Steelers 2025 Roster Predictions- Defense
The D has been the focal point of this team the past half decade.
Over the past 5 seasons, the defense has had 25.4 players kept on the initial roster.
The past two seasons, The team has kept 25.5 defensive players coming out of camp.
This number is slightly skewered by a camp punter injury requiring us to keep 2 punters one year. It typically is going to be 26 defensive players.
Part 1: Defensive line
. This is tricky because of the blur between DE’s and OLBs these days, but looking at players labeled DT or DE
The past 5 seasons the team has averaged 7.2 DL coming out of camp. The past two seasons it was 7.5… This could be 7 or 8 spots
The past 5 seasons has seen as few as 8 total linebackers on an opening day roster and as many as 10, but the last two season it has been 8. Im expecting 9 this season because of depth… its also possible if they want to load up on DBs that one is traded….probably an ILB though…
Part 2a Outside Linebackers
. This is the deepest position on the team in theory, and as easy as QB to predict
The past 5 seasons the team has averaged 3.8 OLB coming out of camp. The past two seasons it was 3.5… However, part of that was because Leal was a hybrid edge guy too… over the last 5 seasons the Maximum kept was 4, the minimum was 3. Expect 4 OLBs
Part 2b: Inside Linebackers
. Also quite deep. The top two backups are both likely starters on other teams
The past 5 seasons the team has averaged 4.8 ILB coming out of camp. The past two seasons it was 4.5… over the last 5 seasons the Maximum kept was 6, the minimum was 4. Expect 5.
This will likely be the largest position group coming out of camp.
Over the past 5 seasons the CBs and S have had a minimum of 8, but a maximum of 11 players on the initial roster, but the past two years it has been 10… short-handing the DL or LBs to carry more DBs may be a reason we lose control of the run D as the season goes on I am hoping that this season lessons were learned and it will be 9 on the final roster
Part 3a Cornerbacks
. There will probably be 5 Cbs on the team coming out of camp. Two Outside starters, a slot guy, a backup outside guy, and a special teams ace type.. Backup Slot guys are often safeties more than CBs
The past 5 seasons the team has averaged 5.2 CBs coming out of camp. The past two seasons it was 5.5… … over the last 5 seasons the Maximum kept was 6, the minimum was 4. I Expect 5 CBs
So this is a position I know they probably shorthand elsewhere to keep 5, but they really, really should only keep 4
The past 5 seasons the team has averaged 4.8 Ss coming out of camp. The past two seasons it was 4.5… … over the last 5 seasons the Maximum kept was 6, the minimum was 4. I Hope for 4 S’s
I expect far more debate on this roster than the offensive one… there are some hard cuts and position numbers.
Total Defense
8 DL
4 OLB
5 ILB
5 CB
4 S
Total 26 Players
The D has been the focal point of this team the past half decade.
Over the past 5 seasons, the defense has had 25.4 players kept on the initial roster.
The past two seasons, The team has kept 25.5 defensive players coming out of camp.
This number is slightly skewered by a camp punter injury requiring us to keep 2 punters one year. It typically is going to be 26 defensive players.
Part 1: Defensive line
. This is tricky because of the blur between DE’s and OLBs these days, but looking at players labeled DT or DE
The past 5 seasons the team has averaged 7.2 DL coming out of camp. The past two seasons it was 7.5… This could be 7 or 8 spots
- Cameron Heyward- Clear cut Starter – Roster Secure
T1 - Keeanu Benton- Clear cut Starter- Roster Secure: DT2
- Darrick Harmon-Likely starter at some point – Roster secure DT3
- ***After these three it gets murky
- All of these probably have backup jobs, but could be displaced for various reasons:
- Dean Lowry * 10 season Vet, 31 years old- Saves 2.5 Million if cut or traded *Possible DT4
- Isaiah Loudermilk * Decent runstopper with limited pass rush, saves just over 1 million if cut Possible DT5
- DeMarvin Leal- Hybrid DE/OLB type DL6
- Daniel Ekule. Basically a Dean Lowry type, jack of all trades, 31, they gave him 2.8 million in the off season and only recoup about a million if cut. May be him or Lowry situation DL7 (until Black proves his value in this system)
- Logan Lee- Special teams stud who may well be DL8 based on that alone
- -Others with work to do:
- Yahya Black- Steelers have him listed as a DE… he is 336 lbs… not certain they know what to do with him. As a fifth round pick, making the roster is hit or miss. If one of the backup vets are axed, he is next man up (* My guess here is he ultimately displaces either Lowry or Ekule)
- Esezi Otomewo Probably in a fight with Leal for his spot
- Jacob Slade- Backup DT– Likely cut. Only makes 53 man roster if injury concerns are present during camp.
