The Pittsburgh Steelers are kicking off their mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, which will bring a lot of news along the way. Aaron Rodgers will be the main focus for most after the veteran quarterback officially signed with the team on Saturday. His appearance at minicamp will be the first time the world sees Rodgers wear the Steelers colors. It should be a sight to behold.
Beyond Rodgers and what might come from his start to his career in Pittsburgh, there are other storylines to follow along the way. Will T.J. Watt show up? If he does, will he participate fully, or will he pose another "hold-in" like last time he required a contract?
It'll be interesting to see how much the coaching staff shows their vision for the roster at minicamp and how much they might dictate the pecking order for current job openings.
Pittsburgh Steelers' minicamp should have some interesting storylines to watch playout
Aaron Rodgers reception from his new teammates
Most of the questions posed to each member of the Steelers at OTAs revolved around Rodgers. It was impossible not to see the slight annoyance that filled the air. Thankfully, Rodgers has signed the dotted line, and no one has to question if the grizzled vet will join the club.
Steelers Nation should be intrigued by how his new teammates speak about the signal caller.
Don't be surprised if Rodgers gets a positive reception from his new teammates. He is their best option this season if they want to win games. He attended Cam Heyward's golf outing, which will get him some brownie points. Rodgers wants to win, and his fierce competitive drive could rub people the wrong way. The start of minicamp is just the start of the Rodgers experience.
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T.J. Watt's appearance and participation at mandatory minicamp
With the addition of Rodgers out of the way, most of Pittsburgh's attention will shift to the future of Watt. The star edge rusher has been fantastic for the Steelers, but some have questioned if he is worth the amount of money he wants due to his increasing age. All signs point to a long-term contract similar to Myles Garrett's, which was $160 million over four years.
It seems like contract talks could drag into training camp. That means Watt could decline to show up to minicamp. Most believe Watt will attend, but his contract dispute could cause some headaches. Expect the star defensive player to do light practices without any risk of injury. Until a deal settles, Watt will do whatever is necessary to protect himself as an asset.
Minicamps initial pecking order on the depth chart at key positions
An official depth chart won't drop from Mike Tomlin until training camp later this summer, but you can start to read some early tea leaves at minicamp. They might not have an official pecking order, but reports will leak about players in a starting spot to start the preseason process. It will be interesting to see where they have rookies and what potential camp battles will begin to form.
There are some interesting competitions for a handful of jobs that should be under a microscope at minicamp. The competition between Beanie Bishop and Donte Kent at the slot cornerback spot will be vital. The depth concerns throughout the secondary will also be eye-opening. Everyone wants to know what will happen at the receiver position as well, as everyone monitors potential upgrades outside the roster.