It is time for an additional Steelers 2022 53-man roster prediction!
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Because the Pittsburgh Steelers put together for his or her remaining preseason recreation of the 2022 marketing campaign towards the Detroit Lions, various gamers will should be launched from the crew shortly thereafter, with the intention to trim the ranks from the 80 gamers coming into the sport to the 53 required by the top of enterprise on Tuesday, August thirtieth.
After observing how the crew has operated all through the offseason, in addition to utilizing some previous rosters for historic perspective, right here is my shot on predicting who will, and received’t, make the preliminary 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers roster.
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Quarterbacks (3)
Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky, Mason Rudolph
With the early launch of Chris Oladokun, this checklist ought to come as no shock to anybody.
All three QBs have impressed this offseason and the Steelers can be silly to half with any of them… except it was for the appropriate worth. (Clearly, Pickett goes nowhere!)
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Operating Backs (5)
Najee Harris, Benny Snell Jr., Anthony McFarland Jr., Jaylen Warren, Derek Watt
The following group immediately begins a collection of powerful selections.
What number of working backs do the Steelers retain? Nicely, there’s been a precedent set earlier than for 5, counting a fullback, up to now. That checklist included an h-back kind, like Jaylen Samuels and David Johnson too.
However the place do the Steelers place Connor Heyward of their plans? For now, I’ve him as a good finish, which saves both Snell or McFarland, who each play key roles on particular groups.
If Warren can show he’s a particular teamer, then he may bump both – however I consider each of the vets have executed sufficient to warrant a spot on the roster. Mike Tomlin additionally isn’t eager on utilizing receivers or defensive backs as returners, so this could possibly be why McFarland sticks additionally.
Warren doubtless makes the 53 to start out, so the Steelers can play a cat-and-mouse recreation with different groups to guard him in the course of the preliminary wave of strikes.
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Huge Receivers (5)
Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, George Pickens, Calvin Austin III, Gunner Olszewski
One other loaded place battle will get weeded out resulting from accidents.
Headed into the preseason video games, I felt the Steelers would preserve a complete of six receivers, with Anthony Miller because the sixth. Nevertheless, Miller landed on IR, ending his season.
Steven Sims was on the follow squad final season and will return there. Tyler Vaughns is all however a certainty on the follow squad too, which leaves Miles Boykin, who was claimed off of waivers.
My wrestle in protecting Boykin is that whereas he has measurement, I’m unsure his particular groups play is sufficient to counsel protecting six receivers. My different situation is he’d doubtless be inactive on recreation days anyway, making his particular groups play a moot level.
The crew has too many different areas to maintain extra gamers, so Boykin is a detailed minimize for my part.
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Tight Ends (4)
Pat Freiermuth, Zach Gentry, Kevin Rader, Connor Heyward
With Jace Sternberger getting no offensive snaps within the second preseason recreation, his future is all however decided.
I feel the crew likes Kevin Rader as a 3rd tight finish, however this can rely on what number of linemen, receivers and working backs make the squad. They might slide Heyward in because the TE3, and take a look at as soon as once more to play the transaction recreation with Rader, sending him again to the follow squad and calling him up as needed.
For now, Rader could be the perfect blocking again on the roster whereas additionally offering a bump for particular groups play. His versatility earns him a spot very like Warren within the working again battle does, however Boykin simply misses the minimize with the receivers.
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Offensive Linemen (8)
James Daniels, Chukwuma Okorafor, Mason Cole, Kevin Dotson, Dan Moore Jr., Kendrick Inexperienced, J.C. Hassenauer, Joe Haeg
This one is pretty clear minimize with John Leglue and Chaz Inexperienced heading to the follow squad.
I at all times attempt to preserve fewer offensive linemen in my predictions, however eight seems like the appropriate quantity and 9 could possibly be doable as properly. (I can’t justify it based mostly on what’s right here thus far although.)
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Defensive Linemen (7)
Cameron Heyward, Tyson Alualu, Larry Ogunjobi, Chris Wormley, Isaiahh Loudermilk, DeMarvin Leal, Montravius Adams
If there’s an space the Steelers can trim from, this and the linebackers is it.
