The Steelers didn’t use two premium draft picks on Max Iheanachor and Gennings Dunker just to park them on the bench forever. But through the first two training camp practices, Pittsburgh has sent a pretty direct message: nothing is being handed out.
Early in camp, the first-team offensive line has lined up, from left to right, as Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick, Zach Frazier, Spencer Anderson, and Dylan Cook. That group has kept the rookies on the outside looking in for now.
Iheanachor, the first-round pick, has been working with the second unit at right tackle. Dunker, taken in the third round, has been slotted in as the third-string right guard. For two players the Steelers clearly view as part of the future, those are modest spots on the depth chart.
The picture gets more interesting when you look at who they’re chasing. Iheanachor’s main obstacle appears to be Cook, who stepped in late last season for Broderick Jones and handled that stretch well enough to make the job look open only if the rookie forces the issue.
Dunker has an even steeper climb, with Spencer Anderson and Brock Hoffman both in the mix for the right guard spot. Anderson and Hoffman bring years of experience and are both trying to prove they can be full-time starters.
That’s the reality of camp. Draft status matters, but it doesn’t buy a starting job. Mike McCarthy is making the rookies climb, and offensive line coach James Campen has backed that approach by keeping them in the mix rather than pushing them straight to the front.
The Steelers clearly believe Iheanachor and Dunker can become big pieces up front eventually. They just haven’t earned that label yet in practice. And with a young group that already includes Fautanu, Frazier, and McCormick, there’s obvious upside if both rookies can force their way into the lineup.
For now, though, the message is simple: work first, start later.
In Other News...
Steelers Unknown Is Suddenly Forcing A Real Receiver Debate
Brandon Smith arrived in Pittsburgh on a Reserve/Future deal with the kind of profile that usually puts a player on the long shot pile, but the first two practices of camp have at least made him worth a closer look. The 27-year-old receiver has shown up with a few notable catches, including work downfield and a back-shoulder grab, and that kind of early flash can matter when a staff is sorting through a crowded receiver room.
Smith still has plenty working against him, from his age to the fact that he has only a thin NFL track record after stops with several teams and a run in the UFL. His clearest path to sticking may come down to special teams value, and if he keeps making plays in camp, the Steelers could have a real decision to make about whether he belongs in the mix for the practice squad or somewhere higher on the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
T.J. Watt Is Already Feeling Mike McCarthys Steelers Shift
Mike McCarthys first Steelers camp has already brought a different feel, and T.J. Watt is adjusting to it as the team gets ready for the season opener against the Falcons. The new head coach has changed the routine in a few noticeable ways, including removing live tackling from training and reworking how defenders are positioned on the field, a shift that naturally puts extra attention on one of Pittsburghs most important players.
For Watt, that means more than just learning a new voice in the building. The Steelers are experimenting with different looks across the defensive front, moving Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig around to create better matchups and keep offenses guessing. It is early, but the changes already suggest McCarthy wants a more flexible pass rush, and Watt is at the center of how that plan is supposed to work. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Suddenly Face A Trade Decision Fans Never Expected
The Panthers rash of injuries along the offensive tackle and EDGE rusher spots has pushed them into the kind of trade-market conversation that can reshape a roster quickly, and Pittsburgh has a few names that naturally fit the discussion. From the Steelers side, the most obvious pieces are on the line and at outside linebacker, which is why the idea of a deal between these teams has started to circulate even though nothing is close to being done.
Broderick Jones stands out as the kind of player who could draw attention if he continues to show he is healthy and ready to contribute, especially with Carolina searching for help up front. If the Panthers look beyond the trenches, Roman Wilson is the other notable Steelers receiver who could come into play as a fallback option, but for now this remains a case of fit, need and timing more than any confirmed movement. [Read more 🡒]