PITTSBURGH, Pa. (BLACK AND GOLD NATION) - Cutdown day is Sunday in the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers have made some moves to inch closer to their 53-man roster, but still have a lot of work to do.
Here are my predictions on who will make the roster.
Quarterbacks (3)
Aaron Rodgers
Will Howard
Drew Allar
PREDICTION: Mason Rudolph is traded for a late-round pick. While Mike McCarthy says he would be comfortable with "six quarterbacks" on the roster, I think it's a bluff. Other teams that might want a veteran backup or an intriguing young arm could see the Steelers as an option to get one for nothing if McCarthy had said he was only going to keep three.
Mike McCarthy has never carried four quarterbacks into the season. He frequently had only two in Dallas. I believe he still likes Howard despite an up-and-down preseason.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard (18) sits on the sidelines during an NFL exhibition football game against the Green Bay Packers in Pittsburgh Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Running Backs (4)
Jaylen Warren
Rico Dowdle
Eli Heidenreich
Riley Nowakowski (fullback, H-back, tight end)
PREDICTION: Kaleb Johnson is either cut or traded. Johnson, who was extremely talented at Iowa, just hasn't found his footing in the NFL. Last year's third-round pick should quickly find another job with another team that still believes in his potential.
Steelers rookies flash great plays, growing pains in loss to BillsLew Nichols is someone they try to sneak on the practice squad. Nichols has been the third-best back behind Dowdle and Warren, but I have a funny feeling that Heidenreich will make it instead. Heidenreich is more than a feel-good story. The Pittsburgh native is coming off an impressive showing and offers position flexibility that McCarthy likes on offense and special teams.
Wide Receiver (6)
DK Metcalf
Michael Pittman
Germie Bernard
Roman Wilson
Ben Skowronek
Kaden Wetjen
PREDICTION: I highly doubt the team will part ways with Wilson or Wetjen. Wilson has shown chemistry with Rodgers during training camp. Meanwhile, the Steelers will give their recent fourth-round pick from Iowa, who has been inconsistent in the preseason, every chance to succeed.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Kaden Wetjen (10) returns a punt for a touchdown as Buffalo Bills' Jimmy Ciarlo (35) and Cornell Powell (85) look on in the second half of a preseason NFL football game in Orchard Park, NY., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Tight End (3)
Pat Freiermuth
Darnell Washington
Robert Tonyan
PREDICTION: Tonyan's rapport with Rodgers and McCarthy earns him a spot on the 53-man roster.
Offensive Line (9)
Troy Fautanu
Mason McCormick
Zach Frazier
Spencer Anderson
Dylan Cook
Max Iheanachor
Broderick Jones
Gennings Dunker
Brock Hoffman
PREDICTION: Ryan McCollum is a tough offensive lineman to part ways with. However, Hoffman's experience at center helps ease that potential loss.
Defensive Line (6)
Cam Heyward
Keeanu Benton
Derrick Harmon
Yahya Black
Sebastian Joseph-Day
Gabriel Rubio
PREDICTION: Rubio earns the final defensive line spot over Dean Lowry and Esezi Otomewo after an impressive preseason.
Edge Rusher (4)
T.J. Watt
Alex Highsmith
Nick Herbig
Jack Sawyer
PREDICTION: While Jamin Davis has had a strong training camp and preseason, there aren't enough snaps to go around for Sawyer and Herbig, who just inked a $100 million extension.
Inside Linebacker (5)
Patrick Queen
Payton Wilson
Cole Holcomb
Carson Bruener
Elandon Roberts
PREDICTION: Malik Harrison is a cap casualty after one season. The Steelers can save about $4 million if they release him. Roberts has been a valuable late-Summer signing. He's brought a ton of energy and physicality to practice and has experience in Patrick Graham's defense.
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts celebrates a sack against the Green Bay Packers during an NFL football game at Acrisure Stadium, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023 in Pittsburgh. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)Cornerback (6)
Joey Porter Jr.
Jalen Ramsey
Jamel Dean
Asante Samuel Jr.
Brandin Echols
Daylen Everette
PREDICTION: This is one of the deepest rooms on the team. The biggest story with this group is Porter Jr.'s contract situation. I believe he inks a long-term extension before Sept. 13.
Safety (4)
Jaquan Brisker
DeShon Elliott
Rayshawn Jenkins
Robert Spears-Jennings
Spears-Jennings and Jenkins showed enough during the preseason to warrant four safeties even with Ramsey flipping between positions.
Specialists (3)
Chris Boswell
Cam Johnston
Christian Kuntz
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