The Pittsburgh Steelers still have one final preseason game to go, which will occur Thursday on the road against the Buffalo Bills at the new Highmark Stadium in Western New York, but the 53-man roster for the Black and Gold is starting to take shape.<\/p>\n
Position battles are seemingly all sewn up, and depth roles are becoming clearer now that two preseason games are in the books.<\/p>\n
There are still some players that can claim a roster spot on Thursday against Buffalo with a strong showing in the preseason finale, but I think things are largely figured out when it comes to the initial 53-man roster under first-year head coach Mike McCarthy.<\/p>\n
The question of keeping three or four quarterbacks still needs to be figured out, not to mention the decision at RB3 behind Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle, but overall the 53-man roster picture is coming into focus.<\/p>\n
Below is my final 53-man roster prediction.<\/p>\n
OFFENSE \u2013 26<\/p>\n
Quarterbacks (4) \u2013 Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, Drew Allar<\/p>\n
Previous: Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard, Drew Allar<\/p>\n
Analysis: Reports indicate that the Steelers are set to keep Will Howard and rookie Drew Allar<\/a> on the 53-man roster, and Aaron Rodgers is obviously the starter, so that leaves Mason Rudolph as a question mark. After everything Mike McCarthy has said of the veteran this offseason, it\u2019s hard to see the Steelers cutting or trading Rudolph at this rate.<\/p>\n After all, McCarthy stated prior to the preseason game against the New York Jets that he had seen all he needed to see from Rudolph, keeping him on the bench for the preseason matchup. That, at least to me, signals he\u2019s a lock for the roster. Meaning, the Steelers are going to break tradition and keep four quarterbacks in this exercise.<\/p>\n Running Backs (3) \u2013 Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle, Travis Homer<\/p>\n Previous: Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle, Kaleb Johnson, Eli Heidenreich<\/p>\n Analysis: Throughout the offseason I really felt strongly that rookie seventh-round pick Eli Heidenreich was going to grab a roster spot. An injury early in training camp put him behind the 8-ball and he hasn\u2019t done enough the preseason to earn a spot.<\/p>\n Neither has second-year running back Kaleb Johnson. McCarthy stated he looked good between the tackles<\/a> against the Jets, but even then he looked like he was running in mud and wasn\u2019t all that effective. Travis Homer played just a few snaps in the preseason matchup, and while he doesn\u2019t offer much as a running back, he\u2019s a key special teams piece, which the Steelers desperately need under new coordinator Danny Crossman.<\/p>\n Wide Receivers (6) \u2013 DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Germie Bernard, Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek, Kaden Wetjen<\/p>\n Previous: DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Germie Bernard, Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek, Kaden Wetjen<\/p>\n Analysis: This feels pretty chalk here. The WR3 battle is still up for grabs<\/a> between Roman Wilson and rookie Germie Bernard after Wilson\u2019s sloppy showing against the Jets, and there\u2019s a real debate between rookie Kaden Wetjen and second-year pro Max Hurleman as a receiver and special teams piece. Still, I can\u2019t see the Steelers moving on from a fourth-round pick right away.<\/p>\n Tight Ends (4) \u2013 Darnell Washington, Pat Freiermuth, Robert Tonyan, Riley Nowakowski<\/p>\n Previous: Darnell Washington, Pat Freiermuth, Robert Tonyan, Riley Nowakowski<\/p>\n Analysis: There is no doubt here how tight end shakes out. Robert Tonyan has done more than enough to earn a spot under McCarthy, and rookie Riley Nowakowski can play TE and FB. He\u2019s a good special teams piece, too, and should see a lot of snaps in that aspect of the game.<\/p>\n Offensive Tackles (4) \u2013 Troy Fautanu, Dylan Cook, Max Iheanachor, Broderick Jones\u00a0<\/p>\n Previous: Troy Fautanu, Dylan Cook, Max Iheanachor, Jack Driscoll, Broderick Jones\u00a0<\/p>\n Analysis: With Broderick Jones not opening training camp on Active\/PUP and being fully cleared, he\u2019s making this roster as the swing tackle. I could see rookie Max Iheanachor landing on IR after the initial 53-man roster is formed to give him more time to get up to speed, but I didn\u2019t want to go and project those roster gymnastics right now.