Steelers 2-a-days: Gunner Olszewski wants return job back, Chuks Okorafor keeps his at right tackle

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, between June 16 and July 26. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

WR GUNNER OLSZEWSKI

Experience: 5th season

Contract status: $2.618 million cap hit in 2023, after which will be an unrestricted free agent

2023 outlook: Olszewski himself acknowledged he was “handed” the Steelers’ punt and kick return jobs last summer, in large part by way of the two-year free-agent contract he’d signed with the team. It didn’t last long, though. A pair of mishandled balls by Olszewski over a three-week span meant he’d been demoted by Week 5.

But with replacement Steven Sims now gone via a non-tender from the Steelers, Olszewski would seem to be the frontrunner to regain the Steelers’ returner roles. This time, though, he will probably have to fight for it. Jordan Byrd is on the roster as an undrafted free agent specifically because of his return skills, and Calvin Austin III and Ja’Marcus Bradley also have backgrounds as return men. Olszewski’s contract might work against him. The others work for far cheaper, and cutting Olszewski would only cost the Steelers $617,500 in “dead money.”

Olszewski, curiously, saw his role on offense increase during his first season with the Steelers after his fumble troubles on returns. He was thrown to seven times and had seven carries over the final nine games of the season, netting 92 yards while playing roughly a quarter of the offensive snaps in that time.

Olszewski has an All Pro honor for his return work to his credit (2020 while with the New England Patriots). If he can show he’s close to that form during this preseason, Olszewski will earn his job back.

“Last year, it felt like the job was given to me, and I don’t want that again. I have never had anything handed to me, so I am looking forward to proving myself to the coaches and my teammates.”https://t.co/5qbFvIF51R

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) July 6, 2023

OT CHUKS OKORAFOR

Experience: 6th season

Contract status: $13.03 million cap hit in 2023, signed through 204

2023 outlook: Okorafor is the only member of the Steelers’ starting offensive line from the end of the 2021 season to still be standing unscathed. The organization, over the past two offseasons, has effectively revamped the entirety of the unit via free agency or the draft … except at right tackle. Barring something unforeseen, Okorafor will spend the 2023 season the same way he has since late in Week 1 of the 2020 season – as the Steelers’ starting right tackle.

Okorafor has missed only one game in that time (early in 2021, because of a concussion), earning a three-year, $29.25 million contract in the process (signed March 2022). Meanwhile, the rest of the starters from as recently as 2021 – from left to right, Dan Moore Jr., Kevin Dotson, Kendrick Green and Trai Turner – have all been replaced (or soon will be).

Broderick Jones was drafted with the 14th overall pick this spring to start at left tackle, Isaac Seumalo was signed as a free agent a month earlier to handle left guard, and Mason Cole (center) and James Daniels (right guard) were signed as veteran UFAs in spring 2022.

Okorafor largely hasn’t had to fight for his job over the past three years – which is ironic, because he twice lost out on competitions to start at right tackle, in 2019 and 2020. But when Zach Banner suffered a torn ACL during a Week 1 victory in 2020, Okorafor took over for him at right tackle and hasn’t looked back.

Interestingly, the following training camp coach Mike Tomlin said Okorafor was better at left tackle, a spot at which he was taking practice reps. But when Banner proved unable to recovery from his injury and with Moore (then a rookie) appearing capable to start on the left side, Okorafor was moved back to the right side.

There are some far-fetched scenarios in which Okorafor isn’t still manning first-team right tackle throughout this fall – namely, Moore loses out to Jones and moves to the right side to start. Don’t bet on that playing out. Instead, bet on Okorafor providing adequate play as an NFL-average right tackle for the Steelers, just as he has for 50 of the past 51 games.

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