How many outside players will the Steelers add to the roster before Week 1?

If you watched the Steelers’ preseason, you’ll probably agree that the roster was not quite perfect. However, there isn’t much they can change in terms of the core players right now – aside from a Brandon Aiyuk trade. We can’t count on that, but the Steelers can fix some lingering roster depth issues.

Many will argue that a wide receiver is needed, but honestly I’m happy with Van Jefferson as the two. They have enough to do until Roman Wilson can hit the ground running.

What they could use is another real center with credible experience, because that’s what they lack among their reserves. In fact, all of their reserves lack experience. Steelers practice squad star Ryan McCollum has the most experience, and that’s not saying much because he’s never on Pittsburgh’s 53-man roster.

Given some injuries, the Steelers may also want to add a player (or two) to their roster for the secondary. No one has really grabbed the starting slot cornerback position by the horns, and that’s concerning. Beanie Bishop Jr. has generated a lot of smoke, but he may have put out his own fire.

Unless you count DeMarvin Leal, I’m also not convinced they have a fourth outside linebacker worth keeping at 53. If the Steelers add someone like Kyron Johnson to their roster, they’ll lose him to special teams.

But special teams is also a legitimate concern – and right now the punt gunner is the most important one. No one has really done that well this preseason, with Darius Rush being one of the prime candidates. I’m not even sure he’ll make the team at this point – another reason to bring in a cornerback.

I think the Steelers are good at most positions — or at least they are what they are — including quarterback, running back, tight end, inside linebacker, and maybe defensive line. The specialists are also solid on the team and have been for some time. But there are still some weak spots they can fill, and you can be sure they will look for them. That doesn’t mean they will be successful, but they should at least try.

The Steelers’ 2024 season is approaching, after another disappointing year that ended with a first-round playoff loss. The only change in the annual formula of late is whether they’ll be eliminated early or miss the playoffs altogether. They’ve had a long offseason since the Buffalo Bills put them out of their misery in January.

The biggest question hanging over the team is the quarterback question. Will Russell Wilson make them a Super Bowl-caliber team or will they waste a year? How will the team continue the depth diagram?

The Steelers are in training camp and the preseason and the 2024 season are coming into focus. They have made numerous changes through signings, trades and firings. More than usual, they seemed to be creating holes and were confident they could fill them. Some they were able to fill, others less so. Now that we have so many pieces of the puzzle, however, we just have to ask ourselves a new set of questions.