Not too many players on a football field come training camp have more to prove than undrafted free agents. For one reason or another none of the 32 teams in the NFL decided to use any of their selections on them through the seven-round draft process. Once the draft concludes those undrafted rookies can sign with any club that offers them a contract.
The Steelers seemed to initially sign seven undrafted rookies this year, which is a light class when you compare it to years prior. Now, it seems like they did not pick up one of those free agents and there will be six undrafted rookies that will try and fight their way onto the 53-man roster by the conclusion of the preseason process.
Keeping a fullback based on his special teams experience could be a wise choice
One of the six officially signed by the club in recent weeks was Monte Pottebaum out of Iowa. He was one of the first undrafted free agents have something posted on social media announcing his move to Pittsburgh. His favorite childhood team is now his employer, and he will not have to change much in terms of color scheme from his collegiate club to the big leagues.
Connor Heyward could cause a few issues when it comes to Pottebaum making this club. The name of the game for this fullback to make this roster is special teams. He needs to become a beacon of light in the third phase of football if he wants to stick around this club longer than training camp and beyond. Pottebaum should be able to provide quality snaps on special teams, which the Steelers will surely be looking for.
Is Trevor Downing still with the Steelers after some crazy roster fluctuation?
In the fast-paced world of the NFL, there are alterations to the roster on a constant basis. This time of year brings roster transactions routinely as plenty of players create massive turnover as each club tries to enter training camp with their best 90-man roster possible. With that said, something strange happened between the black and gold and one of their undrafted rookie free agent targets.
After the draft was completed and undrafted rookie classes began to be reported, Pittsburgh apparently had an interest in adding Trevor Downing. The Iowa State product was heralded as one of the top players that the club seemed to be inking into a contract. Well, that might have been wishful thinking as the center has not been on any official website yet.
The black and gold could surely use a reasonable backup at center behind their starter, Mason Cole. Kendrick Green and Ryan McCollum as their only options to fight for that backup spot. Signing someone like Downing could have been a nice addition to the depth of this roster and upgrading over Green and McCollum.
Ever since the original news of Downing joining the franchise, there have been a lot of question marks about his involvement with the team. He did not attend rookie minicamp and the club has announced only six undrafted free agents that have officially joined the team. Downing would still be a nice addition to this roster, but time is running out.
An unknown running back could jump up the Steelers depth chart
Most people have the running back room for the 2023 season to likely include Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, and Anthony McFarland Jr. That last spot on the roster is the only opening at running back and there could be some competition there. It’s likely that this will be McFarland's last shot at making the club, but some unknown players could gun for the gig.
One of the most notable players that will challenge for that spot on the depth chart is Alfonzo Graham. He is an undrafted rookie that earned a contract after an impressive showing during the rookie minicamp portion of the offseason process. The Steelers liked what they saw enough from their light practices during that week to sign him and bring him to camp.
Graham hails from a small HBCU school by the name of Morgan State. That is where this back got his collegiate reps and where he tallied an impressive stat line. One of the things that this player could work on is his ability to catch passes out of the backfield, which he couldn't do in college.
His final year in school was his best yet as he produced over 1,100 rushing yards and nine touchdowns total, with eight of those coming on the ground. He is a fun player to watch the highlight reel on, but he has a lot of work in front of him. Another thing that could be beneficial to his cause was his ability to return kicks during his time at Morgan State.
A small school undrafted free agent could make some noise in the trenches
A tough position to play and try to make the final roster will be in the defensive trenches for Pittsburgh. They have their three starters already lined up with Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton, and Larry Ogunjobi to fill out the unit. There are also role players that will have expanded roles like DeMarvin Leal and Breiden Fehoko.
Others like Montravius Adams and Armon Watts will likely challenge for a roster spot when it is all said and done too. Adding an undrafted free agent into that fold seems to make a momentous challenge for any rookie to overcome. This rookie will likely have to beat out those two names listed above to have a shot at making this club out of training camp.
Merrimack College is a small football program north of Boston that does not produce a ton of NFL talent. The Black and Gold are not afraid to go against the grain and add talent no matter their program's stature. They signed James Nyamwaya to their roster to challenge for a spot on the final 53-man roster.
His production has never been earth-shattering, but he fits the bill perfectly when it comes to what the Steelers look for in the size of their defensive lineman. Nyamwaya was born in Kenya before he moved to the United States when he was ten years old. His best days of football are still in front of him, but he might be best used as a developmental player.
A highly productive edge rusher could put himself on the Steelers' 53-man roster
One of the best-situated undrafted free agents on the roster right now seems to be David Perales. He is an outside linebacker that should be able to compete for a roster spot between now and the conclusion of the preseason. He was a highly productive player at the collegiate level and that should carry over to the preseason against some weaker competition at tackle.
The NFL level poses a higher level of competition even by the bottom-of-the-barrel depth players. With that said, Perales should be able to find ways past some of the tackles that he will play in the later portions of preseason games. He was able to use different methods of pass rush skillsets to get to the quarterback as a Bulldog.
It's not going to be sunshine and rainbows for this edge rusher with the Steelers as he still has a steep hill to climb to make this club. The four outside linebackers seem to be locked into their roster spots already with the two starters, Markus Golden, and Nick Herbig already there. Perales will have to shove someone else off the roster that plays another position.
As shown before in past training camp and preseason processes, these types of players will have to prove themselves on special teams. Perales should be able to show his pass rush ability early and often, but it might not mean a lot when another guy is better at special teams. That will be the determining factor if Pittsburgh decides to keep Perales around or try stuffing him onto the practice squad.