4 for Friday: Steelers acclimating through spring training

Steel City Underground presents “4 for Fridays,” an off-season series of articles focused on four related Pittsburgh Steelers topics and commentary for fans and members of Steelers Nation.

The Pittsburgh Steelers continue to put in work even though they’re in the post-NFL Draft period of the 2024 league year. The team – it’s staff and players – have been acclimating through spring training periods, getting their latest draft class set up for rookie camp, and more. We look at four things fans can expect in the upcoming weekend and related team events.

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Quarterback room filling up

Prior to the 2024 NFL Draft, the Steelers utilized free agency to bring veteran quarterback Russell Wilson in and acquired former Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields after all three of their rostered 2023 QBs – Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph – moved on to other teams. The moves slowed Pittsburgh to focus on other needs in the draft.

The Steelers also added Kyle Allen, John Rhys Plumlee, and have reportedly invited former Notre Dame, Boston College, and University of Pittsburgh quarterback/tight end Phil Jurkovec a rookie invite to minicamp. That’s a circuitous route for Jurkovec to make through the collegiate portals to get back home to Pittsburgh.

Concerns about the quarterback room being thin seem to be addressed, for now. The Steelers will undoubtedly be using this spring to evaluate the talent level of everyone they bring in in order to roster the best group following training camp and preseason games before cutting to their initial 53-man season roster.

Cory Trice Pittsburgh Steelers

‘Phase 2’

The Steelers have had players in their facilities for voluntary training and conditioning phases. The focus of these periods is acclimating players’ bodies to the game after a period away from any organized team activities, as well as addressing rehabilitation, cardio, and strength training.

This was also an opportunity for new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to work with other staff in evaluating the progress of players that he will use to build the offense he needs to field from a strength and training aspect. Some drills are allowed during this period, but are limited.

‘Phase 3’ will be the culminating event before the Steelers hold their mandatory veteran minicamp from June 11-13, 2024. This is typically known as organized team training or ‘OTAs’ and will build on the first two phases while adding drills that do not include live contact. This phase lasts for four weeks (ten days total).

Rookie minicamp

Thursday (May 9) was the day that all of the newest batch of draft selectees and undrafted rookie free agents reported to UPMC Rooney Sports complex ahead of the beginning of rookie minicamp on Friday. It was a busy day of meetings, equipment fitting, locker room placement, photos, and other team business.

“The NFL pre-draft process was cool, and a dream come true to take part in all of that. But that’s not really who I am… I love football and I love working to get better at football, so I just can’t wait to get going and be around my teammates, the best coaches in the world.” – linebacker Payton Wilson

This year’s rookie minicamp will occur over the course of this three-day weekend. It’s an opportunity for rookies to also get a chance to meet their more senior teammates and bond while receiving instruction and information about being play-ready in the NFL.

On May 13, the Steelers can begin the league rookie football development program over the course of seven weeks.

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The Atlanta impact

The Steelers have now added five players that were formerly with Smith on the Atlanta Falcons. They are: WR Van Jefferson, WR Scotty Miller, RB Cordarrelle Patterson, TE MyCole Pruitt, and WR Keilahn Harris. Does that mean Smith plans to make sure they stick in Pittsburgh?

Although fans have expressed their feelings about these moves across social media. Many of them contended that, since the Falcons were not a good team, the Steelers should not allow these implants to have an impact on a Pittsburgh team that is trending up. Others mentioned they saw the moves as being similar to the college transfer portal shuffling when a coach gets a job at a new school and some players then transfer, too.

There’s no reason to see the addition of former Falcons players as a negative mark at this point of the off-season. In fact, there’s an argument to be made that players who spent time with Smith in Atlanta – who know how to execute his schemes and work with him – bring an edge to Pittsburgh.

They can be worked into, and acclimated to, the position groups in place, communicate their experience under Smith, and give their new Steelers teammates valuable insights.

The Steelers will evaluate all their options in personnel throughout the spring and training camp this coming autumn, not just the “guys from Atlanta.” These evaluation opportunities help them to also see where cuts and/or additions need to be made. That means there is no guarantee of a roster spot; that’s been the case year after year in Pittsburgh regardless of players who’ve joined the team.

4 for Friday: Steelers acclimating through spring training appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Bud Dupree Visits Chargers; OLB Drawing Interest From Falcons, Steelers

The Chargers elected to keep both Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack in the fold this offseason, but the team is still interested in at least one of the top veteran edge rushers still on the market. Bud Dupree visited the team, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

While the Bolts are interested in adding what would be a high-profile rotational rusher behind their Pro Bowl OLB tandem, Dupree has seen a bit of a post-draft market emerge for his services. Two of his previous three employers — the Steelers and Falcons — have engaged in talks about a return, Schefter adds.

