The Pittsburgh Steelers entered this offseason with arguably the best chance of any NFL team to turn over their roster. They were top-10 in cap space entering free agency, and they held a league-high 12 draft picks. The Steelers traded for Michael Pittman Jr., signed several other impact free agents, drafted 10 players and signed six undrafted free agents.
More than 20 new players are now on the roster, but how many will make the 53-man team out of camp? This early exercise shows that some of the toughest decisions are: How many quarterbacks will they keep? How many draft picks will make the team? And can local product Eli Heidenreich win a job?
(Note: New players in italics)
Offense (24)
Quarterbacks (3)
Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard, Drew Allar
Other: Mason Rudolph
The most important position remains the Steelers’ biggest question mark. On Tuesday, news broke that the Steelers placed an unrestricted free agent tender on Rogers ahead of Monday’s deadline. The move preserves Pittsburgh’s ability to get a compensatory pick back if the 42-year-old QB chooses to play elsewhere. It also clearly shows that there is no backroom, handshake agreement in place. Would a team that knows what Rodgers is going to do — and when he’s going to do it — make sure they get a comp pick if he leaves for another team? While the Steelers have believed at times throughout this process that the future Hall of Fame QB would sign and play for Pittsburgh, they’re also 0-for-2 on when they thought Rodgers would return. First, they thought Rodgers would give his answer around free agency. Then, they believed he’d give his answer before the draft. The tender shows that nothing is definitive with Rodgers until it’s official.
Should Rodgers choose to return, the Steelers have a huge decision to make. Do they bet on new head coach Mike McCarthy and his ability to develop quarterbacks by keeping 24-year-old Howard and 22-year-old Allar, even if it means they won’t have a QB with a single snap of NFL experience playing behind a 42-year-old? Or do they think about which of the three they would start today if they needed to win one game and keep Mason Rudolph? If Rodgers returns, they’ll almost certainly carry four quarterbacks into camp and wait until after the preseason to make that decision. Or maybe Rodgers makes the decision for them.
Running backs (3)
Rico Dowdle, Jaylen Warren, Kaleb Johnson
Others: Max Hurleman, Lew Nichols
Atop the depth chart, the Steelers have to determine how they’re going to split the carries. Dowdle has more of a proven track record of carrying the load and a slightly bigger build. But in my opinion, Warren was underutilized by former offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and could handle work on all four downs as well. No matter how the carries are divided, they should make a nice one-two punch. What does that mean for Johnson? Teams need a third running back, even if you’re still upset about his kick return blunder and want Heidenreich to make the team. It would be awfully early to give up on a third-round pick.
Wide receivers (6)
DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Germie Bernard, Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek, Kaden Wetjen
Others: Eli Heidenreich, A.T. Perry, Brandon Smith
Wetjen was probably the Steelers’ most controversial pick. He’s also an important one for several other players within the room. For Wilson, it’s a huge win. In Wetjen, the Steelers drafted a return man who might contribute as a gadget guy, instead of selecting a receiver to challenge Wilson, who could also return kicks. There’s a difference. UConn’s Skyler Bell, for example, would have created an obvious competition with Wilson. While the pick is good news for Wilson, though, it’s going to make for an uphill battle for Heidenreich. The Mt. Lebanon High School and Navy grad is a gadget guy/return specialist himself. The Steelers kept just five receivers last year. Even if they keep six, it might be hard for the local kid to climb the depth chart as it currently stands.
Fullback/ H-back: (1)
Riley Nowakowski
Much to the delight of Pittsburghers, the fullback is not dead, especially in McCarthy’s offense. He’s utilized the position often in the past, including with Pro Bowler John Kuhn in Green Bay and Hunter Luepke in Dallas. McCarthy found a good (and versatile) one in the fifth round. Nowakowski has the positional flexibility to line up in the backfield as a lead blocker, in-line or on the wing. He’s a much more powerful blocker than Connor Heyward and a quarterback-friendly receiver with YAC potential. He can also play as a tight end, making him the third player at that position group.
Tight ends (2)
Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington
Others: JJ Galbreath, Lake McRee, Chamon Metayer
In 2025, Freiermuth’s base salary jumped from just over a million dollars to nearly $10.8 million, making him one of the 10 highest-paid players at his position. The Steelers didn’t use him like one; while his salary spiked, his usage plummeted. He played a career-low 51 percent of snaps (after playing 69 percent in 2024 and 68 percent in 2022). With Jonnu Smith, Connor Heyward and Arthur Smith gone, Freiermuth should again become the featured pass-catching tight end. Meanwhile, Washington continues to prove he’s much more than just a blocker. It took Rodgers to finally unlock some of his pass-catching potential, especially in the red zone.
Offensive line (9 + one on IR)
Troy Fautanu, Gennings Dunker, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, Max Iheanachor, Brock Hoffman, Spencer Anderson, Dylan Cook, Jack Driscoll, Broderick Jones (IR)
Others: Doug Nester, Steven Jones, Sataoa Laumea, Aiden Williams
This group has a ton of youth, potential, position flexibility and question marks. Now that we’re done with mock draft season, I jokingly asked people for their Week 1 mock offensive line combinations. I got about eight different answers, and they were all reasonable. For example, Fautanu might play right tackle like he did last year, left tackle (considering Iheanachor only played RT at Arizona State) or guard.
There’s no guarantee Jones will be healthy in time for Week 1. Assuming he is not, my best guess for a starting five would be: LT Fautanu, LG Dunker, C Frazier, RG McCormick, RT Iheanachor. My rationale is that Fautanu is the most versatile of the linemen and played LT in college. They need to get Iheanachor onto the field early, and playing him where he’s comfortable is the best way to do it. Keep Frazier and McCormick in place so there aren’t too many moving pieces, and start Dunker’s transition to the left side (after playing mostly RT in college) immediately. Right now, it’s just a prediction. Maybe they play Hoffman or Anderson at guard until Dunker is up to speed. Maybe they envision Iheanachor’s length and athleticism working better on the left and want to get him there sooner than later. There are just so many moving pieces.
In terms of the 53-man roster, maybe the Steelers start Jones on injured reserve to give him more time to recover, which would also allow them to keep an extra lineman on cut-down day. His health might make that decision for them.
Defense (26)
Defensive line (8)
Cameron Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Derrick Harmon, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Yahya Black, Esezi Otomewo, Logan Lee, Gabriel Rubio
Others: Kevin Jobity Jr., Kyler Baugh, Anthony Goodlow, Jahvaree Ritzie
The Steelers waited until the sixth round to address this position group with Rubio, a Notre Dame product who missed the final six games of his college career with a broken elbow and torn UCL. There could be some position battles brewing here. Jobity had elite testing numbers, making him the UDFA with the best shot to steal a roster spot. Lee (who was stashed on injured reserve as a rookie) only played in a limited role last year. His spot isn’t necessarily secure, either.
Inside linebackers (5)
Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Malik Harrison, Cole Holcomb, Carson Bruener
Others: Daylan Carnell
The Steelers hosted five inside linebackers for pre-draft visits, but didn’t draft any of them over the weekend. In the past, the team has used mostly a three-man rotation atop the depth chart. Queen is the green-dot who plays nearly 100 percent of snaps. Harrison was the thumper on run downs, playing mostly in the base defense (which is about 20 percent of snaps in the modern NFL). Wilson came in for Harrison in sub packages. The Steelers’ initial hope last year was that Wilson could be more of a four-down player, but he showed he still has some work to do against the run to reach his high upside. Meanwhile, Bruener got his spot on the roster based on special teams, and Holcomb added that responsibility to his plate as a way to stick around after his gruesome knee injury. Without seeing Carnell in person, it’s hard to imagine him making it on the initial 53, as he transitions from safety to linebacker.
Outside linebackers (4)
T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jack Sawyer
Others: Julius Welschof, KJ Henry
Even as speculation swirled that the Steelers might move Highsmith or Herbig, general manager Omar Khan has said on a number of occasions that you can’t have enough depth at this position. It’s true. The 3-4 defense that McCarthy plans to continue running is built for the edge rushers to feast. They also have to for this scheme to succeed. Moving one of these players would put the Steelers in a tough spot. Consider that over the last two seasons, Highsmith has missed 10 games, Herbig has missed six games and Watt has missed three. Sawyer is a solid run-down player and good developmental piece, but he’s not in the same conversation as a pass rusher yet.
Defensive backs (9)
S DeShon Elliott, CB Joey Porter Jr., CB Jamel Dean, S Jaquan Brisker, DB Jalen Ramsey, CB Daylen Everette, CB Brandin Echols, CB Asante Samuel Jr., S Darnell Savage
Others: Robert Spears-Jennings, CB Cory Trice Jr., S Sebastian Castro, CB/ PR Donte Kent, S Jack Henderson
In the 3-4 base defense, Porter and Dean will be at corner, and the safeties will likely be Elliott and Ramsey. The uncertainty is in the sub-packages. One likely alignment would be to move Ramsey into the slot and play Brisker at safety, but the Steelers have options and will probably move players around in the secondary depending upon the opponent and the particular call.
Beyond where they line up, the Steelers will also have to sort out who makes the team. Savage isn’t technically on the team yet, as a medical situation delayed his signing. As of last week, however, the plan was still for him to sign his deal once healthy. Would he make the team, or would seventh-round pick Spears-Jennings win one of the final jobs?
Specialists (3)
Kicker Chris Boswell, punter Cameron Johnston, long snapper Christian Kuntz
Others: Long snapper Cal Adomitis, punter Gabriel Nwosu, kicker Laith Marjan
The Steelers invited former Penn State punter/kickoff specialist Nwosu for a rookie minicamp tryout. While he tips the scales at 6-foot-6 and just under 300 pounds, Johnston should have the job as long as he’s healthy. The competition could be at long snapper, where Kuntz could be pitted against Adomitis, a Pitt product.
