The Pittsburgh Steelers had some difficult decisions to make when they cut their roster down to just 53 players before the start of the 2024 season. Some roster hopefuls found themselves looking for work following the NFL cutdown deadline on August 27, while other roster bubble players can breathe a sigh of relief (for now).
Pittsburgh could still look to put the finishing touches on their roster by beefing up a weak position like wide receiver or cornerback with a trade or free agent. As of now, here is every player who made the initial Steelers 53-man roster in 2024.
Player | Position |
|---|---|
Russell Wilson | Quarterback |
Justin Fields | Quarterback |
Kyle Allen | Quarterback |
Najee Harris | Running back |
Jaylen Warren | Running back |
Cordarrelle Patterson | Running back |
George Pickens | Wide receiver |
Roman Wilson | Wide receiver |
Van Jefferson | Wide receiver |
Calvin Austin III | Wide receiver |
Scotty Miller | Wide receiver |
Pat Freiermuth | Tight end |
Darnell Washington | Tight end |
Connor Heyward | Tight end |
MyCole Pruitt | Tight end |
Troy Fautanu | Offensive tackle |
Broderick Jones | Offensive tackle |
Dan Moore Jr. | Offensive tackle |
Isaac Seumalo | Offensive guard |
James Daniels | Offensive guard |
Mason McCormick | Offensive guard |
Spencer Anderson | Offensive guard |
Zach Frazier | Center |
Ryan McCollum | Center |
Cameron Heyward | Interior defender |
Keeanu Benton | Interior defender |
Larry Ogunjobi | Interior defender |
DeMarvin Leal | Interior defender |
Montravius Adams | Interior defender |
Dean Lowry | Interior defender |
Isaiahh Loudermilk | Interior defender |
Logan Lee | Interior defender |
T.J. Watt | Edge rusher |
Alex Highsmith | Edge rusher |
Nick Herbig | Edge rusher |
Patrick Queen | Linebacker |
Elandon Roberts | Linebacker |
Payton Wilson | Linebacker |
Tyler Matakevich | Linebacker |
Mark Robinson | Linebacker |
Joey Porter Jr. | Cornerback |
Donte Jackson | Cornerback |
Cory Trice Jr. | Cornerback |
Beanie Bishop Jr. | Cornerback |
Darius Rush | Cornerback |
Minkah Fitzpatrick | Safety |
DeShon Elliott | Safety |
Damontae Kazee | Safety |
Miles Killebrew | Safety |
Jalen Elliott | Safety |
Chris Boswell | Kicker |
Cameron Johnston | Punter |
Christian Kuntz | Long snapper |
Steelers 2024 53-man roster breakdown
Quarterbacks (3)
The decision to keep three quarterbacks on the roster follows a trend the Steelers have had for years. Their 2023 season was the perfect example of why they kept a third (Mason Rudolph was the starting quarterback late in the season and in the playoffs.
Russell Wilson and Justin Fields were roster locks from the moment they joined the team. Meanwhile, Kyle Allen possessed the upper hand over undrafted rookie John Rhys Plumlee thanks to Allen's veteran presence and year spent as a starting quarterback of the Panthers. These were the three players we all expected the Steelers to keep.
Running back (3)
Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren were always going to be the top two backs on the team. When the NFL announced the kickoff rule change -- adopting the idea from the XFL -- Omar Khan was quick to sign Cordarrelle Patterson. One of the best kick returners in league history always had a safe spot on the roster, even after missing significant action with a hamstring injury this summer.
The Steelers didn't have a promising enough player to convince the team to reserve a fourth spot for a running back on the 53-man roster this year.
Wide receiver (5)
The Pittsburgh Steelers could still make a move to upgrade the position, but for now, Pittsburgh is rolling with five wide receivers for the 2024 season. George Pickens is the top target with players like Van Jefferson, Roman Wilson, and Calvin Austin III fighting to prove their relevance to the team.
Dez Fitzpatrick narrowly missed the rostet. Meanwhile, Quez Watkins dug his own grave during the 2024 preseason when he made critical mistakes as a punt returner. He was released hours before the cutdown deadline. Scotty Miller claims the final wide receiver spot for now.
Tight end (4)
Not every team is open to devoting four roster spots to the tight end position, but Arthur Smith will take as many as he can get. All along, it was clear that Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, and Connor Heyward were going to make the team.
The final spot came between veteran MyCole Pruitt and unproven tight end, Rodney Williams. While Williams offers more on special teams coverage units, Pruitt is experienced and reliable as a blocker and receiver when called upon. He earned the final spot at the position.
Offensive line (9)
The Pittsburgh Steelers are keeping nine offensive linemen for the 2024 season. The names that were easy to predict were Troy Fautanu, Broderick Jones, Isaac Seumalo, James Daniels, and Zach Frazier. Outside of this group, fourth-round guard Mason McCormick did more than enough over the summer to make the team, as did veteran tackle Dan Moore Jr.
The final spots saw a mixup with Nate Herbig landing on season-ending IR with a shoulder injury and tackle Dylan Cook suffering a foot injury late in the summer. The final two spots were handed to Spencer Anderson and reserve center Ryan McCollum.
Interior defensive line (7)
Throughout the process, there was always a debate as to which players should earn the last few spots along the defensive line. The shoo-in candidates included Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton, and Larry Ogunjobi. These players were followed by Dean Lowry and Montravius Adams.
The last three spots were given to DeMarvin Leal, Isaiahh Loudermilk, and Logan Lee. Leal had a great summer, while Loudermilk did just enough to get by for one more season. Despite being a sixth-round draft choice in 2024, Lee making the team is a bit of a surprise.
Edge rusher (3)
The Pittsburgh Steelers always keep four outside linebackers (or edge rushers) on their roster, but they kept just three on their initial roster: T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig.
Pittsburgh surprisingly parted ways with Kyron Johnson, who turned heads during the preseason. The team made the move to go with add a fourth edge rusher on the waiver wire or use DeMarvin Leal's versatility in this area.
Linebacker (5)
Cole Holcomb's inability to return to the team this summer opened the door for another linebacker to make the roster. The top three were easy: Patrick Queen, Elandon Roberts, and rookie Payton Wilson. From there, the Steelers elected to keep veteran special teams ace Tyler Matakevich and 2022 seventh-round pick, Mark Robinson.
If Holcomb is able to return at some point this season, either Robinson or Matakevich could be the odd man out.
Cornerback (5)
Like the wide receiver position, the Steelers found themselves in a dilemma at cornerback this summer. Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson were always going to be their starters. Meanwhile, Cory Trice Jr. had an excellent training camp and preseason after missing the entire preseason and regular season in 2023 with an ACL injury.
To round out the group, the Steelers went with Darius Rush and Beanie Bishop. Pittsburgh may look to make a chance to this group before the start of the season.
Safety (5)
The question at the safety position always came down to whether or not the Steelers would keep just four or if they would devote a fifth roster spot to the position. We all knew Minkah Fitzpatrick, DeShon Elliott, and Damontae Kazee were going to make the team.
From there, we could assume that Miles Killebrew, a Pro Bowl special teams player in 2023, was also on track to make the roster. Ryan Watts had a chance to claim the final roster spot but landed on season-ending IR after suffering an injury in the final preseason game. The fifth and final safety spot goes to Jalen Elliott.
Specialists (3)
There was never any doubt about who the three specialists would be on this team. The Pittsburgh Steelers never had any intention of replacing kicker Chris Boswell, while punter Cameron Johnston was signed to be a solution to their problems at the position. Christian Kuntz is returning to the 53-man roster as the team's long snapper.
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