Honestly, if you took a nap during the 2025 offseason and just woke up to look at the Steelers 2025 depth chart, you’d probably think you were looking at a Madden franchise mode gone off the rails. It’s wild.
The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t just shuffle the deck this year; they basically bought a new casino. We’re talking about a roster that features a 42-year-old future Hall of Famer at quarterback, a completely revamped secondary that includes Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay, and a first-round rookie on the defensive line who is already drawing Cam Heyward comparisons.
The Aaron Rodgers Era in the Steel City
Let’s just address the elephant in the room first. Aaron Rodgers is the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. It still feels weird to type that. After the Russell Wilson and Justin Fields experiments didn't exactly set the world on fire in 2024, Omar Khan went for the home run.
Rodgers is sitting at the top of the pile, followed by a familiar face in Mason Rudolph, who returned to be the primary backup. The third-string spot belongs to rookie Will Howard out of Ohio State. It’s a fascinating room because you have the ultimate veteran teaching a kid who has a similar "big-bodied" play style.
The offense under Arthur Smith has become this weird hybrid. You’ve got Rodgers’ surgical precision mixed with Smith’s obsession with heavy personnel and play-action.
Skill Positions: Metcalf and the New Look
If Rodgers was the main course, trading for DK Metcalf was the elite side dish. The receiver room was a massive headache for fans last year, but Metcalf has instantly settled in as the true WR1.
- DK Metcalf (The clear Alpha)
- Calvin Austin III (The speedster who finally carved out a starting slot role)
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Brought in specifically because he has chemistry with Rodgers)
- Roman Wilson (Entering year two, mostly working as a high-upside rotational piece)
Behind them, the veteran Robert Woods and Scotty Miller provide that "boring but reliable" depth Mike Tomlin loves. Adam Thielen was here briefly, but he’s since moved toward the end of his playing days.
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At running back, things are a bit more "committee" than they used to be. Jaylen Warren is the guy now. He’s the engine. But Kenneth Gainwell—who was a sneaky-good addition—actually took a ton of snaps and ended up being a vital part of the passing game. We also saw rookie Kaleb Johnson from Iowa get some "bully ball" carries late in the season.
Tight Ends: A Two-Headed Monster
The Steelers might have the most underrated tight end room in the league. Pat Freiermuth is still "Muth," but the addition of Jonnu Smith changed everything.
Jonnu actually pushed for starter reps because he’s such a freak after the catch. You’ll often see both of them on the field together, with Darnell Washington coming in as basically a third offensive tackle when they want to run the ball down someone's throat. It’s a lot of size for a secondary to deal with.
The Trenches: Protecting the 42-Year-Old
The offensive line is where the stress levels usually peak for Steelers fans. This year, it’s all about the young guys.
Broderick Jones has finally moved back to his natural home at Left Tackle. It hasn't been perfect—he’s still prone to the occasional "what was that?" penalty—but he’s much more comfortable there. On the other side, Troy Fautanu has locked down Right Tackle.
The interior is anchored by Zach Frazier at Center. Honestly, Frazier might be the most "Steelers" player on the team. He’s just a brick wall. Isaac Seumalo and Mason McCormick handle the Guard spots, though McCormick really pushed the veterans for playing time as the season progressed.
That Insane Defensive Secondary
This is where the Steelers 2025 depth chart gets really expensive. Trading away Minkah Fitzpatrick was a move that divided the city. You don't just replace a guy like that.
However, the logic was to build a "No Fly Zone" at cornerback.
- Joey Porter Jr.: The lockdown corner who follows the opponent's best receiver.
- Darius Slay: The veteran presence on the outside.
- Jalen Ramsey: The "Star" who plays nickel, roams the slot, and baits quarterbacks into bad decisions.
It’s a secondary built on ego and talent. Behind them, DeShon Elliott and Juan Thornhill are the safeties. They aren't Minkah, but they don't really have to be when you have three All-Pro caliber corners in front of them.
The Front Seven: Business as Usual
Some things never change. T.J. Watt is still the best edge rusher on the planet. He’s coming off another massive year and signed an extension that basically ensures he retires in black and gold. Alex Highsmith is on the other side, with Nick Herbig providing that high-energy relief that usually results in a sack every three games.
The defensive line has a new face of the future: Derrick Harmon. The first-rounder out of Oregon didn't wait to make an impact. He’s starting alongside Cam Heyward and Keeanu Benton. Seeing Heyward at 36 years old still bullying 22-year-old guards is one of the joys of the 2025 season.
At linebacker, Patrick Queen is the undisputed leader. He’s joined by Payton Wilson, who has officially surpassed the veteran depth on the chart because his sideline-to-sideline speed is just too good to keep off the field.
Special Teams: The Old Reliable
Chris Boswell is still kicking. At this point, he might be the most consistent thing in Pittsburgh other than the incline. Corliss Waitman won the punting battle, and Christian Kuntz is still the man over the ball for long snaps.
What This Means for the Future
The 2025 roster is clearly a "win now" build. When you have Aaron Rodgers and Jalen Ramsey on the same team, you aren't looking at a three-year plan. You’re looking at February.
The depth is better than it’s been in years, specifically at receiver and on the defensive line. However, the lack of draft capital in 2026 (due to some of these trades) means the window is propped open with a very heavy brick.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Watch the Left Side: The success of the season hinges on Broderick Jones protecting Rodgers' blindside. If he falters, there isn't a veteran "safety net" tackle on the bench.
- Monitor the Salary Cap: With Rodgers and Watt taking up massive chunks of the pie, expect a few veteran cuts or restructures before the 2026 league year starts.
- Focus on the Rookies: Derrick Harmon and Kaleb Johnson are the keys to the post-Heyward/post-Rodgers era. Their development this season determines if the Steelers stay competitive or crash into a rebuild in 2027.
The Steelers 2025 depth chart is a fascinating experiment in veteran star power. It’s a far cry from the "draft and develop" slow-burn approach of the previous decade, but for a fanbase hungry for a playoff win, it’s exactly the kind of chaos that makes Sundays worth watching.