Bringing back an exercise I did ahead of the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers season. With the team one month away from reporting to training camp, it’s worth taking inventory of the Steelers’ 91-man roster (the team is carrying an extra player because of EDGE Julius Welschof’s international exemption) and offering a framework of the odds that each player makes the 53-man roster.
As our previous exercises outlined, there are a few caveats.
– This percentage only refers to the odds the player makes the Steelers’ initial 53-man roster. It doesn’t consider their practice squad odds. With a 16-man taxi squad (17 with the exemption), many players who don’t have much chance to make the 53 will end up there. Keep that in mind when examining these percentages.
– It doesn’t consider or account for inevitable injuries. That will change the landscape of the Steelers’ roster, but those are unpredictable and won’t be factored in. What will be considered are potential trades and other roster moves to reshape the roster prior to Week 1.
– Those who are listed with identical percentages are ranked in alphabetical order.
Part One – The Longshots
Part Two – Outside Looking In
Part Three – Squarely On The Bubble
STEELERS INSIDE-LOOKING-OUT (56%-75% CHANCE OF MAKING 53 MAN ROSTER)
P Cameron Johnston: 75%
WR Robert Woods: 70%
OT Calvin Anderson: 70%
WR Ben Skowronek: 66%
CB James Pierre: 60%
DL Isaiahh Loudermilk: 60%
Cameron Johnston will enter camp as the favorite over Corliss Waitman even after missing nearly all of his 2024 season due to a freak knee injury. Pittsburgh signed him to a long-term deal for a reason. Still, he’ll need to prove his health.
The receivers on this list, Robert Woods and Ben Skowronek, could have even higher odds. Woods is a trusted veteran who can block and should fit well in the locker room. Skowronek carved out a solid role as a special teamer and big personnel run blocker. But the looming possibility of the Steelers adding a wide receiver by signing or trade could squeeze someone out of a spot, slightly reducing their odds.
Anderson isn’t an ideal No. 3 swing tackle, but he inked a two-year deal, and as a veteran with experience, his odds are good. Pittsburgh’s depth is poor overall.
Pierre returned after a brief stint in Washington to continue playing well as a gunner. He’s lower down the depth chart at cornerback. That’s a good thing for the defense. Pierre shouldn’t be the next man up, but moves Pierre down the depth chart. Right now, he’s the No. 4 cornerback, and someone will have to make a move to bump him off the team.
Loudermilk rounds out the group. Last year, he consistently beat out Dean Lowry for a helmet late in the season and re-signed to a cheap, one-year contract in free agency. His ceiling is low, and Loudermilk is just a rotational base end backup without much pass rush juice. There’s plenty of competition to muddy the waters, and he’ll have to earn his job. Just as Yahya Black and the others battling for the same spot must do, and I give Loudermilk only slightly stronger odds (60 vs 55 percent).
