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Steelers 53-man roster: offensive locks through early portions of training camp

However the position allotment gets broken down, these players are seen as already included on the team's final offensive roster.

By Neal Coolong
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sport

Rather than predicting every spot at once way too early in the process, let's flesh out the most obvious choices.

Quarterbacks (3)

Ben Roethlisberger

Bruce Gradkowski

Landry Jones - perhaps he shouldn't be a lock yet, although the team spent a fourth-round pick to acquire him. Tribune-Review reporter Mark Kaboly said John Parker Wilson has looked fairly not bad, and not much of anything positive has been said about Jones. They used a pick on him, though, sometimes that's all that matters.

Running backs (3)

Le'Veon Bell

LaRod Stephens-Howling

Will Johnson

This is all we're going to put here for now. Obviously there will be two more running backs in this group, but watch Isaac Redman, Jonathan Dwyer and Baron Batch get some more reps before counting any of them in - or out.

Wide receivers (3)

Antonio Brown

Emmanuel Sanders

Markus Wheaton

Perhaps Plaxico Burress could be written in that really light, faded mechanical pencil. His size and experience will simply give him a combination of assets others on the team do not have. Word is he looks great, especially considering his age, but let's just make sure that's not all hype - and I'm curious to see how he performs in his preseason return to New York.

Tight ends (3)

Heath Miller

Matt Spaeth

David Paulson

Miller very well could start the regular season on the PUP list. That would put him out of action until before Week 8 - when the Steelers take on the Raiders. It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Steelers make a move at this position at some point in camp too, but these three will be on the roster this season.

Offensive tackles (2)

Mike Adams

Marcus Gilbert

I don't think any more here could be considered a lock, although Guy Whimper is pretty close as well, but the Steelers are going to want to rule out the slew of younger (cheaper) tackle options currently working in camp.

Offensive guards and Center (4)

Ramon Foster

David DeCastro

Maurkice Pouncey

Kelvin Beachum

We'll add the two together for now because the back-up center to Pouncey will be someone who plays guard as well. John Malecki getting reps at center will only help his inclusion on this list, but some more time is needed for the best of what's left to separate themselves.

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