Official Steelers Winners And Losers Of The 2023 Preseason That Made The Initial 53-Man Roster

The Pittsburgh Steelers finished the 2023 preseason with a record of 3-0 and most recently officially cut down the roster to 53 players. The initial group already has changed after Braden Mann was cut loose and the team then signed Desmond King II. Head Coach, Mike Tomlin's squad may be the deepest it has been in over five years and the tools are there to surprise the league this season. There were some guys who really helped their case for playing time in the preseason, while others may end up giving up a couple snaps once the season begins.

Everyone who is going to be on the roster once the season kicks off against the San Francisco 49ers could be considered a winner or a loser during the exhibition period, but certain guys stood out more than others. Let's dive into which players might end up regretting the preseason and who might just be climbing up the Steelers depth chart.

Winners

1.) Dan Moore Jr., OL

When Pittsburgh drafted Broderick Jones in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, many thought Dan Moore Jr. would be done as the starting left tackle. The preseason told a different story as Jones was decent, but not necessarily convincing. Moore Jr. has 33 games of starting experience in the NFL and did exactly what he needed to do. 

The third-year lineman didn't lose his job. Even if Jones finds his way in the starting lineup in 2023, Moore Jr. proved he deserves to remain a starter, whether that is with the Steelers or somewhere else going forward. 

2.) Kenny Pickett, QB

Kenny Pickett had huge shoes to fill when he was drafted just months after legendary signal-caller, Ben Roethlisberger announced his retirement. He didn't have a phenomenal rookie season as the Steelers missed the playoffs and he had more interceptions thrown than touchdowns. There was hope after a solid stretch from late November all the way to the end of the season.

Pickett had a perfect passer rating of 158.3 in the 2023 preseason and the starting offense scored five touchdowns on five drives. He has the fans desperate for regular season football.

3.) Elijah Riley / Chandon Sullivan

Pittsburgh seems to, more often than not, prioritize defense over the offensive side of the ball. After all, defense wins championships... so they say. Elijah Riley and Chandon Sullivan were both not expected to make the 53-man roster and no one believed both would land on it. They originally seemed to be fighting against one another, but the duo showed enough to stick around.

Calvin Austin III, Connor Heyward, Dylan Cook and Jaylen Warren are also deserving of mentions here. All three helped their stock throughout the preseason and will see an increased role because of it.

Steelers Preseason Losers

1.) Larry Ogunjobi, DL

We aren't looking at offseason winners and losers here. Larry Ogunjobi signed a lucrative three-year deal back in March of 2023, but has been dealing with an ankle injury that kept him absent for a ton of August. He's still in line to play in the regular season opener, but has an injury history. It would be a nightmare scenario for the Steelers if this ailment lingers and he is unable to compete at a high level from the beginning to the end of the 2023 campaign.

2.) Mark Robinson, ILB

Three of the Steelers four top insider linebackers on the depth chart were not with the team in 2022. There was a complete overhaul when it came to the unit and the only player who was left standing was 2022 seventh-round pick, Mark Robinson. He was flashy during his rookie preseason and displayed the ability to hit extremely hard. Unfortunately for him, the new cluster of Cole Holcomb, Elandon Roberts and Kwon Alexander showed that they belong on the field even more.

Robinson is going to have to find any way to stand out during the regular season because he is not going to see many snaps on defense, barring injury to the three in front of him. Special teams will be where he must prove his value.

3.) James Pierre, CB

James Pierre was someone who could have potentially been a surprise cut. He ended up sticking around (for now), but now has guys like Sullivan and Riley making better impressions than him. Patrick Peterson, Levi Wallace and Joey Porter Jr. will hear their names called before him and Pierre's lackluster preseason performances are going to affect the coaching staff's belief in him when key moments present themselves.

Everyone that made the 53-man roster can be considered a winner, but some lost more than they gained. There is no doubt that Pittsburgh has an incredibly talented group that should surprise many once the games count.

Who are your winners and losers as the Steelers 2023 regular season rapidly approaches? Let us know in the comments below!

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