Predicting the Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 53-man roster: Post NFL Draft Edition

The kickoff to the 2025 NFL preseason is just about three months away. While numerous things can happen between now and then, it’s time to give our way-too-early predictions for the Steelers 53-man roster to begin the 2025 season. With no players actually setting foot on even a practice field yet to run full-team work as part of OTAs, it’s difficult to project who the bottom-of-the-roster players will be. Regardless, SCN editor Dave Schofield and senior editor Jeff Hartman will give their input onto their thoughts of who will make the roster come September.

As always, we welcome you to join the conversation in our comment section below this article. Let your voice be heard and join in the black-and-gold conversation!

Offense

Quarterback (3)

Dave: Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, TBD

Analysis: I’m sorry, but I’m going to go with who I think is really going to be the three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster once cuts are made. I’m not going to include a specific name of a player who isn’t on the roster yet, but the other quarterback position is extremely likely to be filled by someone not yet under contract.

Jeff: Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, Skylar Thompson

Analysis: We can’t put someone on the depth chart who isn’t on the roster, so the three quarterbacks who are on the 90-man roster will be the three I have predicted. If/when Aaron Rodgers signs, this will change.

Running Back (3)

Dave: Jaylen Warren, Kaleb Johnson, Kenneth Gainwell

Analysis: If the Steelers do what they have done recently, look for them to only keep three running backs but have multiple options on the practice squad. It seems to serve them well. If there’s only going to be three, I think these are the three.

Jeff: Jaylen Warren, Kenneth Gainwell, Kaleb Johnson

Analysis: The Steelers seem set at the running back position after the drafting of Johnson. To be honest, I really like this running back room.

Fullback (Dave – 0 / Jeff – 1)

Dave: None

Analysis: I would love to include the undrafted free agent fullback on the 53-man roster, but I don’t think the Steelers have to do it right away. I don’t think he’s a player who would be highly sought after on waivers, barring an amazing preseason, and he can start off on the practice squad and be elevated if and when the Steelers would need him. That’s what the Steelers did last year with Jack Colletto to start the season. Unfortunately, his change in roster status went from a release rather than an elevation. With all that said, I don’t see the Steelers keeping a full back to start the season.

Jeff: DJ Thomas-Jones

Analysis: The Steelers handed out their most lucrative undrafted rookie free agent contract to a non-quarterback when they signed Thomas-Jones. Arthur Smith loves a person who can block, and still be a threat in the passing game. It’s the reason they brought in Kyle Juszczyk for a visit this offseason. I’m not suggesting Thomas-Jones is that caliber of player, but I think they find a way to keep him on the roster.

Wide Receiver (Dave – 6 / Jeff – 5)

Dave: DK Metcalf, George Pickens, Roman Wilson, Calvin Austin III, Robert Woods, Ben Skowronek

Analysis: I think the Steelers will keep nine receivers, so I’m keeping six wide receivers and you’ll soon see what I do with tight end. I think the roster spot will come down to which place they want to keep an extra player. For now, I like these six with only five actually getting a helmet on game day. But if it’s only five, Woods is not a lock to make the team.

Jeff: DK Metcalf, George Pickens, Roman Wilson, Calvin Austin III, Ben Skowronek

Analysis: The Steelers could keep six receivers, but I think five is the number I’ll go with at this stage of the process. If I were to add a 6th, it would be recently added Robert Woods to round out the group. After OTAs and minicamp I’ll reassess the situation.

Tight End (3)

Dave: Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Connor Heyward

Analysis: Unless someone like Donald Parham blows the Steelers away during the preseason, I would like to see them just to go with these players. For those you think maybe the Steelers would upgrade Connor Heyward, he was tied for the most special team snaps last season with captain Miles Killebrew. He’s not going anywhere.

Jeff: Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Connor Heyward

Analysis: The Steelers are going to do with a heavy personnel approach with Arthur Smith, and I could see the camp battle being between Thomas-Jones and Donald Parham for a potential 4th and final spot. All of this very well could come down to special teams play, which is why I have Connor Heyward making the team.

Offensive Line (Dave – 9 / Jeff – 10)

Dave: Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu, Isaac Seumalo, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, Spencer Anderson, Ryan McCollum, Calvin Anderson, Max Scharping

Analysis: I don’t see a reason for the Steelers to keep more than nine offensive lineman, and I was tempted to only have them with eight. Max Scharping is my last man on as he was a reserved guy last year. I wish the Steelers had quality depth at offensive line to where it was tough to know how many they would keep, but they don’t right now. That could be a position that continue to add during the offseason, or perhaps an undrafted rookie comes out of nowhere.

