Steelers Shake Things Up Again: Another Surprising Roster Cut Announced Just Days After the NFL Draft

   

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced another roster move on April 30, as they chose to release veteran outside linebacker Thomas Rush.

Per Steelers Now beat reporter Alan Saunders, Pittsburgh “just signed Rush in January to a future contract after he spent the past two seasons on the practice squad of the Tennessee Titans.”

Steelers announce post NFL draft roster cut.

Saunders also pointed out that the Steelers used a fourth-round pick on Ohio State outside linebacker Jack Sawyer, making Rush’s presence less necessary.

Rush has never suited up for a regular-season NFL game, although he has logged 6 preseason appearances with the Titans. Before entering the league as an undrafted prospect, the outside linebacker spent five years at Minnesota, with 8.5 sacks and 86 total tackles over 57 career appearances.

This marks the Steelers’ third veteran cut following the 2025 NFL Draft.


Steelers Free Up Roster Spot for More Potential Moves

The Steelers’ 90-man roster is actually pretty full after both the draft and several undrafted signings.

After the Rush cut, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Brian Batko noted that his release gives them four open spots on their offseason roster.

“Usually, one to two make it from rookie minicamp tryouts,” Batko added. “Could be another UDFA or two signed, as well.”

There’s one other way the Steelers could fill Rush’s roster spot, and that’s with an Aaron Rodgers signing or Kirk Cousins trade. Things have been weirdly quiet on Pittsburgh’s QB front since the draft, with National Champion Will Howard joining Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson.

Having said that, Steelers general manager Omar Khan has been adamant that Pittsburgh would like to enter camp with four quarterbacks, which strongly hints that the organization still expects to add another veteran option.


Pittsburgh Is Currently Well-Stocked at OLB

As mentioned above, Rush became expendable after the Sawyer selection.

The Steelers are now very deep at edge rusher entering Organized Team Activities (OTAs), with the rookie joining superstar T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jeremiah Moon, Eku Leota, international prospect Julius Welschof and DL hybrid DeMarvin Leal if needed. That’s a strong group, and Rush will have a better chance of making a 53-man roster elsewhere.

Although there are long-term questions as long as Watt remains without an extension, outside linebacker will once again be a strength of the organization in 2025. And that’s how head coach Mike Tomlin prefers it.

Pittsburgh blitzed the quarterback on 25.9% of dropbacks in 2024, which ranks middle of the pack for the league at 12th overall. Even so, Tomlin likes to flaunt waves of strong rushers off the edge, and a foursome of Watt, Highsmith, Herbig and Sawyer gives him that.

The positional depth also gives the Steelers some insurance in the event that Watt prices himself out of town.


Jack Sawyer Pick Has Nothing to Do With T.J. Watt Contract Talks, Says Steelers Reporter

Speaking of Sawyer and Watt, long-time Steelers beat reporter Mark Kaboly calmed fans on April 30 regarding the belief that the rookie was drafted to replace the future Hall of Famer.

“[The Sawyer pick] has absolutely nothing to do with Watt,” Kaboly told a fan during a mailbag post. “Watt is going to get paid, he has missed 11 games in eight years and routinely plays 80% of the snaps. I don’t care what his brother’s health was like in his 30s. It means nothing.”

“Sawyer at 123 may have been the biggest value of the entire draft,” Kaboly went on to add. “They couldn’t pass that up for anything. It’s nothing more or nothing less than that.”

As of April 30, Watt and the Steelers are still expected to eventually reach an extension.

Nhung Nguyễn -
The Latest

Steelers Shake Things Up Again: Another Surprising Roster Cut Announced Just Days After the NFL Draft

Sport -7 giờ

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced another roster move on April 30, as they chose to release veteran outside linebacker Thomas Rush. Per Steelers Now beat reporter Alan Saunders, Pittsburgh “just signed Rush in January to a future contract after he spent the past two seasons on the ...

Analyst Ranks Bears Pick as the Best Selection in 2025 Draft

Sport -7 giờ

What may have seemed like a curious pick at the time is now drawing rave reviews. Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Poles turned heads in the second round by drafting Missouri receiver Luther Burden III with the 39th pick, but ESPN’s Matt Miller loved ...

Chiefs Lose Potential Insurance Policy in Rare Free Agent Swap: Report

Sport -7 giờ

The Kansas City Chiefs have done well to bolster the left tackle position in both free agency and the NFL draft, but they just lost one potential insurance policy if their current LT plan falters. “The [San Francisco] 49ers reached [an] agreement on a deal with ...

Chiefs compare rookie Brashard Smith to Kadarius Toney (in a good way)

Sport -7 giờ

Trust us. They mean it in the best way!   This Kadarius Toney comparison isn't what you think it is. Typically, a mention of Toney goes over like a lead balloon for Chiefs Kingdom. The former Kansas City wide receiver cost the team a couple ...

Seahawks stay locked-in on former Mississippi State Bulldog Charles Cross

Sport -7 giờ

The former 1st Team All-SEC lineman is officially a franchise left tackle in the NFL.     Despite having a 2025 NFL Draft to forget, Mississippi State football has still been an excellent program at producing high-level pro talent for the past 15 ...