The Pittsburgh Steelers training camp practices are now in the books. Here are the top five player performances over the summer.
We made it through another summer of Steelers training camp. Though Heinz Field didn’t have the same feel as Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, it was a nice experience. After observing several live practices this year and brushing up on every training camp note and report out there, I’ve comprised a list of whom I believe to be the five most impressive players from training camp this year.
Some of these players came out of nowhere to deliver spectacular performances this summer, and there are two who aren’t even guaranteed roster spots this year, but their impressive play certainly boosted their chances. I have plenty of honorable mentions who didn’t make this list, including rookies Isaiah Loudermilk and Buddy Johnson, but here are the five players who were the most impressive to me at Steelers training camp:
5. EDGE Jamir Jones
If you didn’t know the name early in training camp, you probably heard it announced a few times during Pittsburgh’s first two preseason games. Jamir Jones really impressed me with what he has been able to do this summer. The former 2020 undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame was often injured in college and as a result, wasn’t very productive.
However, he finally got the chance to prove himself this year in Pittsburgh. Originally thought of by many to be just a camp body, Jones quickly added his name to a possible candidate to land on the 53-man roster. His ability to get after the quarterback as a reserve edge rusher and his special teams play is intriguing.
Jones still has a difficult (and even unlikely) path to the Steelers final roster this year. T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Melvin Ingram are all roster locks, while Cassius Marsh and Quincy Roche are both in contention to be the fourth edge defender. Jones skyrocketed his stock this summer, but we will see if it’s enough to make the team.
4. CB Mark Gilbert
This is a player I have had my eyes on since he was signed by the team as an undrafted free agent following the 2021 NFL Draft. Mark Gilbert was a five-year player at Duke, but this was largely due to his injuries and being forced to redshirt during the 2019 season. After earning a whopping 6 interceptions in 13 games as a sophomore, Gilbert played in just 4 contests over the next 3 years.
Fortunately, all the potential was there, and on the path, he was trending, Gilbert could have wound up being a day-two draft pick had he stayed healthy in college. As an undrafted free agent, Gilbert did all that could have been expected of him.
The 6’0 1/8”, 186-pound cornerback displayed sticky coverage during training camp practices and frequently got his hands in the passing lane – turning a few opportunities into interceptions. Gilbert carried this play over to the preseason, where he impressed against Dallas in the Hall of Fame Game.
Gilbert appears to be less likely to make the roster than Justin Layne or Arthur Maulet at this point, and he needs to hope that the team decides to keep a seventh CB in 2021. He played very well and has the athletic traits to stick, but that’s up to the Steelers to decide.
3. TE Pat Freiermuth
Pat Freiermuth hasn’t been perfect, but I really like what I’ve seen from him this summer. Freiermuth sat out of the Hall of Fame Game as he was nursing a shoulder injury and he didn’t do much against the Eagles in his first NFL preseason action. However, he’s been thoroughly impressive at Steelers training camp.
While Freiermuth doesn’t yet have everything all together as a blocker, he was brilliant as a receiver this summer – catching nearly every ball thrown his way. In fact, Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot claims that Freiermuth will have one of the best catch rates he has ever charted at training camp.
During one-on-ones, Freiermuth had no issue dusting linebackers and safeties. Though he’s not a spectacular athlete, he’s an incredibly natural football player with smooth movement skills and soft hands.
Freiermuth probably needs to get a little stronger to operate effectively as the ‘Y’ tight end and to block in-line. However, he made one big play after another at Steelers training camp and should be an asset in the passing game as early as his rookie season.
2. CB James Pierre
The final two spots in this list were really easy to decide, as I thought they drastically outperformed expectations. While many already thought that James Pierre was ahead of Justin Layne on Pittsburgh’s depth chart late in the 2020 season, that completion was reset this summer. Though Layne made a few nice plays on the ball over the past several weeks, Pierre was easily more consistent and better overall.
Though he’s not an elite athlete, Pierre has pretty good size for an outside cornerback and an excellent feel for the game. He had a number of impressive pass breakups and interceptions at Steelers training camp and made things challenging for quarterbacks throwing his direction.
What’s most impressive is that Pierre did much of his best work performing against Pittsburgh’s first-team offense. Pierre won his fair share of reps despite difficult matchups against players like Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool.
It’s hard to say how big of a role Pierre will have with the Steelers in 2021, but he’s defiantly done enough to carve out some work in defensive sub-packages and he seems to have earned the trust of Keith Butler and the coaching staff.
1. EDGE Alex Highsmith
From the very first public practice at Heinz Field, I had a feeling that Alex Highsmith was going to be the star of training camp this year. He certainly was. He was probably the most consistent player on either side of the ball for the Steelers from day to day.
Highsmith clearly packed on some muscle over the offseason. While he was impressive as a rookie filling in for Bud Dupree in 2020, he looks like he’s ready to take another big leap forward.
Highsmith was easily the best player during OL vs DL drills, as he easily whooped Dan Moore Jr. (and later Chukwuma Okorafor). The second-year edge defender has impressive speed off the ball with hand-technique beyond his years and a lethal inside spin move that was on display often.
After the dominance we have seen from him at Steelers training camp and in the preseason, there is plenty of reason to believe that he could have a major impact in 2021. I couldn’t be happier with what I’ve seen from Alex Highsmith this summer from start to finish.
The Steelers had plenty of other impressive players at training camp this year, but these five really stood out to me. Let’s hope some of them will be able to carry these performances into the regular season this year.