Projecting Pittsburgh Steelers' Depth Chart After Peak of Free Agency

For the Pittsburgh Steelers, free agency is mostly over. They may add another veteran here and there in the coming months, but for the most part the roster is going to remain stable until the 2015 NFL draft.

Given that the roster is stable for now, we can take a look at who is on it and what their respective places are on the depth chart. Here's a position-by-position breakdown of the Steelers' depth chart as it stands today.

Quarterback

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1. Ben Roethlisberger
2. Bruce Gradkowski
3. Landry Jones
4. Tajh Boyd

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is coming off the best season of his career and has been rewarded not just for his past performance but also the seasons to come with a four-year, $87.4 million contract extension. His roster spot is not in jeopardy in 2015—and not for at least three more years.

Behind him remains Bruce Gradkowski. Until Landry Jones can prove he is capable of beating Gradkowski out for that No. 2 job, he will reprise his role as the Steelers' third-string quarterback. Tajh Boyd could push him or imply be a camp arm; this will be a low-level battle to watch once training camp commences this summer.

Running Back

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1. Le'Veon Bell
2. DeAngelo Williams, Dri Archer
3. Josh Harris

Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell is one of the best at his position in the NFL. He rushed 290 times in 2014 for 1,361 yards and eight touchdowns, averaged 4.7 yards per carry and accounted for 73 rushing first downs. He also added 41 more first downs as a receiver. 

A three-down back, Bell won't be relinquishing his spot atop the Steelers' depth chart this year. Veteran DeAngelo Williams will spell him. He will also likely be the Steelers' starting running back for however long Bell is suspended to begin the season, stemming from a 2014 arrest for driving under the influence.

Archer totaled just 40 yards on his 10 carries in his rookie 2014 season, but head coach Mike Tomlin envisions an expanded role for him in 2015. This could mean a change-of-pace role that could put him on a similar level of touches as Williams, at least from an optimistic viewpoint.

On the third tier is Josh Harris. He played 19 snaps in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus, and had nine carries for 16 yards. He'll remain on the third string this year.  

Wide Receiver

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1. Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton, Martavis Bryant
2. Darrius Heyward-Bey, Dri Archer
3. Tim Benford, Brelan Chancellor, C.J. Goodwin, L'Damian Washington

Just as the Steelers boast one of the NFL's top running backs, they also possess one of the game's best receivers—Antonio Brown, who totaled 1,698 yards and 13 touchdowns on 129 receptions last year, averaged 106.1 yards per game and has a 32-game streak of at least five receptions and at least 50 receiving yards per game. Needless to say, he's the Steelers' No. 1 receiver heading into 2015.

Joining him are Markus Wheaton and Martavis Bryant. Wheaton is expected to work out of the slot this season while also working the outside of the field on occasion as well. He had 53 catches for 644 yards and two scores in 2014. Rounding out the team's top tier of receivers is second-year player Martavis Bryant. A home run hitter, Bryant totaled 26 catches for 549 yards and eight touchdowns, though he wasn't active until Week 7.

The second string is comprised of offensive weapon Dri Archer, who had seven catches for 23 yards last year, and Darrius Heyward-Bey. The Steelers just brought Heyward-Bey back on another one-year deal; he had three catches on five targets for 33 yards last season.

Rounding out the receiving corps are Tim Benford, Brelan Chancellor, C.J. Goodwin and L'Damian Washington. All will be scraping for a roster spot this summer, something that could become even more difficult for the four players should the Steelers draft an additional wide receiver.

Tight End

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1. Heath Miller
2. Matt Spaeth, Will Johnson
3. Rob Blanchflower, Michael Egnew

Though it may not be the case a year from now, presently the Steelers' top tight end remains Heath Miller. While not a red-zone threat as he has been in the past, with just three touchdowns scored in 2014, he still moves the chains; he had 66 catches for 761 yards, 338 yards after the catch and 42 first downs last season.

Behind him are two blockers—Matt Spaeth and Will Johnson, the latter more of a fullback than a tight end. Johnson had just two rushes for a net of zero yards and six catches for 41 yards in 2014, while Spaeth had only three receptions for 46 yards and a score. However, both are important parts of the run blocking and pass protection.

