Part of the new CBA approved earlier this year by the NFLPA increases roster sizes from 53 to 55 players on game days. For some teams, that will mean keeping two additional players who don't have much to offer or are developmental players.
For the Steelers? We'll see. The team's starting lineup looks pretty strong.
The depth? Well, it looks to be lacking at certain spots. But those are things that will be figured out over the coming weeks.
The Steelers are set to start training camp July 28 in what promises to be a completely different kind of camp than anyone in Pittsburgh has ever seen.
First, it will be held at Heinz Field, not Saint Vincent College. Then, it will take place under serious restrictions thanks to the coronavirus outbreak.
And though it has not been officially announced at this point, there are reports the league is going to trim two weeks off the preseason schedule to give teams the opportunity to better get into shape.
That being said, here is a look at what the 55-man roster for Week 1 could look like at that end of this all:
QUARTERBACKS (3) -- Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph, Paxton Lynch
The first two are no-brainers. The third? Well, that's where things get interesting. Devlin Hodges was a great story last season. That the Steelers won three of his six starts was downright miraculous. Hodges has limitations as a quarterback that are obvious. He lacks arm strength and size. Moxie? Oh, he has that. Lynch, on the other hand, has the size and arm strength Hodges lacks. The only question is whether he has the moxie? But Lynch is a former first-round draft pick. He's got talent. His dedication to the game has been in question in the past. But now 26, perhaps he has matured -- or at least come to the realization that he's running out of chances.
RUNNING BACKS (6) -- James Conner, Anthony McFarland, Benny Snell, Jaylen Samuels, Kerrith Whyte, Derek Watt
Six running backs? Sure. Conner will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and has a lengthy injury history. Snell, Samuels and Watt are core special teams coverage players, while Whyte could again be the return man -- or at least better be if he wants to make this roster. McFarland is the wild card. The fourth-round draft pick could be the primary backup to Conner or he could be fourth on the depth chart. And he needs to show he can play on special teams. Six backs would be a lot, but given how many the Steelers went through in 2019, when they had six different running backs carry the ball, it's not a stretch.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6) -- JuJu Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson, James Washington, Chase Claypool, Deon Cain, Amara Darboh
The first four are givens. Cain has a size-speed element that is intriguing for working with Roethlisberger. No Ryan Switzer? Steelers fans would rejoice. Darboh is a former third-round draft pick of the Seahawks in 2017. Since then, he's been with the Patriots and Bucs, as well. Signed by the Steelers to their practice squad last November, Darbo at 6-foot-2, 214 pounds, can play special teams as something other than a return man, something Switzer cannot do.
TIGHT ENDS (3) -- Vance McDonald, Eric Ebron, Zach Gentry
No surprises here. McDonald should bounce back in 2020 after an awful 2019 season. Ebron offers a different kind of player at the tight end position with his ability to get down the field. Gentry will again be the No. 3, but should be active more, especially on special teams.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9) -- Alejandro Villanueva, Matt Feiler, Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, Chuks Okorafor, Zach Banner, Stefen Wisniewski, Kevin Dotson, Derwin Gray
With some combination of Okorafor, Banner or Wisniewski coming off the bench, the Steelers have solid depth on the offensive line. Dotson and Gray are promising players on the inside, as well. This is an interesting year because Villanueva, who turns 32 in September, Feiler and Banner all will be unrestricted free agents at the end of the season. What will be interesting to see is if the Steelers ask Dotson or Gray to learn to play center, as well.
DEFENSIVE LINE (6) -- Cam Heyward, Stephon Tuitt, Tyson Alualu, Chris Wormley, Isaiah Buggs, Henry Mondeaux
The addition of Wormley in the offseason means Daniel McCullers gets the heave hot. Alualu and Wormley can handle the nose tackle duties, while Mondeaux also can play nose tackle or end. This group would have a lot of flexibility and be one of the strengths of the team.
LINEBACKERS (9) -- T.J. Watt, Bud Dupree, Devin Bush, Vince Williams, Ola Adeniyi, Alex Highsmith, Ulysees Gilbert, Robert Spillane, Tuzar Skipper
The starting four are solid. The Steelers need to find some depth here -- quickly. They have hope for Gilbert on the inside. In fact, if he shows the kind of promise they think he will, he could replace Williams on some passing downs. Adeniyi is undersized on the outside, making him a liability in the run game. But he can rush the passer. So can Skipper, but he needs to show he can perform against higher-end talent than he did last season. He also must show up on special teams. Highsmith will be a work in progress, but he should be able to contribute immediately on special teams. If he shows he can do that, he'll get opportunities to spell Watt and Dupree. Watt, in particular, goes so hard all the time that he pulls himself out from time to time.
CORNERBACKS (6) -- Joe Haden, Steven Nelson, Mike Hilton, Cameron Sutton, Justin Layne, Trajan Bandy
With both Hilton and Sutton potentially headed for unrestricted free agency, the Steelers need to keep an eye on the future here. Sutton can play inside or out -- or safety -- giving him extreme value. But Bandy is a younger version of Hilton and could be his younger, cheaper replacement in 2021. Haden and Nelson are better than 90 percent of the starting duos out there. Layne remains a future starter in waiting.
SAFETIES (4) -- Minkah Fitzpatrick, Terrell Edmunds, Jordan Dangerfield, Antoine Brooks
Dangerfield is the veteran depth here right now, though Sutton and Hilton can play some safety, as well. Is Brooks a safety or a linebacker? He'll get a chance to learn safety first. Edmunds should continue to progress in year 3, especially with nearly a full season of working next to Fitzpatrick under his belt.
SPECIALISTS (3) -- Chris Boswell, Jordan Berry, Kameron Canaday
As much as many Steelers fans would like to see Berry replaced, he's done exactly what the team has wanted of him. Kick directionally and not allow a lot of return yardage. His 45.5 average last season was actually pretty solid but came out of him kicking more from his own end of the field. Berry's specialty is dropping kicks inside the opposing 20, something he didn't get as many chances to do last season. Rookie Corliss Waitman will be the camp leg this season, but doesn't offer much of a challenge. Boswell bounced back nicely from his terrible 2018 season and is back to being one of the best in the league.