The NFL’s compensatory formula not including free agency moves made in May annually leads to a host of post-draft signings. A handful of notable free agents have signed since the draft, with additions and subtractions no longer affecting teams’ 2025 compensatory hauls. Dupree looks likely to be a post-draft signee, and of these three teams, one carries a clear need compared to the others.

When the Falcons surprised most by drafting Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall, they passed on bolstering their edge rush. Atlanta has been unable to generate consistent edge pressure for years, but Dupree made some contributions following his Titans release. Dupree’s 6.5 sacks last season were his most since 2020, when an ACL tear ended his Steelers run. Dupree tied with Calais Campbell for the team lead in sacks; Campbell is also not currently with the Falcons, though the team has kept the door open to a return for an age-38 season.

Dupree, 30, tallied just eight QB hits last season; his 24 pressures ranked 49th in the league. The Falcons attempted to trade back into Round 1, eyeing defensive help. The Falcons were aiming to land Laiatu Latu as well; that certainly would have depleted the team’s draft capital, considering where its second-round slot checked in. As it stands, Atlanta features Lorenzo Carter and 2022 second-round pick Arnold Ebiketie as its top OLBs. The team also chose Bralen Trice in Round 3.

The Steelers, who drafted Dupree in the 2015 first round and kept him through 2020 via the fifth-year option and franchise tag, has two clear-cut starters in T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. The latter took over as Watt’s top sidekick when Dupree defected to the Titans in 2021. Highsmith has emerged as one of the NFL’s better edge players since, and the Steelers rewarded him with an extension last year. The team has placed a priority on its OLB3 role, having Melvin Ingram and Markus Golden in that position in recent years.

A Chargers add would be perhaps the most interesting, seeing as the Bolts reached restructure agreements to keep Bosa and Mack (while unloading expensive wideouts Keenan Allen and Mike Williams). The team also received promising early returns from 2023 second-round OLB Tuli Tuipulotu, who totaled 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and 12 QB hits as a rookie. While Bosa’s injury history makes backup pass-rushing firepower important for the Bolts, Tuipulotu already provides some bench assistance.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Najee Harris’ agent refutes reports that RB asked team to decline fifth-year option


Najee Harris #22 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the ball during the fourth quarter of a game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on December 31, 2023 in Seattle, Washington.
Photo by Jane Gershovich/Getty Images

To the surprise of most fans, the Pittsburgh Steelers declined the fifth-year option for starting running back Najee Harris at this year’s deadline.

Paul Zeise, a radio host for 93.7 The Fan and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist, offered an explanation for the decision on Thursday, alleging that a source indicated that Harris actually requested that the team decline his fifth-year option so that he could hit free agency in 2025 for the opportunity to play elsewhere. It wasn’t long before Harris’ agent, Doug Hendrickson, took to social media to refute the reports.

This isn’t the first rumor to emerge regarding Harris since the Steelers declined his fifth-year option, either. Earlier this week, social media warriors were up in arms when it was suggested that the Dallas Cowboys could be in the mix to acquire Harris via trade. There’s no doubt they need a running back of Harris’ caliber, with scarce depth at the position beyond a soon-to-be 29-year-old Ezekiel Elliott. However, those reports have since been refuted.

Najee Harris reportedly asked Steelers to decline fifth-year option


Pittsburgh Steelers v Indianapolis Colts
Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

Harris reportedly wants to play elsewhere

The Pittsburgh Steelers shocked fans, and the NFL landscape when they decided to decline the fifth-year option of running back Najee Harris last week. Harris had shown the ability to stay on the field, not missing a game in three years, and rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons.

However, it may not have been the Steelers that were disinterested in Harris. Rather, it may be that the former first-round pick wants to explore other ventures after this season.

According to Paul Zeise of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Harris asked the Steelers to decline his fifth-year option, as he would like to play elsewhere once his contract is up.

“A little birdie said Najee Harris actually asked for the Steelers to decline his fifth-year option because he would like to play somewhere else,” Zeise said on The Joe Show on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh.

Zeise said that the person who gave him that bit of information was the same person who told him the Steelers would be trading for quarterback Justin Fields.

If Harris really wants to play elsewhere, you have to wonder if Pittsburgh would explore the possibility of trading him as part of a package for a receiver. However, that would only create a hole at running back, leaving Jaylen Warren as the only proven talent at the position. Regardless, this will be a situation to monitor for the next calendar year.

How a forgotten basketball icon blazed a trail for Jokic

Baxter Holmes, ESPN Senior WriterMay 8, 2024, 08:00 AM ET

CloseBaxter Holmes (@Baxter) is a senior writer for ESPN Digital and Print, focusing on the NBA. He has covered the Lakers, the Celtics and previously worked for The Boston Globe and Los Angeles Times.Open Extended Reactions

THE CROWD ROARED as confetti fluttered down from the rafters and Denver Nuggets players, coaches and staff bear-hugged each other on the court, tears dripping down sweaty cheeks. Above them, videoboards at Ball Arena in Denver blinked “2023 NBA Champions.”

Amid the joy, Nuggets star Nikola Jokic surveyed the scene, still in his jersey, awaiting the usual postgame interview. It was June 12, 2023, and Jokic had just posted 28 points and 16 rebounds in an NBA Finals-clinching Game 5 win over the Miami Heat. Moments after the buzzer kicked off a citywide celebration, Jokic was asked how it felt to

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Steelers To Sign WR Scotty Miller

Another former Arthur Smith Falcons charge is coming to Pittsburgh. Following Cordarrelle Patterson, MyCole Pruitt and Van Jefferson‘s Steelers signings, Scotty Miller will be en route to Pennsylvania.

The Steelers and Miller agreed to terms Wednesday, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. It is a one-year deal. Miller played one season under Smith in Atlanta; he remains best known for his contributions in Tampa.

Miller, 26, worked as an auxiliary wideout for a Falcons team that struggled through the air. The former Bucs draftee caught 11 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns last season. That number bettered Jefferson’s Atlanta production, though the latter arrived during the season via trade, but still ranked fourth among Atlanta wide receivers.

It is clear the Steelers are giving Smith input when it comes to acquisitions, as three of his tertiary Falcons targets and a key blocking tight end are in the mix. Granted, only Patterson appears a lock to be on Pittsburgh’s 53-man roster come Week 1. But each will bring scheme familiarity. The 5-foot-9 weapon could offer Pittsburgh another slot option in addition to Calvin Austin.

Miller made steady contributions to the Bucs’ Super Bowl LV-winning team but did not factor into the final two Tom Brady-piloted passing attacks much. In 2020, however, the Bowling Green alum worked alongside Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to give Brady a nice receiving trio in his first Tampa Bay season. Miller caught 33 passes for 501 yards and three touchdowns that year. He eclipsed 70 receiving yards four times from Week 1 to Week 7. The Bucs’ turbulent Antonio Brown partnership led to Miller’s role being reduced, though the latter’s first-half-ending deep TD grab helped Tampa Bay hold off Green Bay in the 2020 NFC championship game.

A 2019 sixth-rounder, Miller has not eclipsed 200 yards in a season since that 2020 campaign. That season doubles as the most recent slate in which Miller topped 275 offensive snaps. A turf toe bout limited him in 2021. The Falcons did use Miller as a kick returner last season, though the Steelers — barring what would be a shocking Justin Fields experiment — are all but set to use Patterson there to take advantage of the recent NFL rule change.

Following their Diontae Johnson trade, the Steelers have George Pickens anchoring their receiver group and third-round pick Roman Wilson having a clear path to becoming his top sidekick. Beyond that, the team has taken a quantity-based approach. In addition to ex-Falcons, the likes of Quez Watkins, Denzel Mims and Marquez Callaway are on the Steelers’ 90-man offseason roster. This will create an interesting competition for roster spots, as this setup will require a few veterans to be denied roster spots come September.

“Way Too Early” Steelers 2024 53-man roster prediction

With the major portion of free agency and the NFL Draft now in the rearview mirror, the Pittsburgh Steelers season moves into a quiet period of offseason workouts before the team convenes in Latrobe, Pennsylvania for training camp in late July.

While there may be a few more additions or subtractions to the team’s current 90-player roster, the group coming to Saint Vincent’s College for camp is largely set. That group will eventually be whittled down to 53 players.

Much like trying to predict who gets selected by the Steelers in the NFL Draft, we can make an educated guess on which players will be retained during that cut down from 90 to 53 players to form the first official 2024 regular-season roster. Here are my predictions on who will make the cut, including a few surprise players who might have a shot at making the team.

