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Cuts are a part of football. Every year all 32 teams need to shed 37 players from their active roster before the start of the regular season. Majority of the time the players cut will be nothing more than the guys on reserve/future contracts; however, sometimes those players force their way on to teams. Combine this with an influx of talent through the NFL Draft and a number of veteran players will find their names on the chopping block.
The players below are most in jeopardy of losing their jobs in the steel city. Not all of them will be cut, but due to circumstance a number of them will be. Other players could join this list because they are out of shape or have regressed, but until we see them in action here are some guys who could lose their jobs based on the Steelers outside moves.
Jaylen Samuels
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Samuels is in a really tough spot here. On one hand he has experience with new offensive coordinator, Matt Canada, but on the other he sits at the bottom of the running back depth chart. The addition of Najee Harris will wipe out what is remaining of Samuels’ snaps. He’ll have to beat out every other back not named Harris for a roster spot, but considering his role has shrunk every year it’s not very likely.
Benny Snell
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Right now I view the Steelers running back depth chart as this:
1. Najee Harris
2. Anthony McFarland
3. Benny Snell.
But reports out of OTA’s suggest that Kalen Ballage looks far better than expected. If those reports are true then Benny Snell’s job as a short yardage back could be in jeopardy. Namely because Snell has struggled in short yardage and if another big back can prove themselves competent the Steelers could opt for a new face in those short yardage scenarios.
Chris Wormley
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This one is brutally tough to predict, but the Steelers will have to drop at least one defensive lineman this offseason. The addition of Isaiahh Loudermilk has stocked the DLine to the brim, as the Steelers not only returned all their players from a year ago but also drafted the Wisconsin product. If Wormley can’t snap his injury luck he way be the guy on his way out.
Isaiah Buggs
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Buggs is the other defensive lineman most at risk of being cut. Carlos Davis improved his stock with each passing week of his rookie season, and Henry Mondeaux might be the best pass rusher of the back up’s and can play special teams. This, by default, puts Buggs in a vulnerable position.
Joe Haeg
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I didn't understand the signing at the time and I still don’t get it now. The Steelers have a number of backup tackles which could play the swing spot, and Haeg just flat out struggled in Tampa Bay. Cutting Haeg puts the Steelers back in line for a sixth round compensatory selection and would generate another million on the cap this year and 2.6 million next year.
Josh Dobbs
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One quarterback won't make this team. They will not carry four quarterbacks, only to have three of them never play. Roethlisberger is the clear starter, Rudolph is viewed highly by the coaching staff and has a new contract, and Dwayne Haskins has far more arm talent than Dobbs. The only way Josh Dobbs can do this is if he’s flat out better than Haskins and I'm not sure he can develop that talent in one offseason.
Jordan Berry
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It’s almost a certainty that the Steelers seventh round pick, Pressley Harvin III, will assume punting duties for the team. Meaning the ever inconstant Jordan Berry has likely kicked his last ball in Pittsburgh. If the Steelers acquire another player I wouldn't be surprised if Berry was released to make space for them. The Berry era is over.
But what do you think? Which Steelers veterans are most likely to get cut? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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