<\/p>\n Interior Offensive Line (5) \u2013 Mason McCormick, Zach Frazier, Spencer Anderson, Brock Hoffman, Gennings Dunker<\/p>\n Previous: Mason McCormick, Zach Frazier, Spencer Anderson, Brock Hoffman, Gennings Dunker<\/p>\n Analysis: Keeping just five interior offensive linemen again, as I\u2019m leaning on the fact that Brock Hoffman can play both guard positions and center, rendering Ryan McCollum \u2014 who has had a rough training camp and preseason<\/a> \u2014 obsolete. McCollum is a guy that I think could sneak on the practice squad, but he doesn\u2019t\u00a0warrant a 53-man roster spot right now.<\/p>\n DEFENSE \u2013 24<\/p>\n Defensive Ends (5) \u2013 Cameron Heyward, Derrick Harmon, Yahya Black, Esezi Otomewo, Gabriel Rubio<\/p>\n Previous: Cameron Heyward, Derrick Harmon, Yahya Black, Esezi Otomewo, Logan Lee<\/p>\n Analysis: I have to admit, throughout the offseason after the selection of rookie Gabriel Rubio in the sixth round, I thought there was no chance for him to make the 53-man roster. He doesn\u2019t offer much as a pass rusher, but he was so impressive in the first two preseason games as a run defender. I can\u2019t see any way in which Rubio doesn\u2019t make this team<\/a> at this rate. The tough decision will come down to Esezi Otomewo and Dean Lowry, and with Otomewo\u2019s versatility I like him over Lowry.<\/p>\n Nose Tackles (2) \u2013 Keeanu Benton, Sebastian Joseph-Day\u00a0<\/p>\n Previous: Keeanu Benton, Sebastian Joseph-Day<\/p>\n Analysis: Not much to say here. Keeanu Benton will split snaps with Yahya Black and Sebastian Joseph-Day as a true nose, and the group overall looks terrific on paper. Benton and Joseph-Day bring great versatility, too.<\/p>\n EDGE Rushers (4) \u2013 T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jack Sawyer<\/p>\n Previous: T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jack Sawyer, Jamin Davis<\/p>\n Analysis: I really wanted to find a way to keep Jamin Davis on the 53-man roster, but I just can\u2019t make it work numbers-wise, especially with keeping four quarterbacks. Davis has been very good in the preseason, but it\u2019s a numbers crunch as he\u2019s not beating out someone like T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig or second-year pro Jack Sawyer.<\/p>\n Inside Linebackers (4) \u2013 Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Elandon Roberts, Carson Bruener<\/p>\n Previous: Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Cole Holcomb, Carson Bruener<\/p>\n Analysis: The addition of Elandon Roberts changes everything at inside linebacker. Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson aren\u2019t going anywhere, and Carson Bruener is a special teams ace that is a lock. He might even be a special teams captain at this rate. The question becomes \u2013 do you keep five here?<\/p>\n The math doesn\u2019t work, which has me thinking Cole Holcomb and Malik Harrison are the odd men out at inside linebacker, though I\u2019d like to try and sneak one of them on the practice squad, preferably Holcomb.<\/p>\n Cornerbacks (5) \u2013 Joey Porter Jr., Jamel Dean, Asante Samuel Jr., Brandin Echols, Daylen Everette<\/p>\n Previous: Joey Porter Jr., Jamel Dean, Asante Samuel Jr., Brandin Echols, Daylen Everette<\/p>\n Analysis: No real debates here. Joey Porter Jr. will be ready to go for the start of the season, and the five corners will be set.<\/p>\n Safeties (4) \u2013 DeShon Elliott, Jalen Ramsey, Jaquan Brisker, Rayshawn Jenkins<\/p>\n Previous: DeShon Elliott, Jalen Ramsey, Jaquan Brisker, Sebastian Castro<\/p>\n Analysis: I am a big fan of rookie seventh-round pick Robert Spears-Jennings, but I have a hard time seeing the Steelers choosing him over veteran Rayshawn Jenkins on the initial 53-man roster. Spears-Jennings has done nothing but make plays<\/a> in the preseason, and he projects as a valuable special teams piece, but Jenkins can provide similar plays and has NFL experience.<\/p>\n Spears-Jennings is a guy who can sneak onto the practice squad and continue to develop.<\/p>\n SPECIAL TEAMS \u2014 3<\/p>\n Kicker (1) \u2013 Chris Boswell<\/p>\n Previous: Chris Boswell<\/p>\n