Steelers Initial 53 Roster predictions

[madinsomniac]

Potential Roster Makeup:

So lets start Offense first. Its pretty clear, with only a few potential questions. Typically they will keep 24 or 25 players on O

QB- Pretty cut n dry, the only question is whether they sign Plumlee to the PS… I don’t see an active spot for him unless they cut Allen.



QB#
1
QB #03 Russell Wilson_______: 5'11'' - 206 lbs - Age: 35 Exp: 13
2
QB #02 Justin Fields__________: 6'3'' - 227 lbs - Age: 25 Exp: 4
3
QB #04 Kyle Allen_____________: 6'3'' - 210 lbs - Age: 28 Exp: 6
PS?
QB #18 John Rhys Plumlee____: 6'1'' - 200 lbs - Age: 23 Exp: R


RB- also pretty clear outside of whom will make the PS, which is a crapshoot

RB#
1
RB #22 Najee Harris__________: 6'1'' - 242 lbs - Age: 26 Exp: 4
2
RB #30 Jaylen Warren________: 5'8'' - 215 lbs - Age: 25 Exp: 3
3
RB #84 Cordarrelle Patterson: 6'2'' - 220 lbs - Age: 33 Exp: 12
cut
RB #38 La'Mical Perine_______: 5'11'' - 216 lbs - Age: 26 Exp: 4
PS?
RB #31 Daijun Edwards_______: 5'10'' - 201 lbs - Age: 23 Exp: R
cut
RB #33 Aaron Shampklin______: 5'10'' - 195 lbs - Age: 24 Exp: 1
cut
RB #35 Jonathan Ward________: 6'1'' - 202 lbs - Age: 26 Exp: 5


FB – Here it gets tricky. Heyward is a H-back Colletto could make it as a true FB, but it would mean one fewer TE, WR or OL…

FB#
1
FB #83 Connor Heyward_______: 6'1'' - 230 lbs - Age: 25 Exp: 3
Ps?
FB #45 Jack Colletto___________: 6'3'' - 237 lbs - Age: 25 Exp: 1


WR – this spot could have 5 or 6 guys make it… Fitzpatrick is a ST guy, Miller has experience and speed. I don’t have any great feeling about it… I think they will try to sign at least one vet WR to the PS….

WR#
1
WR #14 George Pickens______: 6'3'' - 200 lbs - Age: 23 Exp: 3
2
WR #11 Van Jefferson________: 6'1'' - 200 lbs - Age: 28 Exp: 5
3
WR #19 Calvin Austin III______: 5'9'' - 162 lbs - Age: 25 Exp: 3
4
WR #10 Roman Wilson_______: 5'10'' - 186 lbs - Age: 23 Exp: R
5
WR #13 Scotty Miller_________: 5'9'' - 174 lbs - Age: 27 Exp: 6
6?
WR #82 Dez Fitzpatrick______: 6'2'' - 208 lbs - Age: 26 Exp: 2
PS?
WR #16 Quez Watkins_______: 6'1'' - 193 lbs - Age: 26 Exp: 5
Ps?
WR #21 Jaray Jenkins________: 6'2'' - 206 lbs - Age: 24 Exp: 1
cut
WR #15 T.J. Luther___________: 5'11'' - 189 lbs - Age: 24 Exp: 1
cut
WR #85 Duece Watts________: 6'1'' - 196 lbs - Age: 24 Exp: 1
cut
WR #89 Jacob Copeland_____: 6'1'' - 202 lbs - Age: 25 Exp: 1


TE- because Heyward can play TE too, They probably just keep 3 and a PS guy

TE#
1
TE #88 Pat Freiermuth_______: 6'5'' - 258 lbs - Age: 25 Exp: 4
2
TE #80 Darnell Washington___: 6'7'' - 264 lbs - Age: 23 Exp: 2
3
TE #81 MyCole Pruitt____ _____: 6'2'' - 258 lbs - Age: 32 Exp: 9
PS?
TE #87 Rodney Williams______: 6'4'' - 235 lbs - Age: 24 Exp: 2
cut
TE #49 Matt Sokol_____________: 6'5'' - 249 lbs - Age: 28 Exp: 1


OL – This always gets tricky because of the multi-positional aspect of various players

Basically, how McCormick and Anderson look asbackup Centers will dictate whether they have a dedicated backup or not

