Steelers 2-a-days: Returning starter DT Montravis Adams, versatile rookie OL Spencer Anderson

Chris Adamski | Friday, June 16, 2023 3:55 p.m.

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Montravius Adams and offensive lineman Spencer Anderson

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 MONTRAVIUS ADAMS

Experience: 7th season

Contract status: $3.23 million cap hit in 2023, after which will be an unrestricted free agent

2023 outlook: When Adams arrived in Pittsburgh just after Thanksgiving in 2021, he was joining his fourth team over a nine-month span and had been released twice over the prior 90 days.

Since joining the Steelers, though, he’s been atop their depth chart (with few exceptions) at nose tackle.

But will that continue well into 2023?

The drafting of Keeanu Benton in the second round likely represents the Steelers’ future of the center of their defensive line. But is Benton ready to take over as their top nose tackle right away? And if so, is Adams — at a not-insignificant salary-cap hit — worth keeping around as more of a depth piece?

Nose tackle, by its very nature in the modern NFL, is a part-time position. But Adams, a soon-to-be 28-year-old who entered the league in 2017, also rotates in to spell starting defensive linemen Cameron Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi in subpackages. Playing 26% of the Steelers’ defensive snaps last season, Adams had 26 tackles (one for loss) but managed no sacks and only four pressures in 141 pass-rushing snaps (according to Pro Football Focus).

Adams is still the odds-on favorite to serve as the Steelers’ No. 3 or 4 defensive lineman this season. But the presences of Benton, second-year DeMarvin Leal, third-year Isaiahh Loudermilk and veteran acquisition Armon Watts ensure Adams better have a good camp if he wants to leave no doubt about that.

“I had no idea he could snap until I saw him taking some snaps after practice one day, and I was just like, ‘All right, dude – you can snap!’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, I can.’"https://t.co/L5BAakgIey

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) June 4, 2023

OL SPENCER ANDERSON

Experience: Rookie

Contract status: $769,444 cap hit in 2023, signed through 2026

2023 outlook: The Steelers, like most NFL teams, value versatility. And few offensive linemen are as versatile as Anderson, who made starts at tackle, guard and center (and on both sides of the line) over his college career at Maryland. He similarly has taken practice reps at all of those spots so far during organized team activities and minicamp with the Steelers.

That shows why the Steelers were wont to take Anderson with their final draft pick in April. He certainly brings value in the depth and, yes, versatility he can bring the position room. Even if that only manifests itself merely in making it easier to fill out the scout team or practice squad, there still worth in that.

After the Steelers signed three veteran offensive linemen in free agency and drafted another in the first round, it would seem almost impossible for Anderson to make the 53-man roster as a rookie. But few seventh-round picks do. And Anderson, with his football smarts, by all indications has a high enough floor that he would seem to be a lock for the practice squad.

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