Nevertheless, retaining solely six defensive linemen was a multitude final season, and this yr this the group seems to be deeper than common – a minimum of with unknowns/developmental gamers.
The highest 4 are veterans and locks.
Loudermilk and Leal are too new to ship packing, and I’d wish to consider Adams was introduced again as a result of he confirmed them sufficient final season – however he was a former follow squad participant with the Saints in 2021, so his spot is much from secure.
The Davis brothers are additionally on the surface wanting in.
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Linebackers (8)
OLB: T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Derrek Tuszka
ILB: Myles Jack, Devin Bush, Robert Spillane, Buddy Johnson, Mark Robinson
Pittsburgh has stored between eight and ten linebackers on their preliminary 53-man rosters over time.
This yr, there’s some lower than passable names that are prone to web a roster spot over wants in different areas. In actual fact, the Steelers have stored solely three exterior linebackers earlier than, however that was with T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree because the headliners: they need to preserve 4 to start out however I don’t see the fourth on their lively roster (right now.)
The precedent? Anthony Chickillo was the third exterior linebacker in 2019, with Ola Adeniyi and Tuzar Skipper filling out the depth on the follow squad.
Inside linebacker is trickier, as a result of these gamers will double on particular groups (Spillane) or find yourself inactive (Johnson, Robinson).
The latter two are nonetheless pretty new, so I’ve my doubts that the group strikes on from them simply but. Veteran Marcus Allen, resulting from lack of enjoying time, turns into the odd man out on this group.
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Cornerbacks (5)
Cameron Sutton, Ahkello Witherspoon, Levi Wallace, Arthur Maulet, Justin Layne
Justin Layne has executed simply sufficient to maintain him in his remaining yr. James Pierre, then again, has not.
Maulet named the nickel cornerback solidifies his spot among the many prime 4 – the general group isn’t deep sufficient to justify protecting greater than 5 gamers.
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Safeties (5)
Minkah Fitzpatrick, Terrell Edmunds, Damontae Kazee, Tre Norwood, Miles Killebrew
The Steelers would possibly eek out an additional spot on the roster if Killebrew begins the season on the PUP checklist. He’ll nonetheless must take a roster spot on the preliminary 53, earlier than being positioned on IR, to keep away from ending his season – due to this fact he’ll doubtless make the crew on paper.
If there’s a transaction for Killebrew, a particular groups standout and favourite of defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, then that might liberate house for any of the opposite, deeper positions I famous above.
Edmunds and Kazee are near being pseudo starters with the Steelers DB-heavy subpackages, as Norwood continues to develop.
Not talked about is Karl Joseph, who sustained a season-ending harm within the first preseason recreation. His inclusion would’ve made charting 53 gamers much more troublesome, as he was gaining momentum very like Anthony Miller with the extensive receivers.
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Specialists (3)
Chris Boswell, Pressley Harvin III, Christian Kuntz
No surprises right here, although Harvin was in competitors early on. Since, Harvin has boomed some punts and had a strong second preseason recreation. His spot is secure for the beginning of the season.
There’s no motive to maneuver on from Harvin or Kuntz, for that matter, with the intention to preserve one of many league’s finest kickers going robust together with his holder and lengthy snapper.
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Full Record (53)
Right here’s the remaining names compiled from the lists above and the way the total 53-man roster shakes out.
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Better of the Relaxation
Listed here are some gamers I consider the Steelers will goal for his or her follow squad, ought to they make it by means of waivers. (A complete of 16 are permitted, nonetheless, some gamers will doubtless be signed that had been in camp with one other crew.)
- QB Chris Oladokun
- WR Miles Boykin
- WR Steven Sims
- WR Tyler Vaughns
- TE Jace Sternberger
- OL John Leglue
- OL Chaz Inexperienced
- DL Carlos Davis
- DL Henry Mondeaux
- LB Marcus Allen
- LB Delontae Scott
- CB James Pierre
- CB Chris Steele
- S Carlins Platel
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