C#
1
C #54 Zach Frazier___________: 6'3'' - 310 lbs - Age: 22 Exp: R
ps?
C #62 Ryan McCollum________: 6'5'' - 300 lbs - Age: 26 Exp: 2
G#
1
OL #78 James Daniels________: 6'4'' - 327 lbs - Age: 26 Exp: 7
2
G #73 Isaac Seumalo__________: 6'4'' - 303 lbs - Age: 30 Exp: 9
3
G #66 Mason McCormick______: 6'5'' - 315 lbs - Age: 24 Exp: R
4
OL #74 Spencer Anderson_____: 6'5'' - 305 lbs - Age: 24 Exp: 2
OT#
1
OT #77 Broderick Jones______: 6'5'' - 311 lbs - Age: 23 Exp: 2
2
OT #76 Troy Fautanu_________: 6'4'' - 317 lbs - Age: 23 Exp: R
3
OT #65 Dan Moore Jr.________: 6'5'' - 315 lbs - Age: 25 Exp: 4
4
OT #60 Dylan Cook___________: 6'6'' - 305 lbs - Age: 26 Exp: 2


CUT OL
OT #67 Devery Hamilton______: 6'6'' - 310 lbs - Age: 26 Exp: 2*** may make roster of Cook is on IR

OT #68 Anderson Hardy_______: 6'6'' - 301 lbs - Age: 24 Exp: 1
OT #69 Tyler Beach__________: 6'6'' - 290 lbs - Age: 25 Exp: 1
G #79 Joey Fisher_____________: 6'4'' - 296 lbs - Age: 26 Exp: 1
PS?
OL #72 TyKeem Doss__________: 6'5'' - 380 lbs - Age: 24 Exp: 1


That is 25 on O

 

[madinsomniac]

Next comes Special teams… also easy…

3 spots, as always

1. K #09 Chris Boswell___________: 6'2'' - 185 lbs - Age: 33 Exp:10

2. P #05 Cameron Johnston_____: 5'11'' - 194 lbs - Age: 32 Exp:7

3. LS #46 Christian Kuntz________: 6'1'' - 228 lbs - Age: 30 Exp: 4



Cut:

K #08 Matthew Wright________: 5'11'' - 174 lbs - Age: 28 Exp: 3

Thats 3 locks for sure

 

[madinsomniac]

So D will carry 25 or maybe 26 if they short the O

On the DL we know the top 3 and the two top backups so the question is do they keep 6 or 7 and if they keep 6 does Loudermilk beat out Lowery or does Logan Lee steal a spot.

DL#
1
DT #97 Cameron Heyward_____: 6'5'' - 295 lbs - Age: 35 Exp: 14
2
DL #95 Keeanu Benton________: 6'4'' - 309 lbs - Age: 23 Exp: 2
3
DT #99 Larry Ogunjobi_________: 6'3'' - 305 lbs - Age: 30 Exp: 8
4
DT #57 Montravius Adams_____: 6'4'' - 304 lbs - Age: 29 Exp: 8
5
DE #98 DeMarvin Leal________: 6'4'' - 290 lbs - Age: 24 Exp: 3
6
DT #92 Isaiahh Loudermilk____: 6'7'' - 293 lbs - Age: 26 Exp: 4
7
DT #94 Dean Lowry___________: 6'6'' - 296 lbs - Age: 30 Exp: 9
PS
DT #74 Logan Lee____________: 6'5'' - 286 lbs - Age: 24 Exp: R
cut
DE #91 Marquiss Spencer_____: 6'4'' - 295 lbs - Age: 27 Exp: 1
cut
DT #72 Willington Previlon____: 6'5'' - 287 lbs - Age: 27 Exp: 1
cut
DT #79 Jacob Slade___________: 6'4'' - 305 lbs - Age: 24 Exp: 1


At OLB they almost always keep 4, but there is a chance they only keep 3 and use Leal as one at times. There is a high possibility of the German kid ending up on the PS since he gives them a 17th spot for free

OLB#
1
LB #90 T.J. Watt______________: 6'4'' - 252 lbs - Age: 29 Exp: 8
2
LB #56 Alex Highsmith________: 6'4'' - 242 lbs - Age: 27 Exp: 5
3
LB #51 Nick Herbig___________: 6'2'' - 240 lbs - Age: 22 Exp: 2
4
LB #49 Jeremiah Moon________: 6'5'' - 247 lbs - Age: 26 Exp: 2
PS
LB #48 Julius Welschof________: 6'6'' - 265 lbs - Age: 27 Exp: R
LB #53 Kyron Johnson_________: 6'1'' - 235 lbs - Age: 26 Exp: 3
LB #45 Jacoby Windmon_______: 6'2'' - 250 lbs - Age: 23 Exp: R


