The Pittsburgh Steelers still very much want to be a team that builds through the draft, but scouting or development failures have forced them to radically shift the way they keep the roster competitive. Just 26 players that were active against the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card playoff loss made the 2025 initial 53-man roster (h/t TribLive Joe Rutter). And that significant roster churn isn’t a one-year anomaly.
The Steelers believe they are capable of competing deep into the playoffs every year and maneuver their roster accordingly. This year, that meant becoming one of the oldest rosters in the NFL.