With training camp upon us, the Steelers roster is officially in a fistfight to secure a roster spot and a job for the regular season. While a large chunk of the roster is spoken for, there are still a handful of opportunities up for grabs. The next few weeks will help determine who earns a role on special teams, carves out a niche role, and whose preseason heroics earn them the final spot on the active roster.
Every year you hear about sleepers around this time that begin to make some noise. Some of them pan out in major ways (see Mike Hilton and Jaylen Warren), others stick around and serve as depth and special teams players (Terrance Garvin comes to mind), while others ultimately flame out (Tyler Vaughns from just last year).
In order to be a sleeper you need to be on the outside looking in initially. Typically, there is some experience or traits that you see in one of these players that make them intriguing. Ultimately, it will be up to their camp performance to convert them into true sleepers with a shot at making this roster. With that all said, here are the four current Steelers that could turn into training camp sleepers this year.
OT Devery Hamilton
The offensive line is a very full room this year, and it will take a lot for a bottom-of-the-roster player to crack the final roster. That said, we saw just that happen last year with Dylan Cook, who now enters training camp on the roster bubble, but on the inside looking out.
This year, Devery Hamilton could make some noise as a depth tackle for the team. He has good size and ok arm length to stick on the outside. He also saw regular work with the Giants a few years ago, so there is something there to work with. He could realistically push Cook for his spot, or if both play well, force Dan Moore into the tackle room. While he wasn’t my favorite of the bottom-tier offensive linemen, he has the clearest path to making some noise this summer.
DB Grayland Arnold
Listed as a safety, Grayland Arnold is here to compete for a job in the slot. He registered almost all of his defensive snaps there last year, and while his role was minor, he was effective when called upon. With the slot battle wide open, he should see plenty of opportunities to shine.
Given his size, he figures to only play in the slot with backup-free safety work as a fallback. Unlike what this team has had in recent years, Arnold is actually better against the pass than the run overall. While names like Josiah Scott and even undrafted rookie Beanie Bishop (who didn’t qualify for this list as most see him inside looking out), Arnold could get the nod there if he shines during training camp.
WR Marquez Callaway
The Steelers have been busy adding to their collection of middling second-receiver options. While names like Van Jefferson and Quez Watkins get most of the attention, Marquez Callaway has some intrigue attached to his name. Most have written him out of the receiver race, but he could compete for that second role on the team.
He has good size and has the ability to make defenders miss when the ball is in his hands. Mostly an outside receiver, he could work out of the slot if needed, although X receiver seems like his best fit. He had a really strong season in 2021, and if we are betting on names like Watkins and Jefferson who had one good season, I don’t see why we should be discounting Callaway.
RB Daijun Edwards
While I mentioned that Bishop is seemingly inside looking out on the roster right now as an undrafted rookie, I think fellow unselected rookie Daijun Edwards is going to make some noise in training camp. He was productive in a rotation at Georgia over the past two seasons and despite lacking elite physical traits, he runs hard.
His play style is similar to Jaylen Warren's. While Warren is stockier overall neither are extraordinarily fast. They are decisive runners who hit their holes hard, can make guys miss, and have a surprising amount of power. If Edwards emulates what Warren did and can make a splash on special teams, he could earn a roster spot. It would require the Steelers to carry four running backs, but given their desire to be a run-heavy team, keeping Edwards could pay off if he properly earns his spot.