Steelers Position Battle Power Ranking
Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Steelers report to training camp on Wednesday, and this is a make-or-break year for many, including perhaps some of the coaching staff. Some intriguing battles will make it an important training camp for many. Let’s look at the five most prominent position battles that will make or break this training camp for the Steelers.
5. Quarterback
Depending on who you listen to, there might be a big battle at quarterback, or the quarterback position might already be decided, but if the Steelers are smart about this, they will allow this to be a legitimate competition during training camp and the preseason. The Steelers signed Russell Wilson this offseason and traded for Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears. According to Mike Tomlin, Wilson is in the pole position but didn’t go as far to say that the job is his. Fields has also made it clear that he is going into camp intending to win the job. Who knows how much of a battle it’s going to be, but it’s going to be one of the main talking points of camp.
4. Center
Zack Frazier was drafted in the second round in April’s draft to be the long-term center for this team, making this is his job to lose. Still, being a rookie and Mike Tomlin tending to play veterans, this is considered a battle. Nate Herbig isn’t a long-term option for the Steelers as the starter, but he does have position flexibility, which is a useful thing for this team. Frazier should win this job, but you never know what Tomlin is thinking. He could easily decide to start Herbig, at least at the beginning of the season.
3. Gunner
Oftentimes special teams play is overlooked, but one of the most important battles for the Steelers is on that unit. Miles Boykin left for the Giants, and James Pierre has moved on to the Commanders, which means the Steelers must find a new gunner. There is no clear favorite at this point for the starting job, but there are some names to keep a close eye on. Cory Trice and Darius Rush both make a lot of sense, but a dark horse could be wide receiver Dez Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick made a run at the starting job last year during training camp, and it could be his way to a solid spot on the roster here.
2. Cornerback
The cornerback position looks a lot different than last year, and it will be a fierce battle during training camp. The Steelers signed Cam Sutton in June (who will serve an eight-game suspension), and they also traded for Donte Jackson. Beanie Bishop Jr was a standout at West Virginia and now hopes to play a role on this team after being brought in as an undrafted free agent. Bishop has impressed during offseason training so far, and there has been buzz about him playing a lot this season. Trice missed all of last season, but he could work his way into a key role this season. There are many question marks surrounding the secondary, and even though the group is young, it could be a strength.
1. No. 2 Wide Receiver
George Pickens is the clear-cut No. 1 option at receiver heading into the 2024 season for the Steelers, but after him, there are a lot of question marks. Calvin Austin, Roman Wilson, Marquez Callaway, Scotty Miller, and Van Jefferson are all battling for that spot. Beyond the No. 2 spot, they are battling to stay on the roster.
Van Jefferson showed some flashes during his time with the Rams, and his best season was in 2021, when he caught 50 passes for 802 yards and six touchdowns. He hasn’t been as good for the last two years, but he would like to have a resurgence with the Steelers. Scotty Miller appears to be a perfect slot receiver for the Steelers offense, and he is someone who could sneak up on the depth chart as training camp goes along. Austin is entering his second season with the Steelers, and last year, he caught 17 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown. The hope is that he can take an even bigger step forward this year. The wide receiver battle is a key one to watch both now and going forward, as someone will need to step up and complement Pickens this season.
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