Pittsburgh Steelers Roster 2018 Steelers Roster

Ben Roethlisberger only has a few more seasons left, and Pittsburgh knows that. They drafted Mason Rudolph in the third round, and this is an excellent situation for him to sit and learn from. They also drafted his battery mate James Washington, who will take JuJu Smith-Schuster’s role from last season. Martavis Bryant is out of the picture, and was more trouble than help over the last few seasons. Smith-Schuster and Antonio Brown are going to be primary weapons for Big Ben, and you likely didn’t need us to tell you that. We all know Le’Veon Bell is going to be the guy, and it looks like James Conner will back him up. The Pittsburgh tight ends will likely rotate, and Jesse James and Vance McDonald will be the guys. As far as targets go, we know who on this roster will get them. That is never a question with Pittsburgh.

Breaking through in 2018-19

Despite creating a four-way tie for the league's best record, the 2017-18 season ended in dismay for the Pittsburgh Steelers. A shootout with Jacksonville in the Divisional rounds spelled the end of the season for the Steelers. Approaching this season, it is hard for the team to concentrate on short-comings after reaching high levels of achievement last season. The biggest and loudest noise resounding throughout their camps and locker rooms is capitalizing in the post-season. This team is no stranger to this space, but it has been nearly a decade since the team's last Super Bowl appearance.

One of the biggest pieces for the team to deal with heading into the off-season was the contract of Le'Veon Bell. Bell is arguably the league's best all-around running back. His patience in the backfield is second to none across the history of the game, an attribute the team desperately needs to grasp. The team failed to reach a deal, forcing Bell to play under the franchise tag for the second straight season. This spells disaster for the team, leaving the status and consistencies of Bell up in the air. It has been reported that Bell will sit if the team cannot reach a contract agreement, so the development of this storyline will be something to follow for the team.

The team also showed its colors by approaching the longevity of Ben Roethlisberger. Ben is on the tail-end of his career, competing in his 14th season within the organization. The team has always supported his contractual needs and have given him full reigns within the offense. To prepare for the inevitable, the team added young talent Mason Rudolph to the roster. The team selected Rudolph in the 3rd round, a place that left his skill set at a steal of a price. The development team will work with Rudolph in hopes of prepping him for a starting role once Big Ben decides to hang up the cleats. Ben seems to be trending on a positive note, downplaying critics and placing his longevity in a discussion of a couple more years of top-tiered play.

There's also a few selling points the team are excited about. One of the first items is the health of the offensive line. When healthy, this group of 5 is near the top of the best in the league discussions. Pouncey is ready to roll, DeCastro is returning to form, and Villanueva is coming off a Pro-Bowl season. The offensive line health is a huge selling point for all areas of the offense. Ben is now protected, Bell is given those large, developing gaps he needs to structure his game, and the pass blocking opens the doors for downfield strikes.

The defense remained relatively consistent when compared to last year's roster, but a few additions in key places will do wonders for the team. The team loves to play around with their defensive sets due to the versatility in their roster makeup. They have a lot of guys who play the linebacker position covering slot receivers and speedy tight ends. The team brought in Jon Bostic from Indianapolis to help hold down the middle. He will benefit the game of both T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree. The corners and safeties need to find their voice and consistency. Past rosters have excelled in these areas, but sans some of the greatest Steelers defensive players opens the doors for new talents to find their space to excel.