The third string is comprised of Rob Blanchflower, the Steelers' 2014 seventh-round draft pick, and Michael Egnew, another fullback. Blanchflower spent all of his rookie year on the practice squad, while Egnew will have to display more talent in every phase to beat out Johnson for a roster spot. Of the two, Blanchflower is the most intriguing, if only because he's an unknown quantity as of now.

Offensive Line

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1. Kelvin Beachum, Ramon Foster, Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, Marcus Gilbert
2. Cody Wallace, Mike Adams, Chris Hubbard
3. Alejandro Villanueva, Mitchell Van Dyk

For the first time in what felt like a lifetime, the Steelers had stability on the offensive line in 2014. The results? One of the team's best rushing outputs and a career season for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. And it appears the Steelers will be keeping the band together in 2015, with Kelvin Beachum the starting left tackle, Ramon Foster the starting left guard, Maurkice Pouncey at center, David DeCastro at right guard and Marcus Gilbert at right tackle.

That does not mean, however, the Steelers don't need serviceable depth to fill in for minor (or major) injuries or in order to spell an overworked player. Those jobs will fall to Cody Wallace, Mike Adams and Chris Hubbard, who played a combined 532 snaps in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus. Hubbard and Wallace saw time at left guard, and Adams filled in at right tackle.

Given that the Steelers have had longstanding issues with keeping their offensive line healthy, they aren't likely to rest on their 2014 laurels and presume the same results. That's why both Alejandro Villanueva and Mitchell Van Dyk could have homes in Pittsburgh for the 2015 season.

Defensive Line

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1. Cameron Heyward, Stephon Tuitt, Steve McLendon, Cam Thomas
2. Daniel McCullers
3. Matt Conrath, Ethan Hemer, Joe Kruger

The Steelers defensive line is one area in which the team is in flux this year. Brett Keisel is a free agent who may retire—or he may return to Pittsburgh in the summer, much as he did last year. Cameron Heyward will reprise his role as a starting defensive end, but this time he may be joined by second-year player Stephon Tuitt in order to minimize the impact of Pro Football Focus' last-ranked 3-4 defensive end for 2014, Cam Thomas.

Steve McLendon should again be the starting nose tackle. Per PFF, he played 305 snaps at the position last year to rookie Daniel McCullers' 65. However, with the Steelers utilizing more hybrid fronts, don't expect any nose tackle to be on the field for 70 or 80 percent of the team's defensive snaps. Also expect more snaps from McCullers in his second year, which will cut into McLendon's playing time.

Given that the Steelers are thinner than they'd like on the defensive line, the trio of Matt Conrath, Ethan Hemer and Joe Kruger all have opportunities to make the 53-man roster. Of course, that will also hinge on what the Steelers choose to do in the upcoming draft.

Linebacker

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1. James Harrison, Arthur Moats, Jarvis Jones, Lawrence Timmons, Ryan Shazier, Sean Spence, Vince Williams
2. Terence Garvin, Jordan Zumwalt
3. Roosevelt Nix, Shawn Lemon, Howard Jones

Like defensive line, the linebacking corps of the Steelers needs added depth. However, they are in far greater need of outside linebackers and edge-rushers than players to work the interior. Currently, the outside linebacker depth chart features three players worth starting in 2015—James Harrison, Arthur Moats and Jarvis Jones.

Harrison, who stepped back into Pittsburgh last year after a brief flirtation with retirement, totaled 45 combined tackles and 5.5 sacks in 2014. Jones had two sacks, while Moats totaled four. Jones and Harrison will be "in an open competition" for the Steelers' right outside linebacking job, according to general manager Kevin Colbert (h/t Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), leaving the job on the left for Moats barring any additions coming in the draft.

The interior of the linebacking unit is a more rotational affair, with Lawrence Timmons taking up residence as the left inside linebacker and Ryan Shazier, Sean Spence and Vince Williams rotating situationally as the right inside backer. Expect that to continue this year.

Adding depth both inside and outside are Terence Garvin and second-year linebacker Jordan Zumwalt. The third string of Roosevelt Nix, Shawn Lemon and Howard Jones could also prove useful to the Steelers in 2015. If one can emerge as an effective pass-rusher, even on a situational basis, that could be enough to secure him a roster spot.

