With the Steelers wrapping up their training camp, here are four players who saw their stock soar as a result of a strong camp.
While the NFL offseason still has some time left, the Steelers wrapped up training camp and are now focused on making their final few roster decisions. Though preseason results can and will impact the final roster, what players did in camp will impact their footing with the team still.
In the case of some players, their strong camp should launch them up depth charts and keep their names notable to the fanbase throughout the season. Here are the four Steelers players whose stocks are sky high after an amazing training camp:
Steelers OT Dan Moore
Had you told anyone that Dan Moore was set to be one of the Steelers’ biggest training camp winners after his rough start, most would have scoffed at you. Alex Highsmith was tearing him apart at the beginning of camp, and it seemed as though the rookie would need a while to develop before being counted on as a solid contributor. It turns out that Highsmith was going to bully every lineman in camp though (more on him coming up) and in contrast, Moore actually played really well at left tackle.
His practices started to improve, but the most notable sign of his turnaround was his solid preseason performances. He played extremely well against both the Cowboys and Eagles in the preseason. While the Cowboys have a bad defense, the Eagles are known for their stout and deep front seven. That didn’t stop Moore from having one of the best performances from a lineman in the preseason though against them.
The team is moving him to right tackle as well so he can get some experience there. This could lead to some struggles similar to what we saw when he first started at left tackle, but it shouldn’t take away from his great camp. Now, there is a real chance he pushes for a starting role sooner than later. Even if that doesn’t happen this year, circle his name in consideration for the left tackle role in 2022.
Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth
While I loved the pick of Pat Freiermuth overall, I had relatively low expectations for the rookie tight end in both camp and during the season. While an immensely talented player, tight ends have a tough transition to make to the pro game from the college level. Add in his injury-shortened junior season before he declared, and it seemed unlikely that Freiermuth would be an impact player from the start of his Steelers career.
Fast forward to the end of camp and all of Steelers nation is buzzing over just how well Freiermuth played. He was better than expected in both receiving and blocking, and there is a real chance he takes on the starting tight end role sooner rather than later. Easily he has been the best blocking tight end in camp, and his hands have been unmatched. No, he doesn’t have the athleticism to be a burner, but he will make the tough catch and power his way through for extra yards.
Will Freiermuth be a star his rookie season? The odds still say no, but he is lined up for a bigger impact than it would have seemed after he was first drafted. Eric Ebron will still start and serve as the primary receiving threat, but if Freiermuth can hold up against NFL defenders when blocking, he should see early playing time due to his flexibility as a receiver and a blocker. He was a star in camp, and now he hopes to carry that momentum over into the regular season.
Steelers CB James Pierre
I debated putting James Pierre atop of this list, as the second-year corner surpassed just about everyone’s expectations so far. While he was a hot name entering camp due to his depth chart ascension late last season, the former undrafted corner had proven essentially nothing since entering the league outside of being a capable special teams’ player and looking decent in his very limited snaps on defense. He was a coin flip, as he could have just as easily flopped in camp this year.
He started the offseason off great and never looked back. Consistently his name was mentioned in camp as one of the better defensive backs and he was credited with making quite a few big plays. While his preseason games haven’t been transcendent, he has been solid in coverage and hasn’t made too many big mistakes. For all intents and purposes, he has held up well enough during the actual games.
With the Steelers secondary still surrounded in mystery, specifically how they plan on using the slot position, Pierre has seemingly provided an answer. No, he isn’t going to start over either of the outside corners, but his play should allow Cameron Sutton to move around more. He can play slot and in that hybrid dime role that he excelled at last season. Due to his strong play, Pierre has seen his stock go from questionable to extremely high.
Steelers EDGE Alex Highsmith
While expectations for Highsmith were a lot higher than Pierre, no one expected him to make the jump that he seemingly has so far in camp. He has been one of the most complete edge rushers in camp, showing strong straits at getting after the quarterback, stopping the run, and dropping into coverage (when necessary). The hope was that he would look like an ok starter in camp. Now, people are thinking he could make the leap into a top tier after his impressive performance.
While fans were still optimistic for Highsmith entering camp, it was at least slightly alarming when the Steelers felt the need to sign Melvin Ingram to a sizable contract. The idea went around that Highsmith was going to be the rotational player he was last year or, at best, split time with the veteran as co-starters. While Ingram looked good in camp as well, it was nothing compared to how Highsmith looked.
Add T.J. Watt into this group and suddenly the Steelers may have the best edge depth chart in the NFL. Highsmith could make a push towards double-digit sacks. His play in the offseason was that good. He refined the impressive technique he displayed as a rookie and added some play strength that he was lacking a year ago. All in all, Highsmith blew away expectations and has launched his stock upwards after an impressive offseason.
While players excelling in the offseason doesn’t guarantee them regular-season success, these four Steelers have the fanbase buzzing after great performances and practices. While each still has some more to prove, especially once the regular season begins, they only helped their stock while in camp. Keep these names in mind moving forward as the team prepares to enter the regular season.