The Steelers are heading into training camp with no shortage of questions, and not all of them come with a bleak answer. With a new head coach and one more season of Aaron Rodgers in the mix, Pittsburgh also knows the road bends after 2026. That makes the next stretch especially important for deciding which young players are worth building around and which ones may be running out of runway.
Roman Wilson is the clearest name on the “keep investing” side of the ledger. The wideout hasn’t had much help from the quarterback situation across his first two seasons, and he has needed time to adjust to the NFL game.
Still, there’s a reason not to give up on him: he gets open. That separation shows up on film, and he still looks capable of becoming a WR3.
For a franchise that has long done well developing receivers, Wilson feels like a player worth patience.
Eli Heidenreich belongs in that same conversation, even if he arrived as a seventh-round pick. Plenty of players taken that late never amount to much more than camp bodies or backup options, but Heidenreich has more in his toolbox than that.
He can line up in multiple spots, not just at running back, and his hands and route running stand out for the position. He plays with a finish, too.
It may take some movement ahead of him - whether that’s Jaylen Warren or Rico Dowdle eventually moving on - but Heidenreich looks like someone who should find a real role.
Payton Wilson is another young piece Pittsburgh should keep feeding. The linebacker was drafted in the third round two years ago, and the talent is still obvious.
The Steelers have pulled him off the field at times for Cole Holcomb and Malik Harrison, and Patrick Queen’s presence has also limited his usage. Wilson played 64 percent of the defensive snaps last year, but he still doesn’t always get on the field in certain packages.
Both he and Queen need to get better in coverage, but Wilson is the one who should be viewed as the long-term answer. Queen’s contract runs out next spring, and Pittsburgh does not need to pay him again.
Getting Wilson more snaps in 2026 should be the start of preparing him for 2027 and beyond.
On the other side of the conversation, Logan Lee looks like a player whose evaluation is pretty much complete. The sixth-round pick from 2024 was always more of a project, but two years later the same issues remain. His lack of strength and length are still keeping him off the field.
Will Howard also appears to be running out of time. Mike McCarthy reportedly loved him for months, and there was a pocket of fans who bought in as well.
But the reality is that Howard does not appear to have the traits needed to stick in the NFL. At this point, the “develop or dump” window has already closed.
Drew Allar is the new quarterback to develop right now, and Pittsburgh is very likely to draft a first-round quarterback next year. Howard simply does not offer much in Pittsburgh.
Kaleb Johnson rounds out the list of players who may need a fresh start. He had plenty of believers before his rookie season, including in fantasy circles, but he fell out of favor quickly and never escaped the dog house.
With Warren and Dowdle ahead of him and Heidenreich added to the mix, the Steelers would make sense to trade Johnson for whatever they can get and move on. He also does not appear to be a natural fit in McCarthy’s offense.
Johnson is still young, and a change of scenery could help him, but his time in Pittsburgh may not last much longer.
In Other News...
Steelers May Not Be Done Adding Weapons For Aaron Rodgers
The Steelers already made one notable move to keep Aaron Rodgers in place for 2026, and the addition of Michael Pittman Jr. gave the passing game a much-needed boost. Even so, Pittsburgh does not appear finished looking for help at receiver, which makes sense for a team trying to give Rodgers more than just one new target to lean on.
One veteran option on the market has drawn interest because he brings both production and versatility, even while playing through a messy quarterback situation in Washington last season. He could give the Steelers another layer of depth and a different kind of weapon in the passing game, and if Pittsburgh decides to keep shopping, this is the sort of name that would fit the profile of a late offseason addition worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
These Steelers Camp Names Could Change The Roster Conversation Fast
Training camp has a way of turning unknowns into conversation starters, and the Steelers have a few names who fit that mold. Undrafted defensive back Ahmari Harvey is in the mix to fight for a roster or practice-squad spot, while quarterbacks Will Howard and Drew Allar are part of the broader competition that always gets extra attention once the pads come on and the preseason starts to sort out who can actually stick.
Donte Kent is another player worth watching after missing his first NFL season, with camp offering a chance to show the athleticism that made him intriguing in the first place. Kaden Wetjen also adds a different kind of value as a return specialist, and if a few of these players flash early, they could change the way the roster conversation looks before August is over. [Read more 🡒]
Drew Allar Faces A Steelers Camp Test That Could Change Everything
Drew Allar is getting his first real Steelers camp test, and it comes with the kind of attention that follows a third-round pick in Pittsburgh. The team invested the No. 76 overall selection in a raw talent project, and training camp is now about seeing whether the early signs match the upside, with coaches watching his mechanics, pocket presence and ability to read the field.
Allar already has a roster spot secured, but this month still matters because it should give the Steelers a clearer picture of what he can become. Progress is expected to be incremental, not instant, and by the end of camp and preseason Pittsburgh should know a lot more about where he stands, even if the bigger questions around his long-term role are still ahead. [Read more 🡒]