Jeff: Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu, Isaac Seumalo, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, Spencer Anderson, Dylan Cook, Ryan McCollum, Calvin Anderson, Max Scharping

Analysis: Keeping all 10 of these linemen makes sense, but I could also see someone being added at some point this offseason which would change a lot when looking at the depth chart. Needless to say, I feel confident these are the 10 linemen on the depth chart heading into OTAs.

Total Offense: Dave – 24 / Jeff – 25

Defense

Defensive Line (7)

Dave: Cameron Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Derrick Harmon, Yahya Black, Daniel Ekuale, Logan Lee, DeMarvin Leal

Analysis: To me, the top five players here are the ones who are set. Some people, like Jeff, forget about Daniel Ekuale and how he started 16 games in New England last year. I think he’s going to bring more to the squad than some believe. As for the last two spots, I’m hoping Logan Lee is good enough to make the squad as that would be a nice surprise. I also went with DeMarvin Leal over the likes of Loudermilk and Lowry as much as anything as he helps bring an emergency reserve at outside linebacker if needed there as well.

Jeff: Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Derrick Harmon, Logan Lee, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Yahya Black, Dean Lowry

Analysis: When talking about camp battles, I foresee the same battle I envisioned in 2024 between DeMarvin Leal and Loudermilk. The winner gets a roster spot, the other will be looking for employment elsewhere, or the hopes of being signed to the team’s practice squad. Either way, this will be a position to watch, but I do see them keeping seven players to hopefully limit Cam Heyward’s usage.

Outside Linebacker (4)

Dave: T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jack Sawyer

Analysis: I skimmed at this position because I kept Leal on the defensive line. If he’s not one of the players kept there, then Jeremiah Moon could sneak back onto the 53. Otherwise, these are the four guys.

Jeff: T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jack Sawyer

Analysis: With Sawyer being drafted in the 4th Round of this year’s draft, I think it’s safe to say these are the four players who will be on the roster, barring injury.

Inside Linebacker (5)

Dave: Patrick Queen, Malik Harrison, Cole Holcomb, Payton Wilson, Carson Bruener

Analysis: I don’t know who is going to be playing the majority of snaps next to Patrick Queen, but having the option of Harrison, Holcomb, and Wilson is a good thing. I also think Carson Bruener beats out Mark Robinson as he will bring quality special teams and won’t be nearly as terrible in coverage at linebacker as Robinson was.

Jeff: Patrick Queen, Malik Harrison, Cole Holcomb, Payton Wilson, Carson Bruener

Analysis: Is Holcomb returning to the lineup and fully healthy? That is truly the main question surrounding this position group. I see Bruener making the roster for special teams, filling the Tyler Matakevich/Mark Robinson role on the roster.

Cornerback (Dave – 6 / Jeff – 5)

Dave: Joey Porter Jr., Darius Slay, Cory Trice, Brandin Echols, Beanie Bishop, Donte Kent

Analysis: I’m going with an extra secondary guy because I think it’s needed. For now it’s six cornerbacks but it could very well be five safeties. I think the Steelers need this many players in their secondary. Right now I have seventh round draft pick Donte Kent squeezing into the last spot because he brings so much on special teams, but I don’t know if he will make it or not. It could come down to him or Bishop, but not both.

Jeff: Joey Porter Jr., Darius Slay, Cory Trice, Brandin Echols, Beanie Bishop

Analysis: I could see the Steelers keeping six defensive backs, but for now I have them just sticking with 5, considering how they’ll use many of them in their sub packages. A player like Sebastian Castro could sneak into this prediction as a dual threat defender, but I’m leaving him off for now.

Safety (4)

Dave: Minkah Fitzpatrick, DeShon Elliott, Juan Thornill, Miles Killebrew

Analysis: I would actually feel better with another safety or with more knowledge of a cornerback who could fill in at the safety position. I was very tempted to include UDFA Sebastian Castro, but I want to see him play, or at least get reports from practices, before I go that far.

Jeff: Minkah Fitzpatrick, DeShon Elliott, Juan Thornill, Miles Killebrew

Analysis: As I said above in the CB section, I could see someone like Castro finding his way onto the roster, but I’m going to stick with these four at this juncture of the process.

Total Defense: Dave – 26 / Jeff – 25

Special Teams

Specialists (3)

Dave: Chris Boswell, Cameron Johnston, Christian Kuntz

Analysis: This isn’t as much of a slam dunk as last year. Corliss Waitman punted well for the Steelers last year and is still on the team. Cam Johnston is going to have to prove he is fully recovered from his Week 1 injury from last year. Otherwise, this is locked in.

Jeff: Chris Boswell, Cameron Johnston, Christian Kuntz

Analysis: Nothing to see here, this will be status quo barring an injury.

Total Team: 53

We break down the 53-man roster further on the latest episode of the “Let’s Ride” podcast. You can check out the latest episode in the player below: