With training camp now fully underway, these six former draft picks could be in danger of losing their roster spot.
The Steelers have begun training camp and reports are coming in fast and furious. While not everything has been good news, there is plenty of news to digest with the team right now. It has become apparent that some former Steelers draft picks could be in danger of losing their roster spot.
Here are six former draft picks that could lose this roster spot after camp.
Steelers Layne
To say things haven’t worked out for former third-round draft pick Justin Layne would be an understatement. There was some serious draft hype for the former Michigan State cornerback, as some even had him as a potential first-round pick. He never developed well as a defensive player, and now he finds himself in a very crowded defensive back room.
The only saving grace to Layne is his special team’s ability. He has developed into a capable gunner on coverage units. While an important role to play, it is also something that can be replaced. A name like Miles Boykin sticks out as a potential gunner and he can also contribute as a receiver. Even fellow cornerback James Pierre can serve as a gunner and the team trusts him more as a defensive player.
Layne’s roster spot was never secured due to his ability only as a special teams player. That said, camp hasn’t started off as he likely hoped. Undrafted rookie Carlins Platel popped up early in with a pick. Layne, to this point, has been unspectacular. He may already be on the outside looking in this year.
Steelers Allen
Akin to Layne, Marcus Allen is also a player known mostly for his special team’s ability. While he has had some opportunities on defense, he was most noted for his up-back role on punt coverages. The former fifth-round pick needed to maintain that role in order to make himself worth the roster spot.
While it is still early in camp, it appears as though Allen may be used in different areas on coverage units. If he isn’t being used in that same role, suddenly he is a very replaceable player. Unfortunately for him, he is playing at a very crowded off-ball linebacker position. Unless he flashes more on either special teams or defense, he may quickly find himself off the roster.
Mark Robinson has been all over the field so far, and the seventh-round rookie has shown some positive traits as a defender. Add in the rest of the depth chart fighting for one to two spots and Allen suddenly is on the outside looking in. His special team’s role was the reason he was being kept around. Now, he doesn’t have that role which has put his roster spot in question.
Steelers Rudolph
Everyone’s favorite quarterback this offseason, Mason Rudolph went from the only starting option at the beginning of the year to now a possible cut candidate due to the overhaul this team did at the position. He needs to stand out early and look like the veteran that he is. If not, there is little sense in keeping him on the roster.
While Rudolph hasn’t looked bad, he also hasn’t stood out like you would have hoped he would. Again, every quarterback besides him is new to this team this season, and two of those players are rookies. Rudolph should look far more comfortable than everyone else because of this. Instead, he has been conservative and unspectacular.
Odds are Kenny Pickett and Mitchell Trubisky get up to speed sooner than later. When they do, they will quickly pass over Rudolph as the capable player. Granted, this team will likely carry three quarterbacks, but Rudolph not getting some positive attention isn’t a good thing. He needs to get his game turned around and quickly to keep his roster spot.
Steelers McFarland
Potential was the keyword that has been given to Anthony McFarland ever since he was drafted. While most people never expected him to become a traditional workhorse back, his speed and big play ability could have made him a valuable committee back. That hasn’t been the case though, as he has been mostly nonexistent through his first two seasons.
Luckily for McFarland, the Steelers running back depth chart is rather barren as of this writing. While Najee Harris will maintain his role as the bell cow, there is no clear backup behind him. Benny Snell is a below-average and uninspiring option. Jeremy McNichols can contribute as a receiver, but he has been unable to stick to a team since being drafted. The remainder of the depth chart is made up of undrafted players.
That all said, McFarland hasn’t stuck out as of yet and the remainder of the depth chart kind of has. McNichols in particular has been used in practice as a receiver and has impressed there. There hasn’t been much on McFarland yet, which is exactly what he needs to avoid. He needs to stick out sooner than later or else his roster spot may be put into jeopardy.
Steelers Norwood
The last two players were both pleasant surprises from the previous draft class who weren’t as involved early in camp as many would have hoped. Tre Norwood was a surprisingly solid defensive back despite limitations on his college tape and late-round draft status. He filled in well during dime defense as well as playing in the slot.
While Norwood can and should be viewed as a defensive chess piece, the early depth chart at camp hasn’t been overly kind to him. With Minkah Fitzpatrick missing time due to a non-football injury, it hasn’t been Norwood filling in, but instead, it has been free agent addition Damontae Kazee. Norwood has still seen some reps, but he clearly isn’t the favored backup-free safety.
His role in the slot also doesn’t seem that secure, as Cameron Sutton figures to be the starter there while other names like Karl Joseph and Arthur Maulet have also taken snaps here. To be fair, Norwood can still be a viable dime defender. As well, he has taken on some more special teams work. That said, based on how the defense has looked so far, Norwood is far from a lock.
Steelers Loudermilk
The other draft pick who was quite the surprise last year was Isaiahh Loudermilk. The Steelers traded up for the defensive lineman and he didn’t disappoint. Sure, he had some flaws and things to work on, but he progressed nicely as the year went on. While not a star, he looks the part of a rotational defensive end that can hold his own in run defense.
The team was aggressive in adding defensive linemen though, and because of it, Loudermilk may be on the outside looking in. This seemed even more true as rookie DeMarvin Leal has looked stout as both a run defender (something he struggled with in school) and as a pass rusher. The Steelers are notorious for only carrying six defensive linemen, so Loudermilk could be the odd man out.
Now the team could certainly change its ways and carry more defensive linemen. After all of the injuries suffered last year, it wouldn’t be a bad move. As well, the Steelers are one injury away from needing Loudermilk. As of now though, Loudermilk could be on the outside looking in due to the talent around him.
While there is still a lot of training camp for the Steelers left, these six former draft picks already seem like they may struggle to make the final roster. They will have to find a way to stand out sooner than later if they want to stick around this season.