many few groups with good deal with depth, making Duncan expendable.
Dan Skipper/Detroit Lions
A veteran who wouldn’t be topic to waivers, Skipper was a considerably shocking launch by Detroit. It’s doable – possible, even – he finds his means again, but when not, Pittsburgh ought to have a look. He is likely one of the league’s tallest gamers at nearly 6’10, and his profession has been a sluggish burn. Of his 57 profession video games, 44 have occurred during the last three years.
Skipper has logged a good quantity of instances at each deal with spots and graded out exceptionally effectively this preseason. For a vet like him, that’s much less attention-grabbing, however there’s a resume price contemplating.
Leroy Watson/Minnesota Vikings
Like Jacobs above, Watson is an unheralded identify incomes buzz from NFL insiders. He began 4 video games for the Tennessee Titans final season, however he couldn’t make it in Minnesota. This preseason, he picked up 62 snaps at left deal with and one other 46 on the precise facet. A greater run blocker than cross protector, Watson could possibly be claimed off waivers by some staff. Perhaps it’ll be Pittsburgh.
Inside Offensive Line
– Including to Pittsburgh’s inside offensive line wouldn’t harm, particularly for the observe squad. The backups merely didn’t look robust sufficient this summer season.
Sidy Sow/New England Patriots
I labeled Sow as a sleeper within the 2023 NFL Draft, and he wound up beginning 13 video games for the Patriots as a rookie. His position was lowered final season, and he was lower by the Patriots’ new teaching workers this season. A large-body however a shocking athlete, Sow might both knock Andrus Peat off the roster or maybe land on the observe squad to be elevated when accidents strike. Sow had a tricky 2024 and 2025 preseason however impressed in 2023.
This isn’t a dire want, however from a expertise standpoint, Sow is price including.
Cole Unusual/New England Patriots
A number of turnover in New England this yr. A former shock first-round choose, Unusual has began 29 video games during the last three years. However his enjoying time was shrunk every year, and most Patriots’ beat writers anticipated he wouldn’t make this yr’s Week One roster. He’s performed each guard spots and middle. Serving as Zach Frazier’s instant backup out of the gate could be a stretch, however Unusual is an effective identify to stash. Perhaps he can stick and impress, and be within the combine to switch pending free agent Isaac Seumalo in 2026.
Defensive Line
– Pittsburgh’s carrying eight on the preliminary 53 however might use observe squad depth, particularly as Derrick Harmon recovers from his MCL sprain.
Phidarian Mathis/New York Jets
This one most likely received’t occur, and the Houston Texans simply labored him out. However Mathis is a top-50 choose, although he turned a whole bust in Washington (23 video games, 25 tackles, zero sacks). However his 6’4, 310-pound, 34 5/8-inch body is interesting, and he’s price a stash on the observe squad. He’s nonetheless simply 27 years previous.
Security
– Pittsburgh at the moment has simply three true safeties on the 53-man roster. Chuck Clark may circle again, and UDFA Sebastian Castro has good odds of creating the observe squad, however having a sixth security within the group is sensible.
Mark Perry/Chicago Bears
A yr in the past, Pittsburgh tried signing Perry to their observe squad. He selected the Houston Texans as an alternative. He did not final even two weeks there earlier than bouncing round a number of groups over the previous season. Perry’s but to look in an NFL sport and he’d be whole observe squad materials, not 53, however I might see the Steelers revisiting him as back-end depth.
Popping out of TCU, he had dimension, athleticism, and faculty manufacturing.
Marcus Epps/New England Patriots
A number of Patriots on the record, I do know. Epps signed with the staff in free company whereas the Steelers went after Juan Thornhill as an alternative. Epps did not crack the Pats’ 53, maybe partially as a result of the staff opted to maintain S Kyle Duggar as an alternative of buying and selling him.
Epps has ties to Steelers’ defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander, who coached him in 2024 with the Las Vegas Raiders. As a veteran exception, Epps might start on the observe squad. Epps tore his ACL in 2024 and it’s honest to surprise if he’s absolutely recovered and trusts himself once more so time on the p-squad could be factor.
Jordan Fuller/Atlanta Falcons
This one is a stretch and Fuller might seize a 53-man roster spot some place else. However he couldn’t dangle in Atlanta. Nonetheless solely 27 with with 55 profession begins, he recorded 94 tackles, three compelled fumbles, and three interceptions in 2023 for the Los Angeles Rams. Final yr with the Carolina Panthers, he chipped in 54 tackles. Fuller didn’t play a single particular groups snap final season however logged greater than 100 of them a yr in the past. He reportedly had a strong preseason in Atlanta.
Lastly, a brief record of random observe squad candidates price mentioning a minimum of in identify.
– FB Jakob Johnson
– C/G Jacob Bayer
– OT Travis Clayton
– WR Trenton Irwin
– WR Rakim Jarrett
– EDGE Casey Toohill
– ILB Nick Kubitz
– CB Eli Ricks
– LS Blake Ferguson