ILB- This is extremely weird…. We know the top 3 are locks… Holcomb may start on PUP or be activated. Makevitch and Robinson are both ST stars, so one may get cut if Holcomb is ready…
ILB#
1
LB #06 Patrick Queen_________: 6'1'' - 232 lbs - Age: 25 Exp: 5
2
LB #50 Elandon Roberts_______: 6'1'' - 238 lbs - Age: 30 Exp: 9
3
LB #41 Payton Wilson_________: 6'4'' - 242 lbs - Age: 24 Exp: R
4?
LB #44 Tyler Matakevich_______: 6'1'' - 235 lbs - Age: 31 Exp: 9
5?
LB #93 Mark Robinson________: 5'11'' - 235 lbs - Age: 25 Exp: 3
PUP
LB #55 Cole Holcomb_________: 6'1'' - 240 lbs - Age: 28 Exp: 6
ps
LB #33 Kyahva Tezino_________: 6'1'' - 235 lbs - Age: 27 Exp: 1
cut
LB #38 Marcus Haynes________: 6'4'' - 240 lbs - Age: 26 Exp: 1
cut
LB #40 Luquay Washington____: 6'2'' - 232 lbs - Age: 23 Exp: R


S- I guess the only question is do they keep Ryan Watts. Killebrew is ST only

S#
1
S #39 Minkah Fitzpatrick______: 6'1'' - 207 lbs - Age: 27 Exp: 7
2
S #25 DeShon Elliott__________: 6'1'' - 210 lbs - Age: 27 Exp: 7
3
S #23 Damontae Kazee_______: 5'11'' - 174 lbs - Age: 31 Exp: 8
4
S #28 Miles Killebrew_________: 6'2'' - 222 lbs - Age: 31 Exp: 9
5?
DB #29 Ryan Watts____________: 6'3'' - 212 lbs - Age: 22 Exp: R
PS
S #34 Jalen Elliott_____________: 6'1'' - 205 lbs - Age: 26 Exp: 2


CB- now this is a mess… Sutton will get a roster exemption. Bishop may be injured still… We will have to keep Graham Jr as a slot guy…. The issue is to keep 6 CBs we will need to cut two roster spots elsewhere… its possible we try to get a slot CB on the PS for two games and just try to activate them that way… other options are cutting a DL and an ILB and hoping you can keep them on the PS till the DBS are healthy…

CB#
1
CB #24 Joey Porter Jr._________: 6'2'' - 193 lbs - Age: 24 Exp: 2
2
CB #26 Donte Jackson________: 5'10'' - 180 lbs - Age: 28 Exp: 6
**RE
CB #20 Cameron Sutton______: 5'11'' - 188 lbs - Age: 29 Exp: 8
3
DB #27 Cory Trice Jr.__________: 6'3'' - 206 lbs - Age: 24 Exp: 2
4
CB #21 Darius Rush___________: 6'2'' - 198 lbs - Age: 24 Exp: 2
5
CB #30 Beanie Bishop Jr.______: 5'9'' - 182 lbs - Age: 24 Exp: R
6
DB #37 Thomas Graham Jr.____: 5'10'' - 196 lbs - Age: 25 Exp: 3
cut
CB #35 Kiondre Thomas_______: 6'1'' - 186 lbs - Age: 26 Exp: 1
cut
DB #31 Zyon Gilbert___________: 6'1'' - 193 lbs - Age: 25 Exp: 1
cut
DB #42 Kyler McMichael______: 6'1'' - 210 lbs - Age: 24 Exp: 2




This is 27 on D… it needs to be cut down to 25 if we carry 25 on O… or we can short the O… its going to be some tough cuts

 

[BLITZ]

Thanks Mad!!! great job! I think a WR that is not on the current roster is going to be on the 53. and maybe a center also.
Do they keep 1 less WR with CP being able to fill that spot?

will be interesting to see how this plays out this year.

 

[Djfan]

This has to be a hard thing for the team leadership.

