​Shortly after the Pittsburgh Steelers convene for training camp, the team will unveil its first official depth chart. With new head coach Mike McCarthy shaping the offense, several spots are open for competition as the roster adjusts to the revamped unit. Below is our opening projection for the Steelers’ first offensive depth chart.
We give Mason Rudolph the veteran nod as the No. 2 quarterback behind the presumed starter. In our lineup, the quarterback slate reads: Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and Drew Allar, reflecting ongoing battles throughout training camp and the preseason as the offense experiments with different personnel groupings and schemes.
At running back, Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle, Kaleb Johnson, Eli Heidenreich, Travis Homer, and Lew Nichols will vie for playing time, with opportunities to distinguish themselves in practice and exhibition games. In the receiving corps, Roman Wilson is slated to occupy a slot in one arrangement, though he could also emerge as the No. 2 option at slot receiver depending on week-to-week needs. The wideout rotation currently features DK Metcalf, Roman Wilson, A.T. Perry, and Levi Wentz, highlighting the competition for the second and third outside receiver roles as the season approaches.
In the tight end room, there is considerable pressure on Michael Pittman Jr. to perform consistently. The projection places Pittman Jr. as the starter, with Ben Skowronek, Joaquin Davis, Brandon Smith, Darnell Washington, Robert Tonyan, Jaheim Bell, JJ Galbreath, and Lake McRee providing depth and potential upgrades in two- and three-tight-end sets. The rookie Bernard has impressed in offseason work and represents another exciting option at tight end, though the depth chart currently places him further down the line behind established players.
At tackle and interior line positions, the Steelers have kept Darnell Washington behind Pat Freiermuth in the tight end pecking order, while Broderick Jones stands at No. 2 on the offensive line, a placeholder until further development. The press has noted that Jones has not generated a lot of late camp buzz, but our projection keeps him in the second spot for now. The offensive line rotation presents Troy Fautanu at left tackle, with Broderick Jones as the right tackle starter in waiting. The guards and centers feature Dylan Cook, Max Iheanachor, and Jack Driscoll competing for starting roles and depth.
On the interior line, Mason McCormick, Brock Hoffman, and Steven Jones form part of a reshaped guard and center corps, with Cook and Iheanachor illustrating the ongoing experimentation across the guard spots. Spencer Anderson, Gennings Dunker, and Doug Nester comprise a competing group behind the presumed starters, as the Steelers monitor who emerges as the most reliable five-man unit.
The interior offensive line presents one of the least contested areas on the depth chart, with Zach Frazier, Ryan McCollum, and Greg Crippen appearing as the primary options in lockstep with the rest of the line. The overall depth and versatility across the line allow for multiple alignment configurations, depending on opponent and game plan.
This projection originally appeared on Steelers Wire as part of a broader feature examining Steelers training camp and projecting the first offensive depth chart for SEO purposes. It emphasizes the ongoing battles across quarterback, running back, receiver, tight end, and offensive line as Pittsburgh explores the best combinations to maximize the offense’s potential in 2024.