The Pittsburgh Steelers have waived offensive tackle Kellen Deisch, the team announced Monday, creating a second opening on the 90-man roster just one day out from the conclusion of rookie minicamp.
That leaves seven offensive tackles on the roster, including 2023 and 2024 first-round draft selections Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu.
Deisch was originally signed to the Steelers practice squad ahead of the 2023 season and eventually signed to a reserve/future contract heading into the 2024 offseason.
Before joining the Steelers’ practice squad, Diesch had spent time with the Miami Dolphins in the 2022 offseason and Chicago Bears, where he spent the 2023 season on the practice squad.
Though Diesch has yet to make his first NFL start, he could find his way to another team in a depth role, standing at a gargantuan height of 6’7 1/8” with top-tier athleticism for the position, testing 85th percentile (or higher) in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump and 20-yard shuttle coming out of Arizona State, per MockDraftable.
Diesch played in each of the Steelers’ three preseason games in 2023, having allowed three total pressures in 50 pass-blocking opportunities, per PFF.
Why the Steelers cleared the roster spot remains to be seen, though it seems probable that they’re clearing space for a standout at rookie minicamp.
The team already signed veteran cornerback Anthony Averett to a deal after his three-day tryout with the team.
According to the Steelers’ current 90-man roster published on their website, there are currently 88 players on the 90-man roster after Deisch’s release. 14 of those 88 players are rookies.
