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.
Josh Dobbs vs. Dwayne Haskins
Keeping with the trend of third-string players, the Steelers should have a fun battle brewing at backup quarterback. While one could argue that Mason Rudolph should be listed here, his recent contract extension makes it seem like the team is set to roll with him as the top backup this season as well as allow him to throw his name into the ring for starting quarterback next season. It seems like a safe bet that he is the backup quarterback.
This leaves the recently resigned Josh Dobbs and the ever-controversial Dwayne Haskins as the third-string option. Both play an entirely different style of quarterback play, as Haskins is more of a pocket passer with a strong arm as opposed to Dobbs that relies on his impressive athleticism to make plays both through the air and on the ground. As well, Dobbs is an incredibly smart and calculated player, something that Haskins failed to show during his time in Washington.
At the end of the day, I think the slight edge goes to Haskins before camp opens. The team can retain him next season cheaply via the restricted free agent process and thus have two experienced quarterbacks on the roster next year. Don’t sleep on Dobbs, as his work ethic makes it impossible to count him out of the competition. As well, his athleticism could help the defense prepare for mobile quarterbacks during practice, so he presents value there even if not actually seeing offensive snaps. This should be a close battle once the team trims their roster at the end of camp.
Defensive line depth
Despite being one of the strongest starting positions on the depth chart, the Steelers have just as impressive of a depth chart along their defensive line. There is no question who the starters are going to be, but the rotational depth players behind them are very much in question. At this point, it would appear as if no one has securely locked up a spot as a backup defensive lineman.
The safest of the options is Chris Wormley, as he was solid as a rotational player last year and signed a decent-sized contract this offseason considering the money the Steelers were working with. While it would be a safe bet that he makes the roster, his contract is also extremely easy to get out of. The next safest would be Carlos Davis, as he projects as a nose tackle and the teams need a backup and possible future replacement for Tyson Alualu down the road.
This leaves Isaiahh Loudermilk, Isaiah Buggs, Henry Mondeaux, and the slew of additional options the team has along the line. Typically, the Steelers only carry six at this position, which means all of these guys would be fighting for one roster spot. That said, the team carried seven for a good chunk of last year, and that seventh (Mondeaux) proved to be a good special teamer. Loudermilk has the inside edge as a draft pick and one that the team traded up for, but the battle for the final spot or two should be competitive along the line.
Benny Snell vs Kalen Ballage
While the Steelers kept four running backs on the roster last season, there is a very real chance the team goes back to only carrying three this year. Expectations are that Najee Harris will be the bell-cow for the team, so having a fourth running back rostered makes little sense. While one could throw Anthony McFarland’s name into this battle, his speed and change of pace ability give the team a different element at running back. His competition would be more so with Jaylen Samuels, and it would be shocking if he lost that.
That leaves Benny Snell and Kalen Ballage battling it out for potentially only one backup spot. While the team has a draft pick invested in Snell, he is far from a lock to make the roster. Despite being a big power back, Snell struggled heavily in short-yardage last season. Sure, the offensive line deserves some blame, but Snell struggled to hit the hole and push the pile forward whenever the team called upon him in short-yardage situations.
Looking at the stats, Ballage and Snell are a similar style of back. Both are backup quality and have the body size to be short-yardage specialists as well as special teams contributors, but the difference is how effective Ballage was last season in short-yardage for the Chargers. Snell has the advantage going into camp due to his familiarity with the team and him being a better special teams’ options, but if Ballage can prove to be a better runner, don’t be surprised if the team moves on from Snell.
Vince Williams vs Robert Spillane vs Gary Johnson
At one point this offseason, it appeared as though the Steelers were going to be once again extremely thin at inside linebacker. There were thoughts that this team could target a new starter there as early as the first round, but those rumors died down once Vince Williams resigned with the team this season. That didn’t stop the team from drafting Gary Johnson in the fourth round though, and when you add in Robert Spillane to the mix, suddenly you have three guys competing to start at inside linebacker.
The lowest man on the totem pole is clearly Johnson, as being a fourth-round pick doesn’t even guarantee you a roster spot let alone a starting gig. That said, he tested off the charts as an athlete and his run stops at Texas A&M were solid. He has definite long-term starting potential as an athletic two-down linebacker in this league, and the Steelers may want to give him a go early on. Robert Spillane also will remain in the mix, as he is probably the team’s best coverage linebacker outside of Devin Bush.
As of right now, the frontrunner to start should be Williams, as his veteran status and impressive ability to rush the passer and crash running lanes makes him arguably the best two-down linebacker in the league. Spillane will serve as more of a coverage option when needed and likely the top backup. Don’t sleep on Johnson though, as his insane athletic traits could allow him to see the field sooner than later.
Kendrick Green vs B.J. Finney
For some reason, many Steelers fans don’t even see this as much of a training camp battle. Kendrick Green is the top offensive lineman that the team drafted at a position of major need so naturally he will be inserted right into the starting lineup. There is an argument to be made there, as Green’s physical nature and impressive athleticism should lead to him starting down the road.
The issue is, Green wasn’t exactly a top pick for the Steelers, as he joined the team in the middle of the third round. On top of this, Green mostly played guard at Illinois, meaning that he will need to successfully make the transition to center during camp this year. That is certainly a tall task, so simply penciling him in as the starter makes little sense.
While many have shrugged off B.J. Finney, remember just how well he played as a reserve before signing a sizable contract last offseason with the Seahawks. While he didn’t pan out, that doesn’t mean he can’t turn it around with the Steelers this season. Long-term this is Green’s spot, but don’t be surprised to see Finney on the field early this season. Green needs some time to make that switch feel more natural for him, so the Steelers may turn to Finney while he develops.
Justin Layne vs. James Pierre
The Steelers have a clear hole at slot cornerback, so listing two natural outside cornerbacks may seem weird. Looking over this roster though, the most logical way the team uses its cornerback room is Cameron Sutton as the starter on the outside in two-cornerback sets and then having him kick inside when three or more corners are being used. This would mean that one of either Justin Layne or James Pierre will then take on the role of starting outside corner.
While Layne is the more athletic player with the far higher pedigree, the final depth chart from last season seems to indicate that Pierre is the favored option. Both are taller, lankier corners by nature, and while Layne tested as a better athlete, his overall coverage ability has been less than stellar. He was consistently burnt last year despite playing in a limited role. This led to the then undrafted free agent Pierre leapfrogging him on the depth chart.
That should mean little going into camp this year, as both men will have the opportunity to prove that they are the best candidate to start at cornerback. Expect this competition to be fierce, as opportunities like this aren’t often. Two former backups with little playing time suddenly being given the opportunity to compete as starters is a huge opportunity. Pierre may have the slight edge right now, but camp will likely be a wide-open competition between the two.
Compared to last year, where the Steelers returned most of their starters, this season will feature quite a few new faces for the team. This means camp will be critical in determining who carves out a starting role, who serves as a backup, and who misses out on a roster spot. These battles in particular stand out as the tightest and likely the most competitive. Things should heat up once the team reports for training camp.