With OTAs and minicamp behind us and training camp on the horizon, it’s a good time to look at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ roster and try and determine who’s safe and who’s not.
For example, entering his third training camp with the Steelers, versatile offensive tackle Dylan Cook finds himself squarely on the roster bubble once again. And this roster competition is much more key than many realize.
The O-line doesn’t always get the fanfare that other positions do, but it’ll be one of the most important units for Pittsburgh in 2025 — especially with a 41-year-old starting quarterback in Aaron Rodgers.
Although Cook is no starter, he’d serve as integral depth if he were to make the Steelers’ 53-man roster. And as we all know, in a league like the NFL, you’re only as good as your roster depth once injuries start to hit.
Steelers Now beat reporter Alan Saunders took a stab at projecting the initial 53-man roster after the conclusion of minicamp, and he had Cook making the team, narrowly.
“There’s an awful lot riding on the top two tackles here, so it wouldn’t be crazy to see the Steelers make an addition, but they seem to like the chemistry of the group they have,” Saunders wrote after predicting that Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu, Calvin Anderson and Cook would make the team at offensive tackle.
The problem is, Saunders also had a hard time cutting backup interior linemen Spencer Anderson, Ryan McCollum and Max Scharping, leaving the Steelers with 10 blockers on the 53. A large number, but not an unheard of amount around the league.
Saunders also identified Cook as the likeliest cut.
Reasoning: “I think I’m higher on Dylan Cook than they are. If only nine linemen make it, he could be the odd man out.”
Steelers OT Dylan Cook Must Prove Himself at Training Camp After Injury-Ravaged Season in 2024
The 6-foot-6 Cook has impressed the Steelers enough to stick around for a few years after beginning his UDFA career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He practically redshirted his first campaign with Pittsburgh in 2023, gaining the trust of the organization. Then, unfortunately for the 27-year-old out of Montana, 2024 was mostly lost to injury.
That makes year three a comeback season for Cook, and perhaps the third time is the charm as the former undrafted talent looks to make a real impact for a change.
This opportunity does not come without competition, however.
Entering training camp, the Steelers have brought in a collection of offensive linemen fighting for backup roles. The current group includes Doug Nester, Nick Broeker, Steven Jones, rookies Aiden Williams and Gareth Warren, and the aforementioned players above.
Steelers Roster Cuts Should Be Interesting in 2025
Cook will be competing with all the offensive linemen above, but he’ll also be up against so many other positions as the Steelers debate which areas to go heavier on at this year’s roster cutdown.
It happens every summer, and this Steelers training camp will be no different.
There were a ton of running backs in the building for minicamp, for example, although Pittsburgh already settled on one cut at that position. And then they also have big decisions at wide receiver, quarterback and tight end — and that’s just on the offensive side of the football.
Roster construction is one of the underrated aspects of this sport, and Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin knows how to build a strong 53 better than most.
