SerpApi.Org
2 Steelers cut candidates on chopping block entering 2026 NFL training camp appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Every NFL training camp is built on optimism, but every roster eventually collides with cold reality. Teams have veterans hoping to extend their careers, young players chasing opportunities, and established contributors trying to fend off fresh competition. By the end of August, however, difficult business decisions will have to be made. That challenge is especially pronounced for the Pittsburgh Steelers this year. A new coaching staff, a new offensive identity, and a roster built to contend immediately have created fierce competition throughout the depth chart. That leaves little room for sentimentality when final cuts arrive. Of course, the spotlight naturally shines on Aaron Rodgers. However, several veterans find themselves entering camp with far more at stake than simply earning playing time.
New era begins
The Steelers enter training camp in the middle of one of the franchise’s most significant transitions in decades. Mike McCarthy officially takes over following Mike Tomlin’s departure. Much of the attention understandably centers on Rodgers, who has announced that his 22nd NFL season will also be the final one of his remarkable career. Pittsburgh surrounded the future Hall of Famer with an upgraded supporting cast. They have standout receivers DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle headline a bruising backfield. Defensively, Cameron Heyward, TJ Watt, and Patrick Queen continue to anchor a unit expected to carry its share of the workload. Yet behind those established stars, one of the most compelling storylines involves the battle for the final roster spots.
LB Malik Harrison
Sometimes the numbers simply stop adding up. That is the difficult position Malik Harrison finds himself entering training camp. Throughout his career, Harrison has brought toughness and physicality. He has consistently contributed on special teams. Every successful NFL roster needs dependable role players willing to embrace those responsibilities.
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)
The challenge for Harrison is that reliability alone may no longer justify his place on this roster. His contract has become a significant factor. With a cap hit approaching $6.8 million and a substantial base salary, Harrison occupies valuable financial space. For the Steelers, that financial commitment becomes increasingly difficult to defend.
The depth chart only complicates matters further. Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson are firmly established as Pittsburgh’s starting inside linebackers. Behind them, Cole Holcomb provides valuable experience. Carson Bruener has positioned himself as another viable option capable of earning defensive snaps. That leaves Harrison battling for opportunities that may never materialize.
His special teams value remains meaningful. Still, modern roster construction forces front offices to weigh cost against production. Allocating starter-level money to a player expected to spend most of his time on kicking units becomes a luxury many contenders simply cannot afford.
DL Dean Lowry
The Steelers have quietly assembled one of the AFC’s deepest defensive lines. Unfortunately for Dean Lowry, that depth may ultimately cost him his roster spot. When Pittsburgh signed Lowry, the objective was clear. He brought veteran experience, dependable run defense, and high-level professionalism. Those qualities remain valuable, particularly during a long regular season.
However, defensive line has become one of Pittsburgh’s strongest position groups. Heyward continues to lead the unit with his trademark consistency. Keeanu Benton has developed into one of the defense’s foundational interior players. Derrick Harmon, Yahya Black, and Sebastian Joseph-Day further strengthen the rotation. That leaves very few openings behind the established contributors.
The competition for reserve spots has become especially fierce. Younger defensive linemen such as Logan Lee, Esezi Otomewo, and Gabriel Rubio are all competing to earn meaningful roles. Youth matters in these situations.
So does financial flexibility. The younger players offer developmental upside while carrying significantly smaller cap figures. Coaching staffs often prefer investing reserve roster spots in players whose best football may still be ahead of them.
Sure, Lowry’s experience certainly works in his favor. His ability to contribute immediately cannot be dismissed. Yet experience alone rarely guarantees a roster spot when younger alternatives demonstrate comparable production while offering greater athletic upside.
Competition defines contenders
The Steelers have embraced change throughout the offseason. These changes have fundamentally altered the roster landscape. Pittsburgh is no longer simply trying to remain competitive in the AFC North. They believe they have assembled a team capable of making a legitimate postseason run.
That ambition inevitably produces difficult roster decisions. Malik Harrison and Dean Lowry remain respected veterans who can still contribute at the NFL level. Yet both now find themselves squeezed by deeper position groups, evolving schematic priorities, and financial realities.
Training camp always creates opportunities for unexpected players to emerge, but it also forces organizations to make painful choices in pursuit of improvement. Harrison must convince the coaching staff that his experience and physicality outweigh the financial savings of moving on. Lowry must prove he offers more value than a wave of younger, less expensive defensive linemen. If the competition unfolds the way Pittsburgh hopes it will, both veterans could find themselves among the Steelers’ most surprising roster cuts before the 2026 regular season begins.
Like ClutchPoints’ content? Be sure to follow us.
Related: Steelers insider asks deciding question in Mason Rudolph vs. Will Howard battle
Related: The intriguing Steelers training camp battle that will have Aaron Rodgers’ full attention