 

[madinsomniac]

Thanks Mad!!! great job! I think a WR that is not on the current roster is going to be on the 53. and maybe a center also.
Do they keep 1 less WR with CP being able to fill that spot?

will be interesting to see how this plays out this year.

As it stands right now, i don't think wr is the priority for them at all... im not even sure backup C is... its been reported they were trying Anderson and McCormick at C...

I think if 3/4 OTs are hurt they may get a backup T...

But I do think slot corner will be an add if they get a chance

 

[BLITZ]

Thanks Mad!!! great job! I think a WR that is not on the current roster is going to be on the 53. and maybe a center also.
Do they keep 1 less WR with CP being able to fill that spot?

will be interesting to see how this plays out this year.

As it stands right now, i don't think wr is the priority for them at all... im not even sure backup C is... its been reported they were trying Anderson and McCormick at C...

I think if 3/4 OTs are hurt they may get a backup T...

But I do think slot corner will be an add if they get a chance

TY. I watch every game still, but do not keep up on the Steelers as much as I used to. your insight is appreciated.

 

[madinsomniac]

Right now Jones is playing, but his elbow is in a brace.. Fautanu is recovering from his injury, and Cook, who was going to be the last T, is out several weeks... that leaves only Moore at 100%...

As for WR, i think we would sign a clear top end upgrade... but they wont be making a lateral move for an average wr

At CB they have 4 outside CBs.. but Bishop hasnt gotten the slot spot tied up and has been injured... and Sutton is suspended 8 weeks... so they either just plug Graham in and hope for the best, try an outside guy there who is going to get toasted.. play a safety there and hope he doesnt give up long passes, or sign someone for at least 8 weeks

 

[Drink IRON City]

Great post madinsomniac, appreciate all you do.


Salute the nation

 

[Lloyd]

1
FB #83 Connor Heyward_______: 6'1'' - 230 lbs - Age: 25 Exp: 3

Conner grew 2"s since the draft? He was listed as only 5-11. Only TE under 6' in the NFL.

 

[Lloyd]

Right now Jones is playing, but his elbow is in a brace.. Fautanu is recovering from his injury, and Cook, who was going to be the last T, is out several weeks... that leaves only Moore at 100%...

As for WR, i think we would sign a clear top end upgrade... but they wont be making a lateral move for an average wr

At CB they have 4 outside CBs.. but Bishop hasnt gotten the slot spot tied up and has been injured... and Sutton is suspended 8 weeks... so they either just plug Graham in and hope for the best, try an outside guy there who is going to get toasted.. play a safety there and hope he doesnt give up long passes, or sign someone for at least 8 weeks

Those are some scary propositions.

 

[madinsomniac]

Conner grew 2"s since the draft? He was listed as only 5-11. Only TE under 6' in the NFL.

I dont measure them, I just copy what Steelers.com has

 

[Lloyd]

I dont measure them, I just copy what Steelers.com has

Comment wasn't towards you, I know you're just repeating the source. Just saying though, he grew 2"s since he was drafted. He was listed as 5-11 at his draft. I think I'm allowed to show this link.
https://www.nfl.com/prospects/connor-heyward/32004845-5927-4236-2cd3-ccab57204d8c

 

[Fiji Mariner]

Sure Heyward is only 5’11, but he has a brother on the team so he’s 6’11 in Shades eyes…a brother adds a foot to the height, takes a second off your 40 time and adds 10 reps on the bench obviously.

Its the only explanation, well that or the Steelers aren’t really trying to win…I guess that’s also a possibility which explains the retention of guys like Shades

 

[Litos]

Sure Heyward is only 5’11, but he has a brother on the team so he’s 6’11 in Shades eyes…a brother adds a foot to the height, takes a second off your 40 time and adds 10 reps on the bench obviously.

Its the only explanation, well that or the Steelers aren’t really trying to win…I guess that’s also a possibility which explains the retention of guys like Shades

Have you seen that meatball jump? It goes boing!

 

[jitter77]

I think Heyward is a decent player and has been underused like the rest of our TEs or FBs. When given an opportunity he has done decent more often than not

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

Theyre going to pick up another OT during cut downs.. Cook was unimpressive. Now hurt.

