Every Steelers player ranked by tiers entering the 2023 offseason
By Tommy Jaggi
Steelers Tier 7: Bad starters/role players with too many snaps
Tyson Alualu, Malik Reed, Ahkello Witherspoon, Montravius Adams, Devin Bush, Robert Spillane, Steven Sims, Arthur Maulet, Tre Norwood
Tier 7 was reserved for bad starters and pedestrian role players who were forced to play too many snaps. This group saw some new faces added to the list as defenders Tyson Alualu and Ahkello Witherspoon took significant steps back. Alualu was good for Pittsburgh in 2020, but after spending all but two games on IR in 2021, the 35-year-old didn’t have anything left in the tank this year. Witherspoon was injured often but was routinely exploited when healthy.
In addition to these two, Malik Reed and Montravius Adams are two backups by trade who were forced to play far too many snaps during the 2022 season. Reed filled in for the injured T.J. Watt, but failed to make a positive impact of any kind, while Adams took over for a demoted Alualu at nose tackle and did not impress.
Devin Bush and Robert Spillane were equally underwhelming at the linebacker position for Pittsburgh this past season as they each proved to be liabilities in coverage and against the run.
At the same time, role players Steven Sims, Arthur Maulet, and Tre Norwood proved to be replaceable players who failed to stand in a positive light in 2022.