Every year training camp provides relatively unknown players the chance to prove themselves. Here are the Steelers’ five longshots to root for in camp.
There is nothing better than when some afterthought of a player arrives in camp, puts on a show, and makes the team. Name value holds a lot of weight in the NFL, so to go from an unknown to a roster-able player is certainly a feat. Other times, the name of a perceived bust can hurt that player’s stock, as fans quickly write them off once their team signs them. For the Steelers, this camp has quite a few players that fit this mold. While not all will stick with the team, rooting for their underdog story is always fun. Here are the five Steelers longshots to root for in 2021.
Steelers Jamarr Watson
An undrafted rookie has one of the toughest paths to the roster. The only aid they get is that they essentially get to choose where they want to play assuming multiple teams attempt to sign them. For Jamar Watson, he has the benefit of entering a Steelers camp that has one of the worst edge situations in the league right now in terms of depth. A strong camp could easily sway the team to hold five players there.
Even if the team opts to keep only four, that means he would have to beat out Cassius Marsh for that last roster spot. That is certainly doable, especially when you consider the strong play he had while at Kentucky. While far from an athletic edge rusher, Watson wins with well-timed moves and a wide array of pass rush options to beat linemen. He needs some work at the pro level, but he could certainly make a push for the number four spot in camp.
Steelers Cody White
The first five Steelers receivers are essentially set assuming the team doesn’t add anyone to compete with Ray-Ray McCloud for his returner status. In theory, that could be the rostered list, as there is no guarantee that the team keeps another receiver. If they do though, Cody White is a name that piques some interest.
Both he and current undrafted rookie Isaiah McKoy have the ability to win downfield despite not being elite athletes. As well, both have the size to become impact players on special teams. The Steelers haven’t had a regular gunner type of receiver since Darrius Heyward-Bey, and both of these players could fill in that role well.
White makes this list purely because he is the longer shot than McKoy is at this point. Both will likely struggle to make the roster, but White has struggled to stick with a team to this point. If he can use his size in camp and deep play-ability in the preseason though, he could make enough noise to stick on the roster. He would have to show something on special teams as well, but he could be a name to watch for if the Steelers keep six receivers.
Steelers Rashaad Coward
With the recent release of David DeCastro, the Steelers have to be on the hunt for some new depth along the interior of the line. Considering B.J. Finney is a center/guard-capable player, adding another player that is both tackle and guard-capable makes sense to fill out this roster. Of the names currently on the Steelers, Rashaad Coward makes the most sense given his physical traits and potential.
Coward was signed from the Bears this offseason, and while he is relatively unknown, he actually has some starting experience to him. He’s credited with starting in 15 games over the past two seasons. That is impressive, especially when you consider that he made the move from defensive tackle to guard after his rookie year. He has struggled at times with technique, but if he can continue developing, the sky is the limit for Coward.
Now, Coward won’t be thrust into the starting role in 2021. Kevin Dotson and Trai Turner will assume that role for at least this season. Considering Turner’s injury history though, having a capable player behind him will likely be a necessity. With Coward still learning how to play a guard after his position switch, it means that he could be a late bloomer along the line. His athletic profile is almost perfect for a guard, and the Steelers’ successful track record of taking on former defensive players into offensive ones makes Coward a name to watch in camp this season.
Steelers Donovan Stiner
When looking initially at the Steelers list of undrafted free agents from 2021, Donovan Stiner was a name I circled as a potential fit for the team. He was a regular starter at safety while playing with the Gators, and his senior season saw him play some in the slot. As well, with Terrell Edmunds likely in his last season with the team, adding another strong safety type could go a long way in securing that position beyond 2021.
While names like Shakur Brown and even Lamont Wade have made some noise as slot options, Stiner has the ability to stick as a pure strong safety in the NFL. While his run defense could use a little work, he plays well in space and has the ability to cover tight ends one on one. Overall, he plays more like a coverage safety than a typical box safety. That said, his best fit is strong safety considering his size.
Stiner has a decent chance to make the roster assuming he looks good in camp. The primary strong safety reserve is Antoine Brooks and Miles Killebrew, who should be seen as a special team’s only option. If Stiner can impress as a defender, he could sneak onto the active roster and look to compete for a starting role next year. Most saw him as a draftable talent, so ideally the Steelers can get the most out of him once camp opens.
Steelers Dwayne Haskins
A name that is already universally beloved or hated amongst the Steelers community, Dwayne Haskins looks to get his career back on track this year. After flaming out with Washington, Haskins got his second chance when the team inked him to a reserve contract after the season ended. He is far from a roster lock, as Josh Dobbs will be some serious competition for Haskins, but he has the ability to overcome that.
His roster odds aren’t what makes him a long shot either, it is his odds of turning his career around. At this point, the odds of him beating out Dobbs are likely at a coin flip, but most have written him off as a long-term option. While to assume he can turn it all around and be a starter in this league is just as silly, Haskins was once touted as a draft day steal. He has a huge arm that needs to become more accurate, but once again, he is with a good team that can give him the time to continue developing.
No matter how you feel about his odds as a player, everyone should be at least rooting for his redemption arc. If he could put it all together, the Steelers could have a viable option that they got for essentially free. If they don’t, then it was no harm, no foul. That said, it should be easy to root for Haskins this offseason, as him turning his career around would be a feel-good story for the ages. That may be a longshot option right now, but you can’t count him out once training camp opens.
The Steelers have a storied history of longshots making the team and rebuilding their career with the team. This season is no different, as a plethora of players enter camp hoping to stick out and earn a roster spot. These five players are longshots for a wide variety of reasons, but they should be names to root for once training camp opens.