These Steelers hold some of the best-kept secrets on the roster that could help this club in 2022.
The Steelers are finally turning their attention towards the regular season as the preseason has drawn to a close. There are some interesting names on the roster that could be big contributors to the team. One way or another these secrets have been held close to the chest of this club and they should have great seasons.
No matter if their name is recognizable or not to most NFL fans, these players will fly under the radar. Other players have gotten more attention from the media and that has diverted the attention away from these players. They all have a great shot at having a successful season in 2022.
DeMarvin Leal will expand into a bigger role with the Steelers
DeMarvin Leal is a player that many people did not expect to fall into the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The Steelers were thrilled that he fell to their selection and chose him. He is not a complete player, but his ceiling as a prospect is very high and that could make him a steal for this club.
He has shown flashes of brilliance during training camp and the preseason, which has caught the eye of many. Leal still needs to develop further before he becomes an every-down starter in the defensive trenches. His role with the defense should grow throughout his rookie campaign before he gets a starting role in the future.
Calvin Austin III will have a slow start but should catch on
This was another high value pick by Pittsburgh in their most recent crop of rookies. Calvin Austin III was their fourth-round selection and many had him going on day two of the event. The speedy receiver brought some depth into a position that was needing it.
This player was having a tremendous training camp by all accounts and seemed primed for an even bigger preseason. He has been missing time with an injury and the hope is that he can be slowly brought back into the fold after that issue is resolved. Austin could bring a new spark to the black and gold’s offense later in the season, depending on how long he takes to heal.
Damontae Kazee will have a huge role with the defense when he gets back
Damontae Kazee signed with the Steelers during the free agency portion of the offseason. He had a great camp and preseason that put him into a big role on this defense before he had an injury set back. It seems like he will miss some time and could come back after a month or two of healing.
It was a real shame that he did get injured as he created depth and options on defense. That will now have to wait until Kazee is ready to return to the lineup. He is someone that is not getting much attention right now, but he will have a bigger role than many believe looking from the outside.
Pat Freiermuth should have a monster year for the Steelers
Pat Freiermuth might be one of the guys that made this list that many fans might scoff at. He is a big name for this team that should have a monster year in 2022. The truth is many across the nationwide media and NFL do not pay close attention to this big target for the Steelers offensive attack.
This tight end gets lost in talk when you start to analyze the weapons because of the other names like Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, and now George Pickens. Freiermuth should be able to have a bigger role on offense with some one-on-one matchups going in his favor. He will not be a secret across the league for too much longer.
The Steelers have some secrets hiding on this roster that could surprise some people as the year progresses. They all have talent and should be able to play some big minutes for the club as long as they stay healthy.