Among the 91 players in the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room this week, the most restless could be the likes of Sutton Smith and Tuzar Skipper, Fred Johnson and Zach Banner, Marcus Allen and Jordan Dangerfield.
Or is it Kevin Rader and Zach Gentry, and Eli Rogers and Diontae Spencer? Rookies Ulysees Gilbert and Benny Snell might not feel too comfortable. Trey Edmunds probably knows he’s a wild card. Does veteran Roosevelt Nix feel safe?
The annual roster cutdown day is Saturday. Now that the NFL has moved away from gradual roster paring of the past, all the bad news comes on one day for the 37 men on the training-camp roster who are not placed on the initial 53-man roster.
Here is a stab at who will be left standing. Keep in mind trades and waiver claims might happen by the end of the weekend.
QUARTERBACKS
Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph, Josh Dobbs
Everybody wants to see Devlin “Duck” Hodges make the team, but that’s just not realistic as the roster is presently comprised. In a different year, when the Nos. 2-3 weren’t a combination youth and high pedigree, Hodges could have stuck. But the only possible path for Hodges in 2019 would be if management determines Rudolph decisively is the pick over Dobbs, and a desperate trade partner can be found for Dobbs.
RUNNING BACKS
James Conner, Jaylen Samuels, Benny Snell, Roosevelt Nix
Trey Edmunds is one of the toughest cuts on the team. But it’s difficult to envision the Steelers keeping him in lieu of a guy they spent fourth-round draft capital on just four months ago (Snell). It’s theoretically possible the Steelers could consider severing ties with Nix, who is making $1.25 million this year. But coach Mike Tomlin values special teams too much to send that message. Perhaps the Steelers get an “out” by way of an IR designation for Snell.
WIDE RECEIVERS
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Donte Moncrief, James Washington, Diontae Johnson, Ryan Switzer, Eli Rogers
Rogers presents a conundrum. Rogers and Switzer have similar skillsets, and Switzer has passed Rogers in terms of return ability. But Rogers remains liked by coaches, and keeping six wide receivers seems to be the modern NFL way. Diontae Spencer is electric with the ball in his hands, and Johnny Holton is a special-teams gunner reminiscent of Darrius Heyward-Bey. Spencer is the tougher cut, but he could end up on the practice squad.
TIGHT ENDS
Vance McDonald, Xavier Grimble, Zach Gentry
It’s possible that whatever is done here Saturday could be undone Sunday or Monday via the waiver wire or trade market. Gentry has too much long-term potential to give up on already, but Kevin Rader is a safer option right now.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
C Maurkice Pouncey, G David DeCastro, G Ramon Foster, OT Alejandro Villanueva, OT Matt Feiler, C/G B.J. Finney, OT Chuks Okorafor, OT Zach Banner, G Fred Johnson
Keeping nine is less than ideal. But just like last year with Banner, the Steelers see too much potential in a raw, big-bodied type in Johnson. Banner passed Jerald Hawkins as the No. 4 tackle early during training camp. There’s an interesting battle brewing for the practice squad spots along the offensive line.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Cameron Heyward, Stephon Tuitt, Javon Hargrave, Tyson Alualu, Dan McCullers, Isaiah Buggs
The top four are no-brainers, and the Steelers steadfastly refuse to let McCullers go. There was an interesting and deep crop of candidates for the No. 6 spot, one that was thinned out by a season-ending injury to Lavon Hooks. As the draft pick, Buggs has an advantage, and he also has shown steady improvement this summer.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
Bud Dupree, T.J. Watt, Anthony Chickillo, Ola Adeniyi*
The asterisk here reflects a possible IR designation for Adeniyi, who had knee surgery last week. It might not be a full eight-week (actually, 10-week) injury that IR requires, but that would buy the Steelers a roster spot to keep Sutton Smith or perhaps Tuzar Skipper, both of whom offer intrigue.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
Vince Williams, Mark Barron, Devin Bush, Ulysees Gilbert, Tyler Matakevich
The positions will be filled on defense mostly by a three-man rotation. But Matakevich gets on the 53 because of his special-teams experience and proficiency, and Gilbert has shown enough promise that he deserves consideration for the 53-man as a sixth-round pick. Could one of the OLBs or Robert Spillane steal Matakevich’s spot?
SAFETIES
Terrell Edmunds, Sean Davis, Kameron Kelly, Jordan Dangerfield
One of the biggest debates at the bottom of the 53-man is whether to keep Dangerfield or Marcus Allen. Dangerfield’s association with the Steelers dates more than five years. Allen has the higher upside and pedigree as a fifth-round pick last year. The safer play is Dangerfield, but predicting this is a toss-up.
CORNERBACKS
Joe Haden, Steve Nelson, Artie Burns, Mike Hilton, Cameron Sutton, Justin Layne
There are no surprises here, and really no debate. Haden and Nelson are the top outside cornerbacks, Hilton is established in the slot and Burns has had enough invested into him (in every sense of the word) that there’s no reason to give up on him now as a No. 4 CB. Sutton’s seems to have a role on defense, and as a third-round pick, Layne is safe as a “redshirt” in 2019. Brian Allen is the odd man out.
SPECIALISTS
K Chris Boswell, P Jordan Berry, LS Kameron Canaday
Matthew Wright performed admirably during training camp and in preseason games, but in reality, his chances of being the Steelers kicker hinged not on what he did but what on Boswell did or didn’t do. The Steelers wouldn’t have ridden this far with Boswell just to cut ties now after he’s been so accurate during camp. (Plus, Boswell’s leg is noticeably stronger than Wright’s). Ian Berryman pushed Berry to the brink, but the Steelers didn’t give Berry a $750,000 check in March to have him be nudged out by a rookie.
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