The Steelers are heading into training camp with a roster that’s been shuffled enough to create real pressure points, and a few players are walking in with much more on the line than the average preseason body. For this group, camp isn’t just about getting reps. It’s about proving they belong in a bigger role before the depth chart starts hardening.
Roman Wilson is at the top of that list. Pittsburgh used a third-round pick on the wideout, and he flashed enough last summer to hint at something more.
But once the regular season arrived, he faded out of the picture. That’s the problem now: the Steelers have already poured more resources into the receiver room, and Wilson needs to show he can do more than tease upside.
A roster spot may still be safe, but if he slips backward instead of building on last year, his path gets a lot murkier. His future in Pittsburgh starts with what he does in camp.
Yahya Black is in a different kind of spot, but the pressure is still real. The fifth-round defensive tackle out of Iowa played better than expected as a rookie, especially against the run, and that gave him a foothold.
Still, year two is where players are supposed to take a step, and Black has to show that he can keep climbing. There are bodies in the trenches pushing for snaps, and he needs to prove he deserves a higher place on the depth chart.
The early promise is there. Now he has to build on it.
Then there’s Will Howard, who arrives with more buzz than almost anyone else on the roster this summer. Mike McCarthy has been praising the former sixth-rounder, and the excitement around Howard is obvious.
But the reality is simple: he has no NFL experience to lean on, and he didn’t even get preseason reps last year because he wasn’t healthy enough to play. That leaves a huge information gap.
Howard has to separate himself from Mason Rudolph in a big way if he wants the backup job. Anything less than that would count as a miss.
Asante Samuel Jr. also enters camp in a tricky spot. He started to work his way into a starting role late last season and showed some signs, but the Steelers added more competition this offseason, and the snap count on defense only stretches so far.
Samuel is not in danger of losing his roster spot right now, but he can slide down the pecking order quickly. Daylen Everette, Brandin Echols, and others are in the mix, and Samuel’s lack of special teams value hurts him.
Pittsburgh needs to see a player who looks starting-caliber, or the conversations around him could get uncomfortable fast.
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Steelers Fans Have Every Reason To Doubt This Offensive Reset
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For Steelers fans, that history matters because this latest offensive reset is going to be judged on more than scheme talk. McCarthy now has to convince a restless fan base that he can build something functional around Aaron Rodgers and the teams playmakers, and the only way to do that is by earning trust the old-fashioned way, through accountability and visible effort. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Suddenly Face A Bigger Question About Will Howard
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Mike McCarthys approach has only added to the intrigue, because the head coach has looked invested in Howards development since January and does not seem inclined to treat him like a throw-in. That is why the trade-bait chatter feels a little premature, even if Howards value will ultimately hinge on what he shows in training camp. For now, the bigger question is not whether Pittsburgh is ready to move him, but whether he can do enough to make the Steelers think twice about ever entertaining the idea. [Read more 🡒]
Pat Freiermuth Has Become A Steelers Problem They Can't Ignore
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Pittsburgh also has more reasons than ever to demand a turnaround. The addition of Darnell Washington gives the Steelers another option at the position and adds another layer to the conversation about how much value Freiermuth can still provide, both as a receiver and as part of the offense's overall balance. If he is going to quiet the noise, he will need to look much more like the dependable pass-catching tight end the Steelers paid for. [Read more 🡒]