The offseason calendar continues to roll along in the NFL, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are accelerating toward mandatory minicamp next week.<\/p>\n
Training camp<\/a> will be here before you know it.<\/p>\n In the meantime, there are plenty of roster battles that could impact final cuts in late August. With nearly an entirely new coaching staff in place, there aren\u2019t many players truly \u201csafe\u201d at the moment, whether that\u2019s for a roster spot in general, or a key role.<\/p>\n Below is my pre-minicamp 53-man roster prediction for the Steelers after a long and busy offseason.<\/p>\n OFFENSE \u2013 25<\/p>\n Quarterbacks (3) \u2013 Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard, Drew Allar<\/p>\n Analysis:\u00a0I see no world in which the Steelers can keep all four quarterbacks<\/a> on the 53-man roster, barring injury. While Mason Rudolph brings good experience as a backup and spot starter, the Steelers aren\u2019t going to cut Drew Allar in his rookie season. And based on how Mike McCarthy raved about Will Howard, they aren\u2019t going to give up on him, either. That makes Rudolph the odd man out.<\/p>\n It raises major questions about the lack of experience behind Rodgers, but if the 42-year-old QB goes down with an injury, the Steelers are in trouble no matter what. Better to find out about the young QBs in that scenario than running Rudolph out there again.<\/p>\n Running Backs (4) \u2013 Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle, Travis Homer, Eli Heidenreich\u00a0<\/p>\n Analysis: It\u2019s hard for me to see a path for Kaleb Johnson on the 53-man roster right now. He\u2019s not a special-teams piece and doesn\u2019t offer much versatility compared to the likes of Travis Homer and rookie seventh-round pick Eli Heidenreich.<\/p>\n In the end, that will matter. Johnson won\u2019t take carries from Warren or Dowdle, and he doesn\u2019t move the needle on special teams like the other two will. So, the Steelers will have a tough call to make.<\/a> With a new coaching staff that has no ties to Johnson, it might be the right one.<\/p>\n Wide Receivers (6) \u2013 DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Germie Bernard, Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek, Kaden Wetjen<\/p>\n Analysis: This receiver room looks so much better on paper than in recent years. A top three of Metcalf, Pittman and Bernard is a great starting point, and I think Wilson takes a step forward this season under a new staff.<\/p>\n Special teams will be in a good place, too, with Skowronek coming off a Pro Bowl season and Wetjen potentially being a game-changing returner.<\/p>\n Tight Ends (3) \u2013 Darnell Washington, Pat Freiermuth, Riley Nowakowski<\/p>\n Analysis: Listing rookie Riley Nowakowski here even though I believe he\u2019ll see most of his snaps at fullback. The Steelers don\u2019t have a true No. 3 TE on the roster currently, and Nowakowski might be the best option for that dual role as an in-line tight end<\/a>, a role he handled at Indiana.<\/p>\n Offensive Tackles (4) \u2013 Troy Fautanu, Dylan Cook, Max Iheanachor, Jack Driscoll, Broderick Jones (PUP)<\/p>\n Analysis: I am not sure what to do with Broderick Jones right now, so a spot on the PUP makes the most sense. That leaves four tackles to make the 53-man roster. I like having Jack Driscoll and his versatility as the fourth tackle and the guy who can serve in the swing role early on.<\/p>\n Interior Offensive Line (5) \u2013 Mason McCormick, Zack Frazier, Spencer Anderson, Brock Hoffman, Gennings Dunker<\/p>\n Analysis: Pretty chalk here, though I am keeping Brock Hoffman and his center\/guard versatility over Ryan McCollum. That\u2019s largely due to his past experience in Mike McCarthy\u2019s scheme and the edge he brings to the table as that old-school, no-nonsense offensive lineman.<\/p>\n DEFENSE \u2013 25<\/p>\n Defensive Ends (5) \u2013 Cameron Heyward, Derrick Harmon, Yahya Black, Dean Lowry, Esezi Otomewo<\/p>\n Analysis: I really battled with the final two spots here with Dean Lowry\u2019s recent signing<\/a>. Due to Lowry\u2019s experience under McCarthy and familiarity with Graham and number of defensive coaches, I think he gets the nod if he\u2019s healthy. Then it comes down to Esezi Otomewo, who made a strong case last season to return, and rookie sixth-round pick Gabriel Rubio.<\/p>\n Otomewo has done it in the NFL, and Rubio feels like a bit of a project. It makes sense in an experienced room to keep the depth strong, so I went with Otomewo.<\/p>\n Nose Tackles (2) \u2013 Keeanu Benton, Sebastian Joseph-Day\u00a0<\/p>\n Analysis: Outside of OLB, this is the strongest position room on the roster. Benton played very well down the stretch for the Steelers and is coming off a career-high 5.5 sacks. Joseph-Day was a great free agency addition and will be able to play nose or defensive end, adding to the depth of the defense line.<\/p>\n EDGE Rushers (4) \u2013 T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jack Sawyer<\/p>\n Analysis: There\u2019s no debate here. These are the four the Steelers will roll into the season with. It\u2019s a tremendous group.<\/p>\n Inside Linebackers (5) \u2013 Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Cole Holcomb, Malik Harrison, Carson Bruener<\/p>\n Analysis: Much like outside linebacker, there\u2019s no debate here at inside linebacker. These are the five the Steelers will move forward with. Things will look much different next year, but for now, Queen and Wilson are the starters and Holcomb and Harrison will rotate in. Bruener is the special teams ace and could earn captain, too.<\/p>\n Cornerbacks (5) \u2013 Joey Porter Jr., Jamel Dean, Asante Samuel Jr., Brandin Echols, Daylen Everette<\/p>\n Analysis: Thanks to some good moves in free agency with the addition of Dean and the re-signing of Samuel, plus the draft selection of Everette, the cornerback room looks strong. We\u2019ll see if Porter gets his extension this summer, but right now, this group could be much better than people believe.<\/a><\/p>\n Safeties (4) \u2013 DeShon Elliott, Jalen Ramsey, Jaquan Brisker, Robert Spears-Jennings<\/p>\n Analysis: This is one room I\u2019m worried about. Granted, that could all change with the potential addition of Darnell Savage this summer. But right now, depth is a concern. A top three of Elliott, Ramsey and Brisker is solid, but that fourth safety is up in the air.<\/p>\n I went with rookie seventh-round pick Robert Spears-Jennings here due to his special teams abilities and his elite-level athleticism over Sebastian Castro.<\/p>\n SPECIAL TEAMS \u2014 3<\/p>\n Kicker (1) \u2013 Chris Boswell<\/p>\n