The NFL preseason has come and gone in a few short weeks. In just two weeks, teams will take the field for Week 1 of the 2023 season. The Pittsburgh Steelers had a good preseason, going 3-0 in games all while getting substantial work in for all players. Unfortunately, the 90-man preseason roster must be cut down to 53 players by this coming Tuesday. The Steelers will hold on to their stars and some great depth players, but there may be surprises come Tuesday. Here is the prediction for who the Pittsburgh Steelers will keep on their 2023 roster.
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Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 53-Man Roster Prediction
The Steelers have already cut/released eight players which puts their current tally at 82. By Tuesday evening, they will have to have that number down to 53. Teams generally look at a player’s overall value and whether they contribute to multiple aspects of the game before making decisions. The Steelers have signed some other teams’ cuts in the past so look out for news of that as well. Here is the final roster prediction for the Pittsburgh Steelers, starting with the hopefully improved offense!
Quarterback (3): Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph
The quarterback room does not change from last year, as all three make it again. Now the starter, Kenny Pickett looks to make big strides in year two. He has an assortment of weapons, both skill players and offensive linemen, at his disposal. Trubisky struggled in the preseason but because of his knowledge and greater starting experience, he finds himself ahead of Mason Rudolph in 2023. Both are very capable backups should something happen to Pickett, but we’ll have to hope for the best.
Running Back (4): Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Anthony McFarland, Connor Heyward
In reality, the Steelers will likely only keep three true running backs (Harris, Warren, and McFarland). But, I had to list Heyward on here because I didn’t know where else to put him. Harris and Warren will be a fantastic duo for Pittsburgh and could be a one-two punch to keep opposing defenses on their toes. McFarland mainly projects to get carries in situational roles but his speed makes him a valuable special teams player as well. Heyward will assume the fullback role in 2023 while also getting a fair share of snaps at tight end. Interestingly enough, Heyward was featured as the tailback with four carries in the final preseason game. He will be a nice Swiss army knife to use at multiple positions.
Wide Receiver (6): Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, Allen Robinson, Calvin Austin, Miles Boykin, Gunner Olszewski
Johnson, Pickens, and Robinson will be the starting three receivers in 2023. Johnson and Pickens, both proven stars with different skill sets, will be the primary outside receivers. Robinson, a veteran who could be a big boost to this team, will see the majority of slot snaps. The young speedster Calvin Austin will be the first receiver off the bench and will be featured in both runs and receptions while also being the team’s primary kick and punt returner.
Generally, the Steelers keep six receivers, and the final two this year will likely be Miles Boykin and Gunner Olszewski. Both haven’t done much in the receiving game when given chances, but both are solid special teamers and have familiarity with the offense that gives them an edge over other potential candidates.
George Pickens breakout season coming soon? 👀 pic.twitter.com/8iGWgMF8LP
— NFL (@NFL) August 27, 2023
Tight Ends (3): Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Zach Gentry
Freiermuth will once again be the team’s top receiving option at the tight end position. Connor Heyward and Darnell Washington will likely see a similar workload in terms of snaps and receptions. But with Heyward’s previous obligation at the running back and fullback positions, Washington could see a decent volume in his rookie season. Gentry comes in as the bottom option and will primarily be used in heavy or goal-line sets when the Steelers need extra strength up front.
Offensive Line (9): Dan Moore, Isaac Seumalo, Mason Cole, James Daniels, Chuks Okorafor, Broderick Jones, Nate Herbig, Kevin Dotson, Spencer Anderson
Update (7:31 PM): This article was originally published at 6:45 PM, EST. At 7:22 PM, the Pittsburgh Steelers traded Kevin Dotson to the Los Angeles Rams. Dylan Cook will take his spot in this Steelers roster projection.
This year, the Steelers play it safe by building up the trenches as much as possible. In my prediction, they take nine offensive linemen and eight defensive linemen, good for a total of 17. Expect their final tally to be between 15 and 18 come Tuesday. The starting offensive line played all year last year with minimal injuries, and the hope is that that will happen again.
Moore, Seumalo, Cole, Daniels, and Okorafor will make up the Week 1 starting line. Broderick Jones, while talented and a first-round pick, still has some work to do to earn a starting role. He’ll sit behind Moore for a few weeks, but if the team feels they need an answer for the position, it will be Jones. Herbig, Dotson, and Anderson are all very versatile and can play multiple positions, which gives them a 53-man nod for 2023.
Defensive Line/Edge (8): TJ Watt, Cam Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi, Montravius Adams, Keeanu Benton, Armon Watts, Braiden Fehoko, DeMarvin Leal
This defensive line has its stars, veterans, and a few youngsters looking to prove themselves. TJ Watt and Cam Heyward have been perennial superstars for years and look to keep up with that pace. The current depth chart has both veteran Obunjobi and rookie Benton listed as starters this year. Adams, Watts, Fehoko, and Leal will all start as backup options but provide solid depth for a team that really needs to stop the run well.
Linebackers (7): Alex Highsmith, Elandon Roberts, Kwon Alexander, Cole Holcomb, Nick Herbig, Markus Golden, Tanner Muse
This unit looks stacked and could be among the league’s best despite not having current recognition. Highsmith is a star who had 14.5 sacks and five forced fumbles last year; he will start opposite TJ Watt as an edge rusher and linebacker. Roberts, Alexander, and Holcomb were all signed and look to immediately make an impact on a Steelers linebacking core that has struggled in recent history. They will likely only start two of them but all three will rotate in and out in certain packages. Golden and Muse provide some decent veteran depth and Nick Herbig was a stud in the preseason, making this core well-rounded with tons of potential.
Cornerbacks (5): Patrick Peterson, Joey Porter Jr., Levi Wallace, Chandon Sullivan, James Pierre
The Steelers also revamped the cornerback position by signing two veterans and drafting a potential star to round out the group. Peterson, Porter, and Wallace will all be the primary defensive backs while Pierre and Elijay Riley (listed as safety) get the backup snaps. Sullivan will likely assume the slot cornerback role and could be a valuable player in this up-and-down group. There are a few other options at corner the team could go with rather than James Pierre, so be sure to pay attention to the Steelers’ finalized roster.
Safeties (5): Minkah Fitzpatrick, Keanu Neal, Damontae Kazee, Elijah Riley, Miles Killebrew
Fitzpatrick is a three-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro who will continue his excellence and dominance in 2023. Neal and Kazee will be solid options in the strong safety position opposite of the free safety Fitzpatrick. Elijah Riley has the tools to be both a corner and a safety and will likely rotate around all year. He is listed as a safety on the official Pittsburgh Steelers roster online so that is where he is classified. Killebrew likely won’t get in much on defense but will be an asset on special teams.
Specialists (3): K Chris Boswell, P Pressley Harvin, LS Christian Kuntz
And finally, the specialists! Chris Boswell is entering the ninth year of his Steelers career and looks to remain among the league’s best and most consistent kickers. Pressley Harvin has had a very up-and-down career but he beat out veteran Braden Mann in training camp this year, which gives him the starting nod for the third time now. And finally, the team retains long-snapper Christian Kuntz as the starter over Rex Sunahara. As mentioned above, Calvin Austin will see the bulk of the returns but it’s possible that other options will be explored there too.
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