The updated 2021 Pittsburgh Steelers offseason 90-man roster following the draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers 2021 roster is taking shape following the NFL draft. With nine draft picks and eight undrafted rookie free agents helping to fill out the rest of the open spots and beyond, the Steelers are actually two players over the roster limit at the moment. How is that possible? The players the Steelers have drafted and agreed to terms with as undrafted free agents don’t “officially” take up a roster spot until the contract is signed. The Steelers will likely release players sooner than later as they prefer to do right by players and allow them to catch on with another team.

There have also been a number of players from 2020 draft who have been reported to sign with the Steelers. They will not be included until they are officially announced by the team.

Here is a breakdown of the Steelers roster by position with the number of players kept (in parentheses) on their initial 53-man roster in 2020. The ranking is not necessarily a depth chart, but higher profile players are listed toward the top with current undrafted free agents being at the bottom.

Offense

Quarterback (3)

1. Ben Roethlisberger
2. Mason Rudolph
3. Joshua Dobbs
4. Dewayne Haskins

Analysis: The Steelers didn’t add any new quarterbacks throughout the draft process as any would likely only be a camp arm.

Running Back (4)

1. Najee Harris
2. Benny Snell Jr.
3. Jaylen Samuels
4. Anthony McFarland Jr.
5. Kalen Ballage
6. Trey Edmunds

Analysis: The Steelers didn’t do what they had done recently to add to the running game and invested their highest of draft capital in Najee Harris.

Fullback (1):

1. Derek Watt

Analysis: Watt has no other competition unless the Steelers transition Trey Edmunds to fullback.

Wide Receiver (5)

1. JuJu Smith-Schuster
2. Diontae Johnson
3. Chase Claypool
4. James Washington
5. Ray-Ray McCloud
6. Anthony Johnson
7. Cody White
8. Tyler Simmons
9. Matthew Sexton
10. Isaiah McCoy
11. Ricco Bussey

Analysis: For the first time since 2011 the Steelers did not draft a wide receiver. They did add two UDFAs and they were the only ones added on offence.

Tight End (3)

1. Eric Ebron
2. Pat Freiermuth
3. Zach Gentry
4. Kevin Rader
5. Dax Raymond
6. Charles Jones

Analysis: Adding a tight end in the draft as the highest pick since Heath Miller, the tight end room looks very similar to last year by swapping Freiermuth for the retired Vance McDonald.

Offensive Line (9)

1. David DeCastro
2. Chukwuma Okorafor
3. Zach Banner
4. Kevin Dotson
5. B.J. Finney
6. Joe Haeg
7. Kendrick Green
8. J.C. Hassenauer
9. Dan Moore
10. Rashaad Coward
11. Aviante Collins
12. Anthony Coyle
13. Jarron Jones
14. John Leglue
15. Brandon Walton

Analysis: The Steelers added two players on the offensive line in the draft. Although it wasn’t a lot of bodies at the position, it did infuse more youth and nastiness.

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Defense

Defensive Line (6)

1. Cameron Heyward
2. Stephon Tuitt
3. Tyson Alualu
4. Chris Wormley
5. Carlos Davis
6. Isaiah Buggs
7. Henry Mondeaux
8. Isaiahh Loudermilk
9. Abdullah Anderson
10. Calvin Taylor
11. Demarcus Christmas
12. T.J. Carter

Analysis: The Steelers surprisingly added a defensive tackle in the 2021 draft although the room is already very crowded. Either a draft pick or players who logged snaps in 2020 will likely not make the team.

Outside Linebacker (4)

1. T.J. Watt
2. Alex Highsmith
3. Quincy Roche
4. Cassius Marsh
5. Jamir Jones
6. Jamar Watson

Analysis: There still aren’t a lot of bodies at the position, so the Steelers may not be done adding players at outside linebacker.

Inside Linebacker (4)

1. Devin Bush
2. Vince Williams
3. Robert Spillane
4. Buddy Johnson
5. Ulysees Gilbert III
6. Marcus Allen
7. Miles Killebrew
8. Tegray Scales
9. Jarvis Miller
10. Calvin Bundage

Analysis: Miles Killebrew doesn’t really fit, but is listed as a linebacker on the Steelers website. There are no lack of bodies going into camp at this position.

Cornerback (6)

1. Joe Haden
2. Cam Sutton
3. Justin Layne
4. James Pierre
5. Tre Norwood
6. Stephen Denmark
7. Trevor Williams
8. Skakur Brown
9. Mark Gilbert

Analysis: The Steelers lost two players that were, in essence, starters and did not address the position until the very end of the draft. But by also bringing in a couple UDFAs, it will be interesting to see which players catch on.

Safety (5)

1. Minkah Fitzpatrick
2. Terrell Edmunds
3. Antione Brooks Jr.
4. John Battle
5. Lamont Wade
6. Donovan Steiner

Analysis: Not much movement here other than a couple UDFAs. I still would consider Miles Killebrew at this position, but it’s ultimately up to the Steelers.

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Specialists

Placekicker (1)

1. Chris Boswell

Punter (1)

1. Jordan Berry
2. Pressley Harvin III
3. Corliss Waitman

Long Snapper (1)

1. Kameron Canaday
2. Christian Kuntz

Analysis: The Steelers drafted a specialist for the first time since 2017. Although Boswell has no competition, the punting job should be Pressley Harvin’s to lose after the Steelers invested the draft capital.

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Totals

Offense: 43

Defense: 43

Specialists: 6

Total: 92