Part 14 of our 90-part series— assuming the roster does not change before we are complete— which will break down each player of the Steelers current 90-man roster in alphabetical order. This series will encompass many aspects of each players game and their current role with the team. At the end, I’ll give some projected stats as well as their chances to make the 53-man roster.

Let’s take a look at 2019 6th round pick:

Isaiah Buggs

Position: DT
Height: 6’ 3”
Weight: 295 lbs
College: Alabama
Draft: 6th round, 192nd Overall in 2019

2019 stats

9 Games played
2 Solo tackles
1 Assisted tackle

Contract remaining

Expires in 2022

$717,158 salary cap number (0.38% of total cap)

$42,158 dead money

$675,000 cap savings if cut

Likelihood of making the roster

Probable. Before the 2020 offseason began, I would have told you Buggs had the most room to grow. However, with the additions of Chris Wormley and Carlos Davis, it will be considerably more challenging for Buggs to see snaps. Heyward, Tuitt, and Alualu are still clearly atop the depth chart, but Buggs will help provide some depth.

2020 projection

Isaiah Buggs will see an expanded role in 2020, but I think he’ll be flirting around the healthy scratch list all season. No fault of Buggs own, but there are too many mouths and just not enough snaps to go around. In the event of an injury, however, I'd think he’d be jettisoned into a much larger role.

Projected stats:

12 Games played
6 Tackles

Summary

Isaiah Buggs got better as the 2019 season progressed, and he set himself up to be on the roster again in 2020. His biggest competition might just be Dan McCullers, and if he can play well enough the team may decide against carrying a true nose tackle.

Previously Highlighted

Ola Adeniyi
Marcus Allen
Tyson Alualu
Trajan Bandy
Zach Banner
J.T. Barrett
John Battle
Jordan Berry
Saeed Blacknall
Breon Borders
Chris Boswell
Antoine Brooks Jr.
Devin Bush