Training camp is always an essential team building experience for all 32 clubs across the NFL. The Steelers are no different as they will make their annual pilgrimage to St. Vincent College again in Latrobe, Pa. That is where they will sharpen iron as they battle for roster spots with the teammates that stand next to them or across from them.
Each pre-season process brings along a handful of roster battles with players on the perceivable roster bubble. They will have to fight tooth and nail to make this club when the final cuts start rolling through just before the regular season starts. There could be some notable names that could be released as they fight for their jobs sitting on the bubble.
The Steelers incumbent punter will be on the roster bubble this year
One area that got some competition was the specialists in Pittsburgh. They added a punter and kicker to apply some pressure to the starters that return from last season. The club also looked into adding a long snapper to challenge the starter for that role. It is a positional group that will see a lot of competition.
Pressley Harvin III has been the punter for the black and gold since he was drafted in 2021. Things have not gone too well for him since entering the league from Georgia Tech. His size and booming leg were what led to the Steelers taking him in the draft, which is not too common for someone in his position. He is inconsistent and will have to overcome his competition to return as the starting punter for the upcoming campaign.
A former starter in the trenches could lose his roster spot in training camp
Sometimes there are falls from grace when you are in the NFL, and that could be said for plenty of starters too. The Steelers have a good chunk of players on their roster currently that share a decent hunk of starting snaps in the league. Some of those same players will be fighting for their role on this upcoming team this training camp.
Montravius Adams was a nice waiver claim by the black and gold a couple of seasons back, but that play has fallen off. He held his own as the nose tackle for this defense after he initially joined the team via claim. That level of play did not continue as many thought he would be able to keep that going into the 2022 season, which never materialized.
Now we get to the 2023 pre-season where Adams has an uphill battle to climb just to make the roster at any compacity. His number of starts at nose tackle will help his cause, but that does not secure him a spot. Keeanu Benton will have a big role on defense in his rookie year, and other experienced defensive linemen have entered the fold via free agency.
Adams will have to fend off the likes of Armon Watts, Breiden Fehoko, and James Nyamwaya for depth positioning. It seems like Benton will be the likely starter at nose tackle with a separate role at defensive end. Fehoko has a lot of starting experience at nose tackle as well and that could cause Adams to lose his job in Pittsburgh.
Its been a long time coming to move on from this offensive lineman
Investing in the trenches is something that the black and gold have been accomplishing recently. They were able to add new blood into the fold to challenge for starting roles and depth spots as well. With these new additions, there will likely be a bunch of different linemen from last season that will not make the roster once the pre-season wraps up.
One name that seems to get in the doghouse more these days is Kevin Dotson, and he is someone that could be traded or cut before the season. The main cut candidate though could likely be Kendrick Green once training camp starts to dwindle away. He has seen tumultuous results with the black and gold ever since entering the NFL as a third-round pick.
Things have just not worked out for the Illinois product. His lack of size has been the point of destruction for his career, and he will likely never be able to overcome that issue. One thing that has kept him around the franchise is the position flexibility that he has shown in college and professionally as well.
It is amazing to remember that Green started at center for this team during his rookie campaign. That had bad results and he could not make the jump over to guard last year. The writing is on the wall for this player, even if he does possess position flexibility. He needs to take a jump to become a reasonable backup, or his career might be over.
Another year of goodbyes for the Steelers and this roster bubble player
One position that has significantly gotten better since the post-draft process has been outside linebacker. T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith are the stars, but those behind them left a little meat on the bone in terms of quality. Nick Herbig was a solid selection in the fourth round, but there needed to be another answer.
Signing someone like Markus Golden was a great free agent addition by Omar Khan and his team. Golden is a veteran that has proven to be a force in the NFL over the last nine seasons of his career. He has been spotty in terms of sack production in his NFL career, but he brings a lot to the room in terms of experience and leadership.
Taking Herbig in the draft to develop behind a known starter in Golden is a smart move. He can help the rookie learn and play a significant role as a third option behind the two starters at outside linebacker for this defense. That does create an issue for someone like Quincy Roche to make this roster.
Roche created a lot of production during his time in college at Miami, but that did not help him make the team two years ago. He spent his time with the New York Giants before returning this season. He has an uphill battle as the Steelers normally keep four outside linebackers and they will likely go with Watt, Highsmith, Herbig, and Golden.
There are plenty of factors for the Steelers to cut this receiver after training camp
Another year and it seems like the Steelers will have another deep room of talent at receiver. There are plenty of starting caliber receivers that will come into training camp, and some might not earn a starting role when it is all said and done. There will also be some quality depth guys that might not make the team because of the depth.
Three receivers are locks to make the club and will contribute in varying starting roles Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, and Allen Robinson. After that will likely be two or three spots available for the remaining receivers to battle for in training camp. It is going to be a tough battle between Miles Boykin, Calvin Austin III, Anthony Miller, Hakeem Butler, and Gunner Olszewski.
Olszewski had a great pre-season last year, but he struggled to do much of anything once the season started. He accounts for a good chunk against the cap, but the Steelers seem content with seeing what he can provide during camp and then some. He and those that will battle for the final couple of spots on the roster will need to show some sort of ability on special teams.
Pittsburgh initially signed Olszewski via free agency because of his return skills, but those have yet to translate over from his former employer. Austin and Miller showed promise during their short stints as returners in training camp last year. Olszewski will have a lot of competition for his spot, and he will need a pre-season just like last year to have a shot at making this roster.