 

[Litos]

I predict at least two players that aren't currently on the team making our final 53

 

[Fiji Mariner]

I predict at least two players that aren't currently on the team making our final 53

Figuring 2-3 as well

Time to cook Khan

 

[madinsomniac]

So really they kept pretty close to par on this

They kept the 3 QBs we all knew they would

They kept the 3 RBs we all knew they would

They kept the 3 TEs we all knew they would

They kept Heyward as the FB/Hback

They opted to Keep the dedicated backup C, but put Cook on IR eligible to return, so the number stayed the same..

They Opted to short the WR position to keep an extra D player, which was a well known possibility. Dez or Quez got cut for that 26th player on D...

On D they opted to Keep loudermilk and Lee along with lowery... meaning tgey had to cut an extra O player

At Olb, as many suggested, they only kept 3... the typical ST OLB didnt make it this year...
*However moon is designated to return from IR.. so he could still play this year and Leal can play edge as needed

At ILB they kept 5, plus holcomb is on PUP and can return after 4 weeks or so... this means they kept both Robinson and Matakevich, who both play ST well

At Safety they kept the four everyone expected, plus the second elliot.. who likely made it when Ryan Watts went on season ending IR..

At Cb it was pretty cut and dry.. except i thought they might keep a safety net at Slot until Sutton is ready, but they cut Graham and Bishop looks to be the only true slot cb on the team..

 

[madinsomniac]

The thing is.. none of the moves were surprises.. many people suggested everything they did...

 

[Confluence]

The thing is.. none of the moves were surprises.. many people suggested everything they did...

We should expect movement at WR very quickly if the Steelers are going to make deal or just sign a cut from elsewhere.

 

[Lloyd]

I think Heyward is a decent player and has been underused like the rest of our TEs or FBs. When given an opportunity he has done decent more often than not

That maybe true, but it's impossible to conclude based on his stats, however impaired. But this just in: He wouldn't be on ANY teams roster if his brother wasn't Cam, including ours. He is THE only TE who isn't a legit 6' in the entire NFL. I don't know if there are ANY TEs that are even 6-2. When Jax dumped Tebow trying to make it as a TE, they said he was just too short to be a TE in the NFL. He was listed as a legit 6-2 (not the 5-10 Connor was actually measured at during the combine).

 

[madinsomniac]

That maybe true, but it's impossible to conclude based on his stats, however impaired. But this just in: He wouldn't be on ANY teams roster if his brother wasn't Cam, including ours. He is THE only TE who isn't a legit 6' in the entire NFL. I don't know if there are ANY TEs that are even 6-2. When Jax dumped Tebow trying to make it as a TE, they said he was just too short to be a TE in the NFL. He was listed as a legit 6-2 (not the 5-10 Connor was actually measured at during the combine).

He's an HBack.. he is the size of many H backs.. you are wayyyy too hung up on that.. and I just went to a bunch of draft scouting report sites... he measured slightly over 5'11 at the combine. Some round down to 5'11, some up to 6'.. none list him at 5'10"... and all of them called him a Te/ fullback.. and 5'11 fullbacks arent uncommon at all..

 

[madinsomniac]

Let me put Connor Heyward in proper perspective

- he is entering his 3rd year
- he mostly plays ST
- as a rookie, he barely played on offense: he had 8 games with 7 or fewer snaps, another 6 under 14... the remaining games were 17, 25, and 30... he never played in more than 50% of the teams offensive snaps.. he caught 12 passes

Last year he caught 23 passes... his snap counts improved, but not greatly... the majority of the year he played fewer than 30% of the snaps.. the only 5 games in 2023 (and in his career) where he topped 50% of snaps on O, he caught 15 of those 23 passes

He almost exclusively is used as a blocker... either at Fullback, Hback or on the line at TE... so most of the snaps he is in, he isnt in a route


Now Id bet a lot of you are saying .. 12 and 23 catches... that aint ****...

As a 3 te or a Fb/hback.. that's really good..

Again, perspective... there are 32 teams in the league

Among TEs in 2022, 12 catches put Heyward at 61st in the league.... if youd rather think of him as a FB, among all RBs( most HBs) he would have been 70th

Virtually everyone ahead of him creamed him in snap counts at either position

Last season he caught 23 passes.. good for 42nd in the league among Tes ... thats TE2 production with TE3 snap counts... he was 53rd in yardage

Among Rbs, he would have finished 45th


So this guy is producing solid backup numbers in role player level snaps.. if we cut him tomorrow, he would definitely get claimed...