The past 5 seasons has seen as few as 8 total linebackers on an opening day roster and as many as 10, but the last two season it has been 8. Im expecting 9 this season because of depth… its also possible if they want to load up on DBs that one is traded….probably an ILB though…
Part 2a Outside Linebackers
. This is the deepest position on the team in theory, and as easy as QB to predict
The past 5 seasons the team has averaged 3.8 OLB coming out of camp. The past two seasons it was 3.5… However, part of that was because Leal was a hybrid edge guy too… over the last 5 seasons the Maximum kept was 4, the minimum was 3. Expect 4 OLBs
- TJ Watt- Clear cut Starter – Roster Secure :OLB1
- Alex Highsmith- Clear cut Starter- Roster Secure: OLB2
- Nick Herbig -Major Playmaker and ST guy – Roster secure OLB3
- Jack Sawyer- 4th round picks usually are locks. OLB4
- -Others with work to do:
- Julius Welschof-Raw german guy… May be PS guy too
- Eku Leota-Until he proves anything, just a camp body
- *Jeremiah Moon-Was waived injured yesterday… Good ST guy. Likely PS target if he isn’t too hurt later in the year… this spot will likely be filled with another OLB for preseason
Part 2b: Inside Linebackers
. Also quite deep. The top two backups are both likely starters on other teams
The past 5 seasons the team has averaged 4.8 ILB coming out of camp. The past two seasons it was 4.5… over the last 5 seasons the Maximum kept was 6, the minimum was 4. Expect 5.
- Patrick Queen- Clear cut Starter – Roster Secure :ILB1
- Payton Wilson- Clear cut Starter- Roster Secure: ILB2
- Malik Harrison-Signed for 2 seasons at 10 million bucks Roster Secure. ILB3
- Cole Holcomb -Starter quality Backup signed cheap – Roster secure ILB4
- Mark Robinson- Special Teams guy and run Thumper ILB5
- -Others with work to do:
- Carson Bruener- … Good ST guy. Maybe could displace Robinson as the ST guy, if not, a PS target…
- Julius Welschof-Raw german guy… May be PS guy too
- Devin Harper-Until he proves anything, just a camp body
This will likely be the largest position group coming out of camp.
Over the past 5 seasons the CBs and S have had a minimum of 8, but a maximum of 11 players on the initial roster, but the past two years it has been 10… short-handing the DL or LBs to carry more DBs may be a reason we lose control of the run D as the season goes on I am hoping that this season lessons were learned and it will be 9 on the final roster
Part 3a Cornerbacks
. There will probably be 5 Cbs on the team coming out of camp. Two Outside starters, a slot guy, a backup outside guy, and a special teams ace type.. Backup Slot guys are often safeties more than CBs
The past 5 seasons the team has averaged 5.2 CBs coming out of camp. The past two seasons it was 5.5… … over the last 5 seasons the Maximum kept was 6, the minimum was 4. I Expect 5 CBs
- Jalen Ramsey- Clear cut Starter – Roster Secure :CB1 Outside
- Joey Porter Jr- Clear cut Starter- Roster Secure: CB2 Outside
- Darius Slay -Experienced third/2nd CB– Roster secure CB3 Outside
- Brandin Echols- 2 year deal structure all but ensures he is on the roster day 1 barring injury . Roster Very likely CB4 Starting slot
- Cory Trice – Final outside guy, Will have to pick up a lot of special teams snaps to dislodge Pierre though – Roster spot, Possible but not certain. CB5
- -Others with work to do:
- Benie Bishop- Gonna hurt if we cut him… but he was out of position a lot last year. There is the possibility of a trade since he had so many picks last year and is so young… they also could move him to S.
- James Pierre. Could sneak on the roster as a ST ace again, but the depth could make that difficult
- Cameron McCutcheon
- Donte Kent – Could Make some noise as a KR but PS likely
- Dshawn Jamison
So this is a position I know they probably shorthand elsewhere to keep 5, but they really, really should only keep 4
The past 5 seasons the team has averaged 4.8 Ss coming out of camp. The past two seasons it was 4.5… … over the last 5 seasons the Maximum kept was 6, the minimum was 4. I Hope for 4 S’s
- Deshawn Elliot- Clear cut Starter – Roster Secure :SS1
- Juan Thornhill- Possible Starter- Roster Secure: FS1
- Chuck Clark-Possible Starter– Roster secure Fs2
- Sebastion Castro- If he can play like some suggest he can, another UDFA steal Roster possible- SS2
- Unexpected cut:
- Miles Killabrew – He probably still makes it, but he is a 32year old special teams ace. That isn’t exactly a job that guys do well for long as they age into their 30’s…Cutting him saves 3.2 Million Dollars. He may be the best non kicker or returner special teams player the steelers have had in the last two decades
- -Others with work to do:
- Kyler McMichael
- Quindell Johnson
I expect far more debate on this roster than the offensive one… there are some hard cuts and position numbers.
Total Defense
8 DL
4 OLB
5 ILB
5 CB
4 S
Total 26 Players
