Steelers 2-a-days: Can Keeanu Benton start as a rookie? Miles Boykin back for 2nd year

Editor’s note: From the end of minicamp through the day the team reports to training camp at Saint Vincent College, the Trib will be running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2023 season. The breakdown will go through the roster in mostly alphabetical order, (at least) two per day, from June 16-July 26. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

DT KEEANU BENTON

Experience: Rookie

Contract status: Standard rookie four-year deal is not yet signed

2023 outlook: The Steelers had to be pleased that Benton was available when their pick came up at No. 49 overall in the draft. At 6-foot-4, 309 pounds, Benton would seem to fit in seamlessly in the defense as a defensive lineman for years to come.

But will he play much immediately? Benton will start out at nose tackle, not unlike Javon Hargrave did seven years ago upon also joining the Steelers as a second-day draft pick. Hargrave ultimately developed into a star bright enough that he has signed $39 million and $84 million contracts with other teams since leaving the Steelers.

The first order of business for Benton is beating out incumbent starting nose tackle Montravius Adams, which is not by any means assured. Then it’s sliding high up into the rotation as a nickel defensive lineman behind Cameron Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi. That figures to be the ceiling for Benton in 2023. But if he achieves that as a 22-year-old rookie — look out. It could portend an ascension that potentially makes Benton the Steelers’ next longtime starting anchor on the defensive line.

With an official listed weight of 309 pounds, rookie second-round pick Keeanu Benton is bigger than all of his peers on the #Steelers defensive line who return from last season. https://t.co/BIBAppuTXr

— Tribune-Review Sports (@TribSports) May 21, 2023

WR MILES BOYKIN

Experience: 5th season

Contract status: On a one-year contract with $940,000 cap hit in 2023

2023 outlook: Boykin was generating plenty of buzz as the 2019 draft approached — and you can see why. Not many receivers stand 6-foot-4, 220 pounds and can run the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds.

Four-plus years later, it’s clear Boykin isn’t going to be the star some projected him as. But that’s OK. He’s found a niche as a solid locker-room presence and leader, a fine special-teamer able to fill in as a depth piece on offense who’s a good influence and mentor for a mostly young receiving corps.

A waiver claim from the rival Baltimore Ravens in April 2022, Boykin showed enough that he was re-signed to a one-year deal for 2023. There’s plenty of competition in the WR room, but the steady Boykin could be on the cusp of a lengthy career in a depth role not unlike Darrius Heyward-Bey had with the Steelers for five seasons after it similarly became clear he wasn’t going to be anyone’s WR1. Bet on Boykin being in uniform for the regular-season opener in September.

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