Albert Breer· Aug 17, 2026
After his 19th trip to Steelers camp, Breer sketched out Pittsburgh's emerging depth chart: Allar sticks as the third-string QB, Bernard is the No. 4 receiver, the left line trio is locked in, Cook and Anderson hold the right side until rookie Iheanachor is ready to start this year, and Ramsey mans the star/nickel spot. He also flagged Derrick Harmon for a breakout second season and German edge Julius Welschof as a sleeper.
“And if you want a sleeper to file away, German import Julius Welschof has turned heads with his size, strength and length on the edge.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
9 checkable claims — 8 depth chart calls and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 10 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 3.
Where this call stands in the room
Max Iheanachor · 2026 season5 calls from 5 pundits between 1 and 1. Albert Breer said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
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Who this take is about
9 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
Mason McCormick to be 1st on the depth chart
“The left side of the offensive line is set, with Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick and Zach Frazier comprising a smart, tough and physical trio.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsZach FrazierPittsburgh SteelersAug 17, 2026
Zach Frazier to be 1st on the depth chart
“The left side of the offensive line is set, with Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick and Zach Frazier comprising a smart, tough and physical trio.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Spencer Anderson to be 1st on the depth chart
“At right guard, Spencer Anderson has done a good job. He's smart and can be at least a stopgap until rookie Gennings Dunker, who's starting to ascend, is ready.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsDrew AllarPittsburgh SteelersAug 17, 2026
Drew Allar to make the roster
“For now, as a third-round pick, he has a roster spot.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDylan CookPittsburgh SteelersAug 17, 2026
Dylan Cook to be 1st on the depth chart
“And at right tackle, Dylan Cook is the guy for now”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Max Iheanachor to be 1st on the depth chart
“there's an expectation that he'll be ready to start at some point this year, but he has to prove he can stay on the field first”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTroy FautanuPittsburgh SteelersAug 17, 2026
Troy Fautanu to be 1st on the depth chart
“The left side of the offensive line is set, with Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick and Zach Frazier comprising a smart, tough and physical trio.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJalen RamseyPittsburgh SteelersAug 17, 2026
Jalen Ramsey to be 1st on the depth chart
“a veteran secondary should give Graham options, with Jalen Ramsey, who will play the star (or nickel) spot”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Germie Bernard to be 4th on the depth chart
“And rookie second-rounder Germie Bernard would be the fourth guy behind those three if the season started today”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Bryan DeArdoRoster Spot Calls · Drew AllarHit · 100A CBS Sports piece lays out Pittsburgh's quarterback pecking order: Aaron Rodgers starts, Mason Rudolph is the No. 2, rookie Drew Allar sits at No. 3 and Will Howard is fourth, with the Steelers expected to keep all four quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster rather than trading Howard.
- Jack MarkowskiRoster Spot Calls · Will HowardHit · 100Markowski writes that Howard now appears locked into the 53-man roster, that Pittsburgh is unlikely to move Rudolph, and that Rudolph has the inside track to be the backup behind Aaron Rodgers.
- Kevin PatraRoster Spot Calls · Mason RudolphHit · 100Patra argues the Steelers are increasingly likely to keep four quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster, with Mason Rudolph and third-round pick Drew Allar both safe, leaving Will Howard's spot as the only real question.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Robert TonyanHit · 100An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2.
- Noah StrackbeinRoster Spot Calls · Michael PittmanHit · 100Strackbein predicts the Steelers will keep six wide receivers on the 53-man roster: DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson, Germie Bernard, Ben Skowronek and Kaden Wetjen.
- Jack MarkowskiRoster Spot Calls · Will HowardHit · 100Markowski expects quarterback Will Howard to make the Steelers' 53-man roster as one of four quarterbacks provided he is healthy after his head injury.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Jonah ColemanMiss · 0In his Week 3 waiver column, Fitzmaurice makes several depth-chart calls around injuries: Jonah Coleman leading Denver's backfield, Marcus Mariota taking over in Washington, Michael Penix Jr. starting once healthy, and Malik Washington serving as Miami's top receiver, plus availability expectations for Detroit's injured safeties.
- Fox SportsDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Hit · 100Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Aaron JonesHit · 100In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco.
- Matt SeveranceDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2.
- Rafael ZamoranoDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100Zamorano reports Watson will start Week 2 at Tampa Bay and suggests there's little reason to expect improvement, raising the possibility Watson's five-year contract never yields more than single-digit wins.
- Rich HribarDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter.