In the blink of an eye, we have arrived on the doorstep of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp.
The Steelers will report to Saint Vincent College in Latrobe for the first training camp under new head coach Mike McCarthy. The 91-man offseason roster features a number of new faces with some position battles ahead at Chuck Noll Field.
Things will work themselves out on the field throughout late July and early August. In case you wanted to take a look at my previous 53-man roster prediction ahead of minicamp, you can view that here.
In the meantime, here’s one more shot at a pre-training camp, 53-man roster prediction.
OFFENSE – 25
Quarterbacks (3) – Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard, Drew Allar
Previous: Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard, Drew Allar
Analysis: This is chalk from my previous roster prediction. While Mason Rudolph has a ton of experience and is a decent backup quarterback, the Steelers need to see what they have in Will Howard and Drew Allar.
It’s a bit concerning to go into a win-now season with the backups to 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers having no NFL experience, but I just can’t see the Steelers finding a way to keep all four QBs. I also can’t see them giving up on Howard already.
Running Backs (4) – Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle, Kaleb Johnson, Eli Heidenreich
Previous: Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle, Travis Homer, Eli Heidenreich
Analysis: The top two running backs in Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle are locked in. They’ll handle the bulk of the work. But behind them, the RB3 and potentially RB4 spots are up for grabs. Previously, I slotted veteran Travis Homer on the roster due to his special teams experience, but at this point, I think the Steelers stick with Kaleb Johnson.
Eli Heidenreich seems ticketed for the practice squad, as many media members believe, but his versatility and special teams abilities give him a leg up, in my opinion. He’ll have a chance to make a number of plays in training camp and the preseason, and I think the Steelers will want him to stick around on the 53-man roster.
Wide Receivers (6) – DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Germie Bernard, Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek, Kaden Wetjen
Previous: DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Germie Bernard, Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek, Kaden Wetjen
Analysis: Much like quarterback, this is chalk once again. The wide receiver room looks pretty strong on paper with DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. as the top two options. Germie Bernard appears poised for a strong rookie season, and Roman Wilson is generating some good vibes at the moment.
Ben Skowronek is a strong special teams piece and can’t be overlooked as a potential receiving option, while rookie fourth-round pick Kaden Wetjen seems locked into a roster spot due to his return abilities. This group looks so much better compared to previous years.
Tight Ends (4) – Darnell Washington, Pat Freiermuth, Robert Tonyan, Riley Nowakowski
Previous: Darnell Washington, Pat Freiermuth, Riley Nowakowski
Analysis: Previously, I only kept three tight ends with rookie Riley Nowakowski serving as a TE/FB hybrid on my 53-man roster. But I’m adding to the group, this time around while subtracting at another position later. The signing of Robert Tonyan was intriguing and gives the Steelers a clear backup option for Pat Freiermuth. He has great chemistry and history with Aaron Rodgers and played a few games under McCarthy in 2018 in Green Bay.
That was a long time ago, but he’s struck around in the NFL in recent years and is a decent No. 3 option in the offense. Nowakowski sticks around, too, as that TE/FB hybrid, giving the Steelers plenty of flexibility offensively.
Offensive Tackles (3) – Troy Fautanu, Dylan Cook, Max Iheanachor, Broderick Jones (PUP)
Previous: Troy Fautanu, Dylan Cook, Max Iheanachor, Jack Driscoll, Broderick Jones (PUP)
Analysis: With Broderick Jones’ health up in the air, this is a tough position group to project. In the last 53-man roster prediction, I kept Jack Driscoll due to his versatility and experience in the trenches. But I don’t think the Steelers are going to do that and will instead keep eight offensive linemen early in the season, something McCarthy did in Dallas. We previously wrote about it this offseason.
Troy Fautanu and Dylan Cook should be the early-season starters. Rookie first-rounder Max Iheanchor will be the backup at right tackle early on. Once Iheanchor steps into the starting role, that will allow Cook to be a solid swing tackle option. For now, it’s a fuzzy picture.
Interior Offensive Line (5) – Mason McCormick, Zack Frazier, Spencer Anderson, Brock Hoffman, Gennings Dunker
Previous: Mason McCormick, Zach Frazier, Spencer Anderson, Brock Hoffman, Gennings Dunker
Analysis: Nothing changes here. I like Brock Hoffman as a dependable depth option who can play both guard positions and center in a pinch. Spencer Anderson doesn’t move the needle much as a starter for me right now, but right guard is Gennings Dunker’s spot to grab eventually.
