4 Steelers veterans who could lose their starting jobs to a rookie this season

The Steelers competition in the trenches could leave a starter out of the fold

One area that will be under the microscope this pre-season will be along the defensive line. There are a bunch of fresh new faces that will be pushing for different roles on this roster when the dust settles. Both defensive tackle spots will be held by Cam Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi as long as they can stay healthy throughout the season.

Nose tackle and some depth roles will be the biggest chips to fall during training camp and leading up to the regular season. Montravius Adams has played a big role on defense the past couple of seasons as the main nose tackle. Tyson Alualu also took some snaps there as well, but he struggled after returning from injury.

Things have changed and since becoming the starter at nose tackle, not much has gone to plan for Adams. His quality of snaps has regressed significantly when you compare the kind of play, he was producing when he first arrived in Pittsburgh. The Steelers saw the lack of quality at nose tackle and depth along the defensive line, so they drafted an upgrade.

Keeanu Benton is a rookie that will get a lot of playing time during the 2023 season. He has been labeled as a run stuffer that has upside as a pass rusher. The Steelers seemed to get a nice value in the second round by selecting Benton, and he should take over the starting spot at nose tackle. Adams might not only lose his starting gig, but he will have to fight for a roster spot too.