Steelers football is officially back with training camp underway at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. As it winds down, it’s time to make cuts. It’s hard to part ways with players, but they have to trim the roster down to 53 players. These players should make the team and head into the 2025 season as Pittsburgh Steelers.
The pecking order in the Steelers quarterback room is already decided. Aaron Rodgers will lead the way, and Mason Rudolph and Will Howard will be the backups, with one of them as the emergency backup. The battle for QB2 is up for debate. Rudolph and Howard have both played well at camp, but Rodgers is the main focus this season.
The running back room will look different this year. To start the season, Jaylen Warren will be the RB1, followed by Kaleb Johnson and Kenneth Gainwell. Johnson will take RB2 duties until he surpasses Warren for the featured role. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. Pittsburgh upgraded over last year’s crew of Najee Harris, Warren, and Cordarrelle Patterson.
The Steelers’ wide receiver room received a massive shake-up when they traded George Pickens. This year’s crew should be DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin, Roman Wilson, Robert Woods, Ben Skowronek, and Roc Taylor. It will be tough to part ways with Scotty Miller, but the undrafted rookie, Taylor, has had too good a showing at training camp to turn away. Pittsburgh will need Austin and Wilson to step up this season.
This season’s tight end group will be a massive upgrade from last year. It will feature Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, Darnell Washington, and Connor Heyward. The top three will do the heavy lifting while Heyward slots in where they need him. He can slot in at fullback and running back as well as tight end. It’s a versatile room this year.
It’s a make-or-break year for Steelers left tackle Broderick Jones. It’s time for him to put up or shut up. If he fails, Dylan Cook will be behind him, ready to slot in. Jones has been underwhelming since being drafted, but he is finally back to his original position on the left. Pittsburgh needs him to step up this year. Rodgers’ life depends on it.
Isaac Seumalo will be the featured left guard for the Steelers again this season. He’s been rock solid at that spot for the last two seasons, and that won’t change this year. He’s a reliable option. It’s hard to imagine them keeping a second left guard. They will likely use a backup from somewhere else to fill the spot if something happens to Seumalo.
After an injury took out his rookie season, Troy Fautanu is back and ready to start at right tackle for the Steelers. He has looked solid in training camp, and it’s his job. Calvin Anderson will be a candidate to be his backup and slot in wherever Pittsburgh needs him on the offensive line. Fautanu will be an upgrade over Jones.
Mason McCormick got an opportunity to play left guard last season in James Daniels’ absence, and it’s his position this year. Pittsburgh will likely keep Max Scharping around to be a rotational piece to back up McCormick and Seumalo. Scharping is a seasoned veteran and a great backup option to keep on the roster.
Zach Frazier will be the Steelers’ center for the foreseeable future. Rodgers has spoken highly of him, and the tape from his rookie year doesn’t lie. Ryan McCollum will be his backup, and he was a good option last year when he was called upon. Frazier has experienced snap issues in training camp, but don’t expect it to be a problem. He’s getting used to his new quarterback.
Pittsburgh’s first-round pick, Derrick Harmon, will get the starting job from day one. He’s ready for the league. Isaiahh Loudermilk will be his backup, and he has been hanging around for some time now as a viable backup. Harmon is a beast, and he is exactly what the Steelers needed to go toe to toe with the Baltimore Ravens’ run game.
Keeanu Benton is heading into year three, and the Steelers are expecting a big year from him. He has been good, but the level of this defense should take him higher. The kid can play. Pittsburgh drafted Yayha Black to be a stopgap on the defensive line, and he could give Benton a run for his money based on his training camp performance.
Pittsburgh’s right defensive end spot will be manned by Mr. Reliable, Cam Heyward, again. Last season, he had one of his best seasons at the age of 35. He doesn’t have many years left, but he is still producing. Expect new acquisition Daniel Ekuale to be his backup, but he won’t do much as Heyward will do the heavy lifting. Look up Pittsburgh in a dictionary, and a picture of Heyward will be there.
Pittsburgh is loaded at the edge position this season. T.J. Watt will be the leader of the group after his big payday. Nick Herbig will continue to be his understudy. The Wisconsin Badger boys stick together. They’re a great duo to have on the left side. Hide your quarterback when in the Steel City.
Alex Highsmith will continue to man the spot across from Watt. The two are an unstoppable force. This year, the Steelers drafted Jack Sawyer from Ohio State to be his backup. Pittsburgh has the best edge group in the NFL, and it isn’t close. Mike Tomlin and company know how to evaluate talent at this position.
Patrick Queen is back for his second year in Pittsburgh. He will be joined by Payton Wilson in the middle. Cole Holcomb is back from his brutal leg injury that kept him out last season. The Steelers picked up Malik Harrison to fill the fourth spot in the room. Elandon Roberts was unfortunately not re-signed.
The cornerback position is where Pittsburgh upgraded the most this offseason. Joey Porter Jr. is expected to take another step, but General Manager Omar Khan got him help. Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, and Brandin Echols will be great additions. They will join James Pierre, Cory Trice Jr, and Beanie Bishop in what should be a top-three cornerback room in the NFL. It’s a no-fly zone this season.
Losing Minkah Fitzpatrick hurts, but Juan Thornhill will attempt to pick up the pieces. He’s not the ideal option, but he will work on this defense. Pittsburgh recently signed Chuck Clark. He can play both safety spots. Ramsey will also make appearances at free safety this season.
Deshon Elliott is one of the most underrated players in the league. He is a Steeler through and through. Elliott craves contact and isn’t afraid to tackle anybody. Pittsburgh gave him a new contract this offseason, and he deserved it. Miles Killebrew will be his backup, but he will spend his time blocking punts.
While Justin Tucker is on a massage table somewhere, Chris Boswell is back for the Steelers, and he’s the best kicker in the league. Similar to Heyward, he is Mr. Reliable. The Wizard of Boz is a stone-cold killer who will single-handedly win the Steelers games if they ask him to. It doesn’t get any better than him.
Cameron Johnston is back after a Week one injury held him out last season. Corliss Waitman was great in Johnston’s absence, but his services will no longer be needed. Johnston has been booming punts at training camp, and he will play a big role for the Steelers this season. Setting the defense up with good field position will be deadly to other teams this year.
The Steelers will use RB3 Kenneth Gainwell as the main kick returner this season. He could get help from Austin and Wilson, but it’s Gainwell’s job for now. Cordarrelle Patterson isn’t on the team anymore, and Gainwell will be an instant upgrade. Patterson looked old and slow last season. It’d be nice to see Gainwell take one to the house this year.
Tomlin exclaimed that Calvin Austin will handle punt return duty for Pittsburgh again this year, regardless of his role on the offense. He found the endzone on a punt return last season against the New York Giants, and he’s ready to build on that. The speedster is hard to get a hold of, making him perfect for the role.
The Pittsburgh kid, Christian Kuntz, will be back for his fifth season as his hometown team’s long snapper. He’s tough as nails. Hailing from Duquesne and growing up on IC Light and Primanti Brothers sandwiches shows. Kuntz got praise from Special Teams coach Danny Smith on the Pat McAfee live show at training camp. It’s his job until he can’t do it anymore.
Pittsburgh’s 53-man roster is upgraded from last season. They had an unusual offseason, adding more talent than ever before. The additions of Rodgers, Smith, Ramsey, and the draft picks will make the Steelers a force in the AFC this season. Khan went to work over the summer, and it’s time for everything to come together.
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