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Quarterbacks (3)

Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, John Rhys Plumlee

The bottom of the roster may have a surprise, all depending. Kyle Allen will have the edge over Plumlee due to NFL starting experience, but it’s Plumlee’s athleticism that will see him make the team over Allen and give the Steelers a chance to mimic other AFC North quarterbacks on scout team with Plumlee’s skills.

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Running Backs (3)

Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Daijun Edwards

Another undrafted rookie, this time from Georgia, will have a shot at making the 53-man roster as Edwards finds a spot at a position that wasn’t addressed otherwise in free agency or the draft. With the Steelers passing on Harris’ fifth-year option, they may redshirt Edwards as competition looking ahead to 2025. (Plus they have traditionally used running backs as kick returners and could have Edwards play special teams on coverage units too.)

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Wide Receivers (6)

George Pickens, Calvin Austin III, Van Jefferson, Roman Wilson, Cordarrelle Patterson, Denzel Mims

Patterson is strictly a special teams player, while Wilson and Austin are still inexperienced in the NFL, paving the way for Jefferson and Mims to crack the 53. Someone will also have to replace Myles Boykin on special teams, which means Mims or Jefferson will stick to the roster in that capacity.

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Tight Ends (4)

Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Connor Heyward, MyCole Pruitt

With offensive coordinator Arthur Smith using more multiple tight end sets, the team signed one of his mainstays at the position in free agency. This works out in Pruitt’s favor, as Heyward is a hybrid fullback and tight end: since he’s smaller, Pruitt should still find a role as a blocker and special teams player.

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Offensive Linemen (8)

Zach Frazier, James Daniels, Isaac Seumalo, Broderick Jones, Dan Moore Jr., Nate Herbig, Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick

One of the more difficult positions to lock down, the Steelers will likely part ways with Moore if a backup tackle emerges in camp. Watch out for Dylan Cook in that role, while Spencer Anderson could make an argument for them to keep nine linemen total.

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Defensive Linemen (7)

Cameron Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi, Keeanu Benton, DeMarvin Leal, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Montravius Adams, Logan Lee

This group is fairly cut and dry with returning starters and backups, plus the rookie Lee all making the squad. Breiden Fehoko is the odd man out.

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Linebackers (8)

T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Patrick Queen, Elandon Roberts, Cole Holcomb, Payton Willis, Mark Robinson

The outside linebacker depth is Herbig and Herbig only, which may lead to a shift in this initial group. Watch for Holcomb’s recovery and Robinson’s development: the team may move one of the two to make room for another backup pass rusher, though with recent injuries on the interior, it’s plausible they return more than the usual four inside linebackers.

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Cornerbacks (5)

Joey Porter Jr., Donte Jackson, Cory Trice Jr., Darius Rush, Beanie Bishop Jr.

Another group that’s thin to start offseason workouts, Omar Khan has to add veteran depth to this group. Bishop has the inside track on winning the slot corner job while someone else needs to replace James Pierre‘s special teams snaps. That should be Trice or Rush, but by September may not be both.

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Safeties (6)

Minkah Fitzpatrick, Damontae Kazee, DeShon Elliott, Miles Killebrew, Trenton Thompson, Ryan Watts

As with the cornerbacks, the safety room is too heavy at the moment. However, with the injuries sustained here last season, the bottom half of the group (Thompson, Watts) will be fighting for a roster spot. Both may make it early on, but another roster need could bump one, or both, from the 53.

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Specialists (3)

Chris Boswell, Cameron Johnston, Christian Kuntz

Boswell is the definition of having a safe spot while the Steelers added a new punter in Johnston who should be around for several seasons. Their competition in camp will be putting stuff on tape. Nothing more.

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Final Thoughts

There are a few areas of fluctuation here. One of the main thoughts I had putting this roster together versus that of the 2023 prediction is the injuries that were sustained during last season at inside linebacker and safety. Also, the league’s new kickoff rules may require more bodies that come from groups such as defensive backs and wide receivers on coverage units.

The biggest offseason stories will likely be at the running back position and offensive tackle with Najee Harris (final year of contract) and Dan Moore Jr (competing to start against Jones and Fautanu.) That could see some more variation depending on trades as the Steelers continue to seek out a playmaker at the wide receiver position to place opposite of George Pickens.

Full List (53)

Here’s the remaining names compiled from the lists above and how the full 53-man roster shakes out.

Steelers Roster Prediction

“Way Too Early” Steelers 2024 53-man roster prediction appeared first on Steel City Underground.