DEFENSE – 25
Defensive Ends (5) – Cameron Heyward, Derrick Harmon, Yahya Black, Esezi Otomewo, Logan Lee
Previous: Cameron Heyward, Derrick Harmon, Yahya Black, Dean Lowry, Esezi Otomewo
Analysis: I felt really good about Dean Lowry’s chances to make the roster ahead of minicamp due to his experience with McCarthy and Patrick Graham. But I have a hard time moving on from Logan Lee, especially after how he performed late last season as a depth piece.
He’s not all that big and isn’t going to do much damage overall, but Lee’s ability to play up and down the line of scrimmage, and even serve as an emergency long snapper, has me keeping him around over Lowry, who is coming off a torn ACL.
Nose Tackles (2) – Keeanu Benton, Sebastian Joseph-Day
Previous: Keeanu Benton, Sebastian Joseph-Day
Analysis: Not much to write about here. Keeanu Benton and Sebastian Joseph-Day are locked into roster spots. What their true roles are in 2026 remains to be seen, though, making this an intriguing group overall.
EDGE Rushers (5) – T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jack Sawyer, Jamin Davis
Previous: T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jack Sawyer
Analysis: This is usually a chalk group with a strong foursome. But I’m adding to the mix this time around. I’m very intrigued by Jamin Davis, who has experience playing under Patrick Graham and brings considerable versatility to the table.
It was a surprise to see him working with the outside linebackers after signing following a minicamp tryout. But he has good size and athleticism to handle a pass rushing role. He also has a ton of experience off-ball, too, and could give the Steelers some versatility — there’s that word again — in the linebacker room. He just needs to show that he can contribute on special teams.
Inside Linebackers (4) – Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Cole Holcomb, Carson Bruener
Previous: Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Cole Holcomb, Malik Harrison, Carson Bruener
Analysis: For much of the offseason, I felt that the five inside linebackers the Steelers had last season would be the same five this time around. But with Cole Holcomb reportedly “leapfrogging” Malik Harrison on the depth chart and considering how disappointing Harrison was in his first year with the Steelers, I think a change could occur here.
In this prediction, I have Harrison as a roster cut, losing out to Jamin Davis at outside linebacker. On a previous The Terrible Podcast episode, I compared the two linebackers due to their versatility and being able to play inside and outside. Davis is a better athlete, which gives him the edge for me. I also think this is a position group that the Steelers will try and add to after roster cuts.
Cornerbacks (5) – Joey Porter Jr., Jamel Dean, Asante Samuel Jr., Brandin Echols, Daylen Everette
Previous: Joey Porter Jr., Jamel Dean, Asante Samuel Jr., Brandin Echols, Daylen Everette
Analysis: I wanted to find a way to keep D’Shawn Jamison on the 53-man roster because I’m so intrigued by him as a special teams piece. But I just couldn’t find a way to do it, so hopefully he sticks around on the practice squad.
Outside of Jamison, the five corners feel locked in, barring injury. What a group it projects to be.
Safeties (4) – DeShon Elliott, Jalen Ramsey, Jaquan Brisker, Sebastian Castro
Previous: DeShon Elliott, Jalen Ramsey, Jaquan Brisker, Robert Spears-Jennings
Analysis: Just like inside linebacker, I can see the Steelers adding to the safety room after final roster cuts. For now, I have special teams piece Sebastian Castro edging out the likes of Darnell Savage and rookie seventh-round pick Robert Spears-Jennings.
Castro proved himself last season in that role and has the leg up entering 2026. I’d like to see him make some plays on defense in the preseason to solidify his spot. But the Steelers should absolutely look for an upgrade after final roster cuts.
SPECIAL TEAMS — 3
Kicker (1) – Chris Boswell
Previous: Chris Boswell
Analysis: Yeah, it’s Chris Boswell. Next.
Punter (1) – Cameron Johnston
Previous: Cameron Johnston
Analysis: I still want to see the Steelers bring in real competition for Cameron Johnston, but they haven’t yet outside of a one-week stint for punter Aidan Laros, who was claimed off waivers in early June and cut a week later. It looks like it’s Johnston’s job to lose.
Long Snapper (1) – Christian Kuntz
Previous: Christian Kuntz
Analysis: Christian Kuntz had an up-and-down 2025 season, battled through injury and saw the Steelers bring in direct competition in Cal Adomitis late last season. It appeared Adomitis was going to stick around into training camp, but he was waived after minicamp. There is no competition for Kuntz at the moment. Maybe that changes in training camp.