The Steelers' 2026 roster predictions: A year of surprises and missed calls
It's that time of year again: the annual review of my Steelers predictions. This time, I'm taking a closer look at my 53-man roster projections and assessing what I got right and what I got wrong. It's been a year of surprises, with some players rising to the occasion and others falling short of expectations.
What I got right
- Travis Homer off the roster: I was one of the first to predict that Homer wouldn't make the initial 53-man roster, and the Steelers ultimately shuffled him to the practice squad. This was a smart move, as Homer didn't stand out in the preseason games.
- Safeties Rayshawn Jenkins & Robert Spears-Jennings sticking: I kept both Jenkins and Spears-Jennings on my final projection, and they both made the team. Jenkins' experience and Spears-Jennings' strong summer performance were key factors in this decision.
- Only two players didn't make it: Excluding the injured reserve-bound DeShon Elliott, only two players I included on my final roster didn't make the initial 53: linebacker Elandon Roberts and offensive tackle Broderick Jones. This is a pretty good showing, especially compared to my 2025 predictions.
What I got wrong
- Including LB Elandon Roberts: I kept Roberts on my prediction, but the Steelers ultimately decided to go light at linebacker with just eight total. Roberts played the entire preseason finale, which was a sign that the team was considering keeping him. However, my prediction was wrong, and I should have seen the warning signs earlier.
- The third running back spot: I was incorrect in my belief that the team would initially carry just two true runners in Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle. Rookie Eli Heidenreich made the squad, and his strong performance in the preseason finale likely cemented his spot. This was a missed call, as I should have predicted that the Steelers would keep all 10 draft picks.
- Not keeping seven defensive linemen: I talked myself into keeping just six defensive linemen, but the Steelers' clear investment in the trenches continued. I missed the mark on this prediction, and I should have guessed that UDFA Kevin Jobity Jr. would make the team. This is a lesson learned for future predictions.
Roster deconstruction
My annual "roster deconstruction" series predicted the odds of every player making the 53-man roster. The player with the highest odds who didn't make it was ILB Malik Harrison, who had a 60% chance of making the team. By the time training camp started, it was clear that Harrison wasn't going to last. This was a missed call, but it's a better showing than my 2025 predictions, where I gave CB Beanie Bishop Jr. a 96% chance to make the team.
In conclusion, this year's predictions were a mix of surprises and missed calls. It's a reminder that roster predictions are a complex and unpredictable process, and there's always room for improvement. I'm looking forward to reviewing my predictions next year and seeing what I can get right!
