Steelers Predicted to Cut 2025 Draft Pick at 53-Man Roster Deadline

The Pittsburgh Steelers have played their final 2025 preseason game, and now there’s nothing left standing in the way of them and the 53-man roster cutdown on August 26.

Most of the 53-man roster was decided long before this week, but there are a few spots that have come down to the wire. One of which involves a 2025 rookie draft pick.

On August 22, The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo projected the initial Week 1 roster, and he left seventh-round selection Carson Bruener off it at inside linebacker. Instead, he had veterans Cole Holcomb and Mark Robinson making the team behind Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, and Malik Harrison.

“Holcomb entered camp on the bubble but has earned high praise from the front office and the coaching staff,” DeFabo reasoned. “Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said he feels the Steelers have three ‘three-down backers’ with Queen, Wilson and Holcomb, which tells you that he’s solidified his role.”

From there, he added that “Robinson probably gets the nod because of special teams, but he’s one of the players right on the fringe.”

Bruener has been his competition, but DeFabo isn’t the only one who believes the rookie draft pick won’t really factor into the inside linebacker rotation in 2025.

Steelers Beat Reporter Mark Kaboly Reiterates That Cole Holcomb & Malik Harrison Will Serve as Main ILB Depth

During a mailbag post on August 20, veteran Steelers beat reporter Mark Kaboly reiterated that Holcomb and Harrison will be the main inside linebacker depth behind Queen and Wilson.

“You answered your question [about the inside linebacker depth chart], it’s going to be Holcomb and then Malik Harrison – both of whom have been excellent at stopping the run but have struggled over the past month in coverage,” Kaboly told a fan.

“I am willing to give Holcomb the benefit of the doubt in that department (for now),” he continued. Concluding: “You have to remember that Holcomb was LB1 a few years ago, and is that good.”

With Holcomb and Harrison backing up Queen and Wilson, the Steelers have a pretty sturdy top four at the heart of their linebacker core. The question is really if Bruener has done enough to beat out Robinson for the fifth spot, which is mostly a special teams role.

According to Over the Cap, Robinson carries a cap hit just over $1.128 million in 2025. If the Steelers were to cut him, they’d shed $1.1 million in cap space.

Comparing the Preseason Performances of Carson Bruener & Mark Robinson Ahead of the Steelers’ 53-Man Roster Cutdown

Using Pro Football Focus as a statistical guide, it’s possible that Bruener could still beat out Robinson for the final spot on the roster.

Bruener graded out better than Robinson on defense and special teams this summer, according to PFF.

Both Bruener and Robinson were credited with 69 defensive snaps during the preseason, and Bruener earned a higher grade at 58.5 compared to 51.1. The rookie earned better marks across the board in run defense, tackling, pass rush and pass coverage, although neither were very good at the latter.

On defense, Bruener registered 8 total tackles, which included 4 key defensive stops, and zero missed tackles. While Robinson recorded 6 total tackles, 2 key defensive stops, and 1 missed tackle, as well as a forced fumble.

Switching over to the special teams department, Bruener was the better player, too, according to PFF.

The rookie played a team-leading 64 ST snaps during the preseason, earning a really high-quality grade of 79.9 (4 special teams tackles, 1 missed tackle). Robinson was far worse this summer, at a 46.9 mark, which included 1 missed tackle and zero stops.

Is it possible DeFabo and Kaboly are predicting the wrong Steelers roster cut?