The 2022 NFL Draft has been over for close to a month, and the Pittsburgh Steelers rookie minicamp has come and gone as well. The next team activity will be their organized team activities (OTA's) that start this week. The 2022 off-season is just flying by.
As we look ahead to OTA's and then the Steelers' training camp, projecting who will end up making the team's 53-man roster will continue to evolve. Below is my current projections for the 53-man roster that the team will have at the beginning of the 2022 regular season for the defensive positional groups, and check out my offensive and specialists predictions here!
Steelers' Defensive Line (7)
Cameron Heyward
Stephon Tuitt
Tyson Alualu
DeMarvin Leal
Chris Wormley
Isaiahh Loudermilk
Montravius Adams
Defensive line depth has been the talk of the town the last couple weeks. There is some good talent in this group, but overall questions loom around the groups' age and availability. Both Carlos and Khalil Davis miss this list, but one of them could be included if the team elects to keep 8 defensive linemen, which means they share the concern that a lot of Steeler Nation has. Pretty straight forward group otherwise, however.
Steelers' Outside Linebackers (4)
T.J. Watt
Alex Highsmith
Gerald Avery
Derrek Tuszka
Similarly to the defensive line group, the outside linebackers is pretty cut and dry as it stands right now. Tyree Johnson is a bit of a boom or bust option who the team signed as an UDFA out of Texas A&M, but he probably is best served on the practice squad in year one to add some size. Overall, Watt and Highsmith are where this group starts and stops.
Pittsburgh Steelers' OLBs TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith celebrate a sack. Credit: AP Photo
Steelers' Inside Linebackers (5)
Myles Jack
Devin Bush
Robert Spillane
Buddy Johnson
Mark Robinson
This group might be the deepest on the entire Steelers' roster. You could argue they have seven guys that should make an NFL roster, the five listed above and the two I left off, Marcus Allen and Ulysees Gilbert III.
I think the top four on this list are all pretty safe to make the team, which leaves Robinson, Allen, and Gilbert III fighting to prove themselves. The team has kept six inside linebackers in the past, but with the rest of their roster, I think only five make it. Robinson will have every chance to prove himself after being selected in the seventh round this year, so I am giving him the edge over the two veteran guys currently.
Steelers' Cornerbacks (6)
Ahkello Witherspoon
Levi Wallace
Cameron Sutton
Arthur Maulet
Tre Norwood
Justin Layne
Like inside linebacker, this group is very deep with some murkiness down at the bottom. There is also some murkiness positionally, as both Norwood and recently signed Damontae Kazee could be listed as corners or safeties, so I split them up as I see them both making the team. If the team keeps six corners, which I believe they should, then the final spot comes down to Layne and James Pierre. Pierre started the first half of last season before not playing a snap on defense the final seven games of the season. Pairing that with Layne's ability to be a very good asset on special teams has me rolling with Layne.
Steelers' Cornerbacks Ahkello Witherspoon and Cameron Sutton against the Cleveland Browns in 2021. Credit: SteelersNow
Steelers' Safeties (4)
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Terrell Edmunds
Damontae Kazee
Miles Killebrew
There isn't much surprise here, although there are some people in Steeler Nation who would love to see Karl Joseph make the 53-man roster. Joseph likely settles back onto the Steelers' practice squad like he did much of last season unfortunately. The starters from last year return in Fitzpatrick and Edmunds with Kazee being a new toy for the team to play with at multiple spots. Killebrew is also safe with his special team prowess being loved by the staff.
Well there you have it folks, the Steelers' 53-man roster for the 2022 NFL season.
Let us know who you think might've been left off this list by commenting below!
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