Roster Analysis - Defense

I like to take a little different approach to roster predictions. Who are the locks? Who are the guys on the bubble? Basically I want to look at who has a legit shot at the roster assuming we stay healthy.

Dline (7) - Heyward, Tuitt, Hargrave, Alualu. These 4 are locks. Buggs, Hooks, McCullers. I think these 3 guys are fighting for the final 2 spots.

OLB (5) - Dupree, Watt, Chickillo, and Adeniyi are probably all locks. Smith is on the bubble, but unlike the some other positions, I think he is fighting others for a roster spot. There are no other OLBs who I think will push him off the roster.

ILB (5) - Williams, Barron, and Bush are locks. Gilbert and Dirty Red are fighting for the roster.

I think we have 10 LBs who have a shot at the roster, but with Gilbert and Smith having PS eligibility, I think there is some ability for this to be in flux.

CB (6) - Haden, Nelson, and Hilton are locks. Allen, Burns, Layne and Sutton. These guys are probably fighting for 3 spots. One of them isn't going to make the roster. I think the question will be Burns potential as a cover guy vs. Allen's ability on special teams.

S (7) - Edmunds and Davis are locks. Allen, Askew-Henry, Dangerfield, Kelly, and Locke are all potentials. These 5 guys are all fighting for 2-3 spots. Askew-Henry and Locke have to force their way onto the roster as I think the other 3 are all leading at the moment.

 

Layne is our 3rd round pick just signed to a 4yr contract: Why is he competing for a spot?

 

Why is Layne fighting for a spot because its the NFL being a third round pick is no guarantee. Now most likely he is leading that group or maybe 2nd out of 4 for three spots.

If draft position and hype were all that's needed then Burns should have played in 2 or 3 pro bowls by now.

My biggest worry is our recent total failure at making really good choices when it comes to the secondary.
I still think our coaching is a big part of the blame Burns and Davis both took major steps backward in their second year Davis rebounded but Burns even if he wasn't a true first rounder he was no worse than a second rounder and by now he might be ruined , done finished.

All I am looking for is some serious progress from the secondary, no more confusion, no more mental breakdowns.

 

Layne is a lock. The Steelers aren't giving up on a third-round pick even if he sucks in training camp and the preseason.

 

Dirty Red is a lock for two reason...1) He’s the only true Buck other than Williams and 2)-he’s a ST demon....

If Davis keeps missing tackles in preseason Kelly could replace him——

I wouldn’t call chick Lock, Adeniyi might beat him out and Skipper is a dark horse I’m pulling for And Smith is a near lock.

Cajun

 

They gave up on kraig urbik a 3rd round pick before he even played in a game they waived him, he went on to play 9 years in the nfl, so no 3rd round pick is a lock...

 

Tuitt has restructured his deal moving him to the front of next year's cut list because his base salary will be ridiculous.

 

With Hargrave set to become a free agent after the season, the Steelers aren't getting rid of Tuitt.

 

Haven’t looked at the details but I would be astonished if they cut Tuitt.

 

I was basing more on how the restructures for other players has gone. Convert the bulk of the 2019 money to a bonus and lowering the cap hit but inflating his base pay the following year making a restructure necessary again and adding more to the base until it is better to cut the player than keep them. It's why I hate restructuring.

 

I didn't mean they would want to cut him just that once the restructuring starts the base pay goes up and makes cutting the more affordable option than keeping him. It's happened to a bunch of the guys who were near the end of their careers.

 

Tuitt is not getting cut. He is not the current issue looking forward. Cameron Heyward's age likely will be as he will be. He is a UFA in 2021 when his contract ends. How long of an extension will he receive?!



Regarding the current roster, Justin Layne will be a lock for me. Isaiah Buggs is a favorite of mine to win a spot on the Final 53. Ulysees Gilbert III vs. Tyler Matakevich will be the one to watch.

 

Urbik spent a full season on the Steelers roster. He was a third-round pick in 2009 and he was cut in September of 2010.

In other words, your example actually helps prove my point. Even a third-round pick the Steelers clearly saw as a bust lasted one season with the team. Layne will be with them at least that long.