After wading through trades, free agent signings, and multiple draft picks, the Steelers 53 man roster is finally set……or is it? We expect several moves before this team actually takes the field for its week one game versus Atlanta. For now lets review what the roster looks like at the moment, and what might be to come in the next two weeks:
Quarterback upgrade?
On paper the Steelers quarterback room got a significant upgrade. Let’s be honest though, there was only one direction this group could go after the abysmal performances of last season. Both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields have some questions that need to be answered in 2024. Overall though, this team should be much better under center than last season.
Tackle concerns
Injuries, and poor play have made the Steelers tackle position a real concern heading into the season. Broderick Jones is nursing some sort of elbow injury which is being blamed for his poor play during the preseason. Rookie Troy Fautanu has been out with his own injury since the first preseason game. The team expects him to be healthy for week one, but with so much time missed is he ready for any kind of extended play? To further complicate things backup tackle Dylan Cook will start the season on IR, making Spencer Anderson the fourth tackle on the roster. This is a potential disaster if another injury were to occur. Who’d have thought Dan Moore would be the best option at this position at this point of the offseason??
Eight defensive lineman??
Yes thats right. The Steelers kept eight defensive lineman compared to their usual six. Now the case of DeMarvin Leal is an interesting one. It appears he is the fourth outside linebacker rather than just another defensive lineman. That does still leave the team one man heavy at this position. Look for Logan Lee to be among the first casualties when the Steelers add a player to a position of need.
Worst wide receiver room in the Tomlin era:
We’ve been banging this drum all offseason, and the team has yet to improve this group. Where does Ben Roethlisberger fall on the Steelers all time greats list?
The rumors continue about a Brandon Aiyuk trade, but nothing seems imminent. Without Aiyuk, or a player of his caliber, this group is very much below average. Aside from George Pickens, there is a collection of WR3s, and barely rosterable players. For a franchise that is known for producing good receivers year in and year out, this group is the worst in the Mike Tomlin era.
Corner depth is an issue:
Two positions are a lock for additions before the season starts. Wide receiver is one, corner is certainly the other. The backup corners on the roster have a total of 39 career snaps, the slot coner has zero. This is an inexperienced group to say the least. Add that to the fact that Cory Trice is extremely injury prone, and the team simply has to add at least one, maybe two corners to the roster.
Check out our conversation about this group on the last episode of the Steelers Sanctuary Podcast here:https://www.buzzsprout.com/1981237/15654214-episode-26-steelers-get-to-53-and-what-moves-are-still-to-come
Linebacker is the strength of the team:
What happens when you spend the most free agent money to an already strong group of linebackers? You get one of the best set of linebackers in the entire league. Outside, the Steelers have the best tandem of pass rushers in the game. Throw in breakout candidate Nick Herbig, and man this team is cooking at outside linebacker. Inside the Steelers spent serious money on Patrick Queen. They didn’t stop there however. They used a day two pick on risk/reward linebacker Payton Wilson. If Wilson manages to stay healthy all season, the team got a steal in the third round. This entire group has the potential to dominate in 2023. It is by far the best, and deepest group on the roster.
Special teams improved if……:
There is no question Cameron Johnston is a major improvement over Pressley Harvin. The problem is he may be too good. Let me explain. Johnston ability to kick the ball deep requires a really good coverage team, which the Steelers don’t seem to have at the moment. Expect at least one new gunner to be added to the roster in the near future. Miles Boykin or James Pierre would make excellent candidates. Both were let go yesterday during roster cuts.
The kick return game should be improved dramatically with the addition of Cordarrelle Patterson. Punt return remains a bit shaky with Calvin Austin continuing to be unimpressive in preseason.