The Steelers traded away All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick , added cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith in a blockbuster trade with the Miami Dolphins , meaning there will be a shakeup to the roster outlook entering camp.
With the Black and Gold set to practice for the first time as a full squad in 2025, here's our best guess at a 53-man roster projection on the eve of training camp.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard at practice on May 28, 2025 — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
No changes here. Will Howard will probably not start training camp as the No. 3 quarterback through the drill line, but I'm still expecting him to eventually pass Skylar Thompson .
Every day Cordarrelle Patterson remains on the roster, the chances of him finding a way to make it go up, but I've got him on the outside looking in right now.
Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith (9) runs a route against the Houston Texans in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec 15, 2024 in Houston. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)
The first of the Steelers' post-minicamp additions pushes rookie DJ Thomas-Jones to the practice squad, though he could put up a fight in a battle against Connor Heyward.
Khan isn't done yet, and the Steelers are certainly still pursuing upgrades at the wide receiver position, after trading away George Pickens after the 2025 NFL Draft. I'm thinking he gets there with at least one player to add to this room.
The Steelers went with just three tackles on the 53-man roster for most of last season, and I don't know if there's enough depth here to warrant carrying four this time around. With Calvin Anderson on a two-year contract, Dylan Cook appears to be the odd man out.
This is a very solid unit. Three quality starters, including a potential star in Zach Frazier, and three backups that have all played well at the NFL level. Spencer Anderson being able to kick out and play tackle makes keeping tree there more palatable.
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive linemen Daniel Ekuale, Yayha Black and Jacob Slade at minicamp on June 10, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Maybe the toughest cut on the team right now, with veteran Dean Lowry and 2024 sixth-rounder Logan Lee both on the wrong side of my cut line here. They certainly have a chance to make it, but it would probably mean pulling from another position group.
There's no reason to over-think these first four. Jeremiah Moon was a solid special teamer last year, but there are special teamers at other spots that need the extra depth more.
This is maybe the hardest position to figure out. I expect Payton Wilson to get a chance to be a three-down starter in the base and Nickel packages this year, which won't leave a lot of reps for anyone else on defense. Is Malik Harrison mostly here for special teams or is there a role for him against run-heavy teams? How good is Cole Holcomb coming off his knee injury and can he push for a role? There really doesn't seem to be reps for all four of those players. Then you have special teamers Mark Robinson and Carson Bruener . This could go any number of different ways.
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – DECEMBER 08: Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) runs out on the field before the game between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets on December 8, 2024 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire)
Jalen Ramsey joins the team, and the loser of that trade from a roster spot perspective is almost certainly seventh-round rookie Donte Kent . Ramsey will likely play mostly in the slot, with Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay outside. That leaves one job for Beanie Bishop and Kent. Kent does have a chance to win that job, though, if he can contribute in the return game.
Even if Jalen Ramsey plays a good bit of safety, I can't see them going into the season with just Juan Thornhill at free safety. Maybe undrafted rookie Sebastian Castro or Kent will get a chance to play there at camp, but they were at strong safety and slot cornerback exclusively in OTAs and minicamp.
Corliss Waitman is more than good enough to make a 53-man roster, but it's hard to imagine it being here now that Cameron Johnston is healthy.
Offense: 25
Defense: 25
Specialists: 3
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Saunders: Pre-Training Camp Steelers 53-Man Roster Projection
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