As the Steelers' offseason roster begins to take shape, training camp is just around the corner—and that means it's time for one of the NFL's favorite summer traditions: way-too-early 53-man roster predictions.
While plenty of questions will be answered in the coming months, every projection has to start somewhere. Here's an early look at how Pittsburgh's roster could shake out, with a few key storylines to keep an eye on.
Quarterback
Yes, I'm projecting Aaron Rodgers to sign. And no, I'm not suggesting Will Howard or Jaxson Dart are better than Mason Rudolph at this stage. But if Rodgers goes down, the Steelers have nothing to lose by giving one of their unproven young guns a shot. A future Hall of Famer doesn't necessarily need a veteran backup to succeed.
Running Back
For now, I have Kaleb Johnson making the cut—it's hard to see Pittsburgh giving up on a third-round pick after just one season. But don't rule out a trade of Johnson, which could open a spot for Travis Homer as a special teams-capable RB3.
Fullback
Mike McCarthy loves his fullbacks, and rookie Jack Nowakowski was drafted to fill that role. He currently has no competition.
Wide Receiver
Like Johnson, Roman Wilson could be a trade candidate—though there aren't any strong signals pointing that way yet. At least the top three are set. Beyond that, Ben Skowronek and Isaiah Wetjen are special teamers first, but both can contribute on offense. Keep an eye on A.T. Perry as well.
Tight End
Keeping just two tight ends might seem unlikely, but McCarthy won't use them as heavily as Arthur Smith did. Nowakowski can fill in as a TE3 in a pinch, and the team can stash one or two playable names on the practice squad for elevation when needed.
Offensive Line
Broderick Jones is certainly worthy of a roster spot, but I'd predict he starts the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Either way, this is a deep group heading into 2026.
Defensive Line
I have rookie Julio Rubio making the roster over veterans like Dean Lowry or athletic UDFA Ke. The competition here will be one to watch throughout camp.
As always, these predictions are fluid—but they give you a solid starting point for how the Steelers' roster could look when the pads go on. Stay tuned for more updates as OTAs and training camp unfold.