Cut down day in the NFL is something I now refer to a “die hard day”.

Why?

Simple, it is a day where the vast majority of fans of any 32 NFL teams are hearing reports and articles about players they know nothing about. Sure, some players might be drafted players, but the majority of players cut as teams trim their roster from 90 to 32 are players who are after thoughts to most fans.

But the die hard fans are the ones who know about these fringe players. We fret about who might make the roster, and if others brimming with talent will be able to clear waivers and land on the team’s practice squad. In other words, it can be a stressful event for those die hard fans. In this same scenario, the Steelers fan base has been toiling over those who made, or didn’t, make the cut this past Tuesday. This isn’t even mentioning how the team has yet to fill their 16-man practice squad as of this being written.

To be completely honest, this process has many feeling horrible about the prospects of the 2024 season. Depth is thin at certain positions, but while I feel there are depth issues around the league, with no one possessing a perfect roster, we also shouldn’t forget about the Steelers nucleus in 2024. You know, the superstars they have at key positions.

So while some will continue to fret over the wide receivers who are at the bottom of the depth chart who did, or didn’t, make the roster, I’m choosing to focus on the players who will, you know, actually be making plays for the team in 2024.

Before going any further, it should be obvious that health of the team will always be paramount. If T.J. Watt gets injured for any duration of time fans know all about what that means for they success of the Steelers.

With that out of the way, when you look at the Steelers nucleus you can see how dynamic they can be. Defensively, I’ll go as far as saying this defense could be one of the best from top-to-bottom since the team’s 2010 Super Bowl run in Super Bowl 45. In the past few seasons, if there were issues where did they reside?

Run defense and the Inside Linebacker were some.

While we still have yet to see this group on the field in 2024, I’d say they’ve done a tremendous job this offseason improving in those two areas.

The run defense looks to have bolstered their unit along the defensive front. Larry Ogunjobi looks healthy, for once, Keeanu Benton seems to be even more disruptive in Year 2, and the depth with Dean Lowry, Isaiahh Loudermilk and company are more locked in than in recent memory. A group which doesn’t seem reliant solely on Cam Heyward to be the man along the front.

Of course the run defense is also buoyed by the inside linebackers. Even last year with a healthy Cole Holcomb, the linebackers didn’t come close to being what the Steelers have in 2024. Elandon Roberts found his niche in the defense in the second half of last year, Patrick Queen is a huge upgrade over Holcomb, and rookie Payton Wilson will only get better with more time. If Holcomb is able to get healthy and return at some point this season, they’ll be even more dynamic at inside linebacker.

Offensively the discussion in the past has always been about the team’s offensive line. Can they hold up against the best in the league, and bully opponents into submission?

The team addressed the offensive line in a big way this offseason, but the hope was those rookies wouldn’t all be called into action in their rookie seasons. With Isaac Seumalo’s pectoral injury the offensive line will be tested early and often in the early weeks of 2024.

While I spoke glowingly of the depth on the defense at certain positions, you can’t say the same about the team’s offense. Wide receiver is clearly the top position of concern for most fans, and of course the quarterback play will always be key as it pertains to the team’s successes and failures offensively.

I’m not trying to suggest the team has a perfect roster. Far from it. Then again, I don’t know of many rosters in the NFL which are deemed to be perfect from top-to-bottom. This is more just about how after cut downs last week we can start to transition from talking about those players on the fringe, an focus more on the players who are considered the nucleus.

Maybe I’m a homer, guilty as charged, but I think the Steelers nucleus in 2024 is pretty impressive. Enough to win a good number of games. The first challenge is just one week away.