Cornerback

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1. William Gay, Cortez Allen, Antwon Blake
2. B.W. Webb, Kevin Fogg

The Steelers aren't in great shape at cornerback right now. After not bringing back Ike Taylor and losing Brice McCain to the Miami Dolphins, they have just three capable starters currently on the roster—William Gay, Cortez Allen and Antwon Blake.

Gay was the Steelers' third-leading tackler in 2014, with a combined 69. He also had 12 passes defensed and three interceptions. He will reprise his role as the Steelers' starter on the right side of the field.

The real questions arise when it comes to the futures of Allen and Blake. Pittsburgh gave Allen a lucrative contract extension before the start of the 2014 season but bumped him from starter on the outside to the slot and eventually to the bench, with Blake and McCain taking his place. Blake totaled 42 tackles, six passes defensed and an interception in 2014, while Allen had 41 tackles, 11 passes defensed and two picks. 

If the Steelers don't add a cornerback in the draft—which is unlikely—then this trio will be the team's starters this year, with Allen and Blake battling for boundary duties alongside Gay. Given the thinness of the position, however, B.W. Webb and Kevin Fogg could easily remain on the roster as depth, though both men's spots will be in greater jeopardy depending on the outcome of the draft.

Safety

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1. Mike Mitchell, Shamarko Thomas
2. Ross Ventrone, Robert Golden
3. Isaiah Lewis, Jordan Dangerfield, Ian Wild, Alden Darby

Yes, technically speaking, safety Troy Polamalu is still currently on the roster. However, it's highly unlikely he's in the Steelers' plans for 2015; they are instead waiting to see if Polamalu will announce his retirement before deciding whether to release him. So, for all intents and purposes, Polamalu is not in the equation this year.

That leaves the Steelers with Mike Mitchell and Shamarko Thomas as the starters at this time. Mitchell, the starting free safety in 2014, totaled 71 tackles and three passes defensed, while Thomas played only two defensive snaps, instead doing most of his work on special teams. Head coach Mike Tomlin may have interest in moving Mitchell to strong safety this season. Whether that means Shamarko would be the free safety is yet to be seen.

Behind the duo are a pair of special teams aces in Robert Golden and Ross Ventrone. Because they are so valuable in this area, they also may get cracks at any starting safety vacancies the Steelers may still have in the coming months.

Special teams is also the best way for Isaiah Lewis, Jordan Dangerfield, Ian Wild and Alden Darby to stick on the roster in Pittsburgh. There's no chance all four make it, but if at least one stands out as a special teams contributor this summer, he could earn a helmet for September.

Kicker

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1. Shaun Suisham

The Steelers have just one kicker on the roster at present—Shaun Suisham—and it's not looking like they are going to make a change at the position any time soon. So it may be fine to not only pencil Suisham in as their kicker for 2015 but to actually use indelible ink.

Suisham made 29 of his 32 field-goal attempts, for 90.6 percent, in 2014 and was a perfect 45-of-45 in extra points. He boasted a long kick of 53 yards. 

Given that Heinz Field is a difficult stadium to kick in, Suisham has handled this duty well. For that reason, he won't likely see a challenger for his job this year.

Punter

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1. Brad Wing
2. Richie Leone

It's possible that a punter battle is brewing in Pittsburgh between the incumbent Brad Wing and Richie Leone, whom the Steelers signed to a reserve-futures contract in January.

Wing punted 61 times in 2014, for a total of 2,667 yards, or 43.7 yards per punt. He had four touchbacks, 18 punts fair-caught and 27 punts returned for 220 total yards, or 8.1 yards per return.

Leone, an undrafted signing of the Baltimore Ravens in 2014, had two preseason punts for Baltimore that year for 41.1 yards. He averaged 43.1 yards per punt in college for Houston. 

Though a battle could break out this summer, the edge on the depth chart in April goes to the veteran Wing. Leone has yet to try to kick in Heinz Field's swirling winds or in a game more important than a preseason exhibition. Until he proves he can do so better than Wing, the incumbent remains the Steelers' 2015 punter.