Since Omar Khan became the Pittsburgh Steelers’ general manager in May 2022, no draft pick has been outright cut during final cutdowns. From 2023-2025, all 21 selections have either made the initial 53-man roster or landed on an injured list, like QB Will Howard, beginning his rookie year on injured reserve.
This year could challenge that streak. Pittsburgh drafted 10 players, its largest class since 2010. Can a veteran-laden roster that isn’t in full rebuild mode fit them all?
The Day-One and Day-Two picks are locks: OT Max Iheanachor, WR Germie Bernard, QB Drew Allar, CB Daylen Everette, and OL Gennings Dunker. Fourth-round pick Kaden Wetjen isn’t quite in that category, but it would be an upset and disappointment if he were cut. Fullback Riley Nowakowski is a fit with a strong chance to stick even if he was taken in the fifth round. Pittsburgh seemed intent on drafting a fullback for Mike McCarthy’s offense.
From there, the odds get murky. Defensive lineman Gabriel Rubio is in a crowded room fighting for, at best, one of the two final spots on the depth chart. Robert Spears-Jennings is in a similar situation at safety. Eli Heidenreich will be one of the most interesting studies of the summer, and though I included him on my latest roster prediction, his spot is far from secure.
My roster prediction had eight of the ten making the team, with Rubio and Spears-Jennings missing the cut. Rubio lost out to veteran Esezi Otomewo and UDFA Kevin Jobity Jr. while Sebastian Castro took Spears-Jennings’ spot.
If all 10 make it, odds are good the group impressed and earned their spots. By that same token, it might also mean there were disappointments and injuries ahead of them that created additional spots. The sweet spot might not be carrying all 10 rookies but 80 or 90 percent of the group, even if that breaks Khan’s streak.