30 Scenarios in 30 Days: The Steelers will have at least one 2025 starter who is not yet on the roster
The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for the 2025 regular season, but before the real games begin, the team has to head to training camp back at Saint Vincent College in order to fine tune their skills. As we here at SCN prepare you for the start of camp, we give you a series called “30 Scenarios in 30 Days” which gives you a Steelers scenario every day leading up to the start of camp.
It is simple how it works. We provide you the scenario, reasons why it will or won’t happen, and then our prediction for what we think will take place.
Let’s get to the scenario…
Scenario: The Steelers will have at least one 2025 starter who is not yet on the roster
Why it will happen: First of all, it is important to understand the definition of “starter“ for a season. The bottom line is, it comes down to a player starting the most games at their position during the season. A player who starts every game is obviously a starter, and a player who might have dealt with injury or other things yet started more games than anyone else on the team at their position is also deemed the starter. And when it comes to starting a game, it is simply being on the field for the first offensive of defensive snap.
There is a precedent of the Steelers sometimes adding significant players late in the process heading into a season. In 2021, the Steelers added Trai Turner in June and traded for Joe Schobert in August. Both of those players went on to start the majority of games at their position. In 2019 the Steelers traded for Minkah Fitzpatrick in the first month of the season. It’s happened before, and it can happen again.
Of course, injuries could shape the need to add another player. When Turner was added in 2021, it was due to the injury and eventual retirement of David DeCastro. If the Steelers were to lose a significant player at a position during the preseason where they don’t have much depth, they could make a move and add a starting quality player.
Most importantly, the Steelers have a few positions that could see a player come in and start the majority of games even without injury. Positions such as wide receiver or safety could see the Steelers add a significant piece between now and the start of the regular season, or even just into the season, and could ultimately start the most games at their position.
Why it won’t happen: While the possibility exists, it still does not lead to certainty. The Steelers haven’t added a player during training camp who started the majority of games that season since 2021. Even in 2023 when injuries ran rampant at both inside linebacker and safety, it was the players who had been with the Steelers throughout the offseason who started the majority of the games, some of which were the injured players themselves. So even when the conditions are present, it still doesn’t necessarily happen where a player is added to slide into the starting lineup.
Prediction: If the question was the Steelers adding a player, or even adding a player who would contribute significantly this season, it would be a much easier answer. By taking it to the level of the player ultimately starting the most games at their position in 2025 makes it more difficult. Still, I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Steelers add a wide receiver for safety who ultimately gets a lot of playing time this season. I don’t think it’s a guarantee, but the fact that there’s at least two positions where this could be the case increases the possibility. For this reason, I’m going to say that the Steelers do have a 2025 starter who is not yet on the roster at this time.
Remembering this would have been a much easier answer two weeks ago, it does mean that the Steelers will have to make yet another move once again. I don’t expect it to be to the level of the trade they pulled off on June 30, but I still think something else could happen.
Miss a scenario? You can see the full list of scenarios below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for training camp.
The Steelers will go above and beyond their win-loss prediction in 2025
The Steelers will throw more INTs than last season
The Steelers will eclipse 50 sacks in 2025
The Steelers Defense Will Have More Takeaways This Season
Aaron Rodgers will start all 17 games in 2025
DK Metcalf Will Have Double-Digit Receiving TDs
T.J. Watt will break the single-season sack record
The Steelers Will Rush For More Than 2000 Yards In 2025
The Steelers will have a Top 5 Rush Defense
Jalen Ramsey will return to the Pro Bowl in 2025
The Steelers will have a winning record in the AFC North
The Steelers will have a kickoff return for a TD in 2025
Pat Freiermuth will lead the Steelers in touchdowns in 2025
The Steelers will have a winning record at home in 2025
Jaylen Warren will lead the Steelers in rushing
Maybe WR2? FS or OL would likely be acquired as reserves, at present. Gabe Davis’ meniscus may be improving… and he run blocks okay, though his catching is inconsistent.
Jalen Ramsey is #5, officially. Jonnu still waits for a number.