Editor’s note: From now until reporting day to training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2025 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with at least two players each day between June 12 and July 23. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.
OLB JULIUS WELSCHOF
Experience/age: No regular-season NFL experience, 28
Contract status: $840,000 cap hit if he makes the team in 2025, after which would be an exclusive rights free agent
The past: Welschof grew up in Germany and during a trip to the United States as a 16-year old was introduced to American football. That he already was well on his way to being 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, Welschof was a natural to pursue it. He joined club football teams in his native land and ultimately gained notice to the point he earned a football scholarship to Michigan. He finished his college career in 2023 at Charlotte and signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent.
Armed with a roster exemption via the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) program, Welschof spent 2024 summer workouts and training camp with the Steelers. He was one of the team’s most-deployed players during the three-game preseason (140 snaps). He made them pay off in the form of three sacks. Unfortunately, though, a knee injury got him cut via an injury settlement in late August. The Steelers, though, brought Welschof back onto their practice squad in November.
???????????? Steelers Julius Welschof mit dem Sack gegen Bills QB Ben DiNucci. @JuliusWelschof pic.twitter.com/5LJZx6KkRK
— René Bugner (@RNBWCV) August 18, 2024
2025 outlook: Welschof signed a reserve/future deal with the Steelers in January and was part of organized team activities and minicamp. He will again get a look in practices and preseason games both as an edge defender and on special teams. Welschof was making solid impressions on coaches and teammates last summer. He’s a longshot, truth be told, at this point to develop into a significant NFL contributor. But the IPP was designed to give prospects from around the world a chance, and as long as the Steelers view him as a positive contributor to practices via drills and the scout team there is little drawback to keeping him around. And, if he again averages a sack per game in the preseason, who knows?
