7 Steelers training camp battles that are heating up in 2021

With the Steelers getting their roster ready for training camp, there are quite a few heated roster battles that appear to be brewing.

With the drat done, free agents mostly wrapped up, and rookies finding a role in their individual camps, the NFL is in the middle of the offseason. The next big stage is training camp, and the Steelers are entering this stage with more roster questions than what they are used to. Some of these will work themselves out even before camp begins, but others will become fierce battles that aren’t decided until cutdown day. Here are the seven fiercest roster battles that are heating up for the Steelers.

Third-string tight end

While most will look at the names on this list and think little of them, the third tight end spot needs to have a capable body that could step in at a moment’s notice if an injury were to occur. The clear leaders of this group would be Zach Gentry and Kevin Rader, but that is merely due to the fact that they both have roster experience with the Steelers and less to do with the talent they possess. Dax Raymond has some intrigue as well but counting on him at this point is a stretch.

In actuality, this should be a position that the Steelers could target a veteran still on the market for. There aren’t top players left at tight end at this point, but the market is flush with capable blockers and special teamers that could improve this spot for the Steelers. It should be noted that rookie tight ends usually take at least a year or two to develop fully as a pro, so having a capable backup in case they need to supplement Pat Freiermuth is a smart choice. While the third-string tight end isn’t a glamorous position, the battle for who should fill that role figures to be tight.