4 Steelers players who may get leapfrogged by rookies

Steelers Olszewski

At the time, the Steelers signing Gunner Olszewski seemed like a cheap but prudent move. The team had lost three of their top five receivers in free agency and were also lacking a return man. While the offensive impact for Olszewski was never going to be immense, he was a decent return man with the Patriots. As well, he can serve on coverage units on top of this, further adding to his value.

Calvin Austin entering the picture may muddy the waters though for the free-agent addition. While not necessarily an accomplished return man, he has the speed and shiftiness to be potent there. If the Steelers want him to get a role sooner than later, having him serve as the return man is a logical way to get the ball into his hands. This would push Olszewski out of the way naturally.

If this were to happen, it would seem like a lock that Olszewski doesn’t make the roster. While having a dedicated special teams coverage player is fine, there are options on defense and even fellow receiver Miles Boykin that can serve in that role. The return man job won’t be given to Austin by any means, but I expect a good fight here. Don’t be surprised to see Olszewski struggle to stay ahead of the talented rookie.