Steelers’ 2023 training camp positional breakdown: Offense
Share this post:
Quarterbacks
8 KENNY PICKETT · 6-3 · 220
The season-long stats were poor, but Pickett was statistically at his best down the stretch of his rookie season. The “eye test” suggested Pickett will fulfill promise as a franchise QB, and his intangibles suggest a high floor.
10 MITCH TRUBISKY · 6-2 · 220
Trubisky was getting all the first-team reps at camp last year. When he first signed, it wasn’t clear if the Steelers would draft a first-round QB. But signing an extension this May signifies he’s satisfied as a QB2.
2 MASON RUDOLPH · 6-5 · 235
At this point last year, Rudolph supposedly was competing to start. In reality, he probably never had a shot at being more than QB3. After going unsigned for two months of free agency, Rudolph returned to reprise that role in 2023.
5 TANNER MORGAN · 6-2 · 215
An undrafted rookie, the outlook for Morgan changed considerably during a May week when Rudolph was re-signed and Trubisky agreed to a two-year extension. Morgan went from possible future QB2 into limbo.
Running backs
22 NAJEE HARRIS · 6-1 · 242
Harris has been a workhorse and anointed a team leader quickly over his first two NFL seasons. But while he has accumulated yardage, he hasn’t been the game-breaker many expected from a running back taken in the first round.
30 JAYLEN WARREN · 5-8 · 215
Last year, Warren became one of the most impactful undrafted rookies of the Mike Tomlin era. While some clamor for Warren to usurp Harris, he is probably better in a secondary or complementary role.
38 JASON HUNTLEY · 5-9 · 195
Huntley had five kickoff-return touchdowns at New Mexico State, rushing for 11 touchdowns while averaging 7.1 yards per carry as a senior in 2019. But he didn’t make the Lions as a 2020 fifth-round pick and has made minimal regular-season NFL impact.
26 ANTHONY MCFARLAND JR. · 5-8 · 193
Injury has played a role, but McFarland hasn’t materialized into the game-breaker the Steelers hoped when they spent a 2020 fourth-round pick on him. This camp probably is his final chance to show them what he can do.
29 ALFONZO GRAHAM · 5-9 · 180
A signing off a tryout at rookie minicamp after a strong 2022 season at FCS Morgan State, Graham is aiming to become this year’s Warren — an undrafted rookie running back earning a roster spot.
25 DARIUS HAGANS · 6-0 · 210
If Graham is a long shot, what does that make Hagans, a rookie who played at Division II Virginia State? He has already been cut once — by the Colts, a month after signing as an undrafted free agent.
40 MONTE POTTEBAUM · 6-1 · 244
The only pure fullback in camp, “Monte The Mullet” has a haircut and old-school mentality that will endear himself to Steelers fans if he can make the team as an undrafted rookie. But do the Steelers even need a fullback?
Wide receivers
18 DIONTAE JOHNSON · 5-10 · 183
Johnson got a new contract last summer, albeit not an exorbitant one (three years, $39 million). He followed it up with a solid season (86 receptions, 882 yards) — other than not scoring a single touchdown.
14 GEORGE PICKENS · 6-3 · 200
As a rookie, Pickens was the team’s top deep threat and one of the best in the league at catching balls thrown in his general direction. Can he take that Year 2 leap?
11 ALLEN ROBINSON II · 6-2 · 220
Limited to 33 catches in 10 games in 2022 after signing a $46.5 million deal with the Rams, Robinson was dumped for basically nothing. For 2023, it’s a low-risk proposition for Steelers, who get a 10-year veteran WR3.
19 CALVIN AUSTIN III · 5-9 · 162
Austin’s track-star speed dazzles in practice settings, but can it translate to NFL games? And at his size, can he stay healthy? A camp foot injury cost Austin all of his rookie season, which ended up a virtual redshirt.
89 GUNNER OLSZEWSKI · 6-0 · 190
Signed last spring to handle all the return duties, two fumbles/muffs over a three-week span cost Olszewski his jobs by Week 5. With replacement Steven Sims gone, can Olszewski re-earn the gigs?
13 MILES BOYKIN · 6-4 · 220
Boykin again would seem to be the perfect fit in the role as WR5, special-teams gunner and sage veteran locker-room presence, which is what he was in his first season with the Steelers in 2022.
21 HAKEEM BUTLER · 6-5 · 227
Butler’s size/athleticism combination popped during OTAs, and he was a standout in the XFL this spring. But his pro track record is four years of failures to make an impact in the NFL or even in the CFL.
15 CODY WHITE · 6-3 · 215
Though most of his tenure has been on the practice squad, few players have been with the Steelers longer than White (signed in September 2020). In 2021, he was a WR5 and special-teamer. Can he get back to that?
16 JORDAN BYRD · 5-9 · 170
A running back in college, Byrd wasn’t signed for offense. He was All-Mountain West as a punt and kickoff returner. Tomlin is not afraid to keep a return specialist on the roster if Byrd shows proficiency in it.
85 DAN CHISENA · 6-3 · 203
A standout sprinter at Penn State, Chisena’s speed is an asset. But his deployment is much more likely as a gunner on special teams than on offense if he’s able to make the team.
84 JA’MARCUS BRADLEY · 6-0 · 198
Bradley made nine catches over eight games in 2020-21 after joining the Browns as an undrafted free agent. Three months after being cut at the end of last year’s camp, Bradley was signed to the Steelers practice squad.
82 DEZ FITZPATRICK · 6-2 · 208
Fitzpatrick joined the Steelers after two lackluster seasons with the Titans, for whom he was fourth-round pick. Fitzpatrick’s career stat line is meager: five catches in five games. But he had a 19.4 per-catch average as a senior at Louisville.
Tight ends
88 PAT FREIERMUTH · 6-5 · 258
Though he scored only two touchdowns last season, Freiermuth’s production over his first two NFL seasons (123 catches, 1,229 yards, nine TDs) suggests a Pro Bowl future. A lucrative contract extension could be coming next summer.
Steelers’ 2023 training camp positional breakdown:
• Specialists
• Defense
81 ZACH GENTRY · 6-8 · 265
Gentry has developed into a nice complementary NFL tight end, and after testing free agency, he re-signed for one year. But Darnell Washington was drafted a month later, so what will that mean for Gentry’s role?
80 DARNELL WASHINGTON · 6-7 · 264
There might not be a more intriguing player to watch during camp and the preseason than the rookie who has been dubbed “The Mount” because of his size. The Georgia product was considered one of the most athletic tight ends in the draft.
83 CONNOR HEYWARD · 6-0 · 230
It’s a compliment to Heyward he looked so natural as a rookie despite being new to tight end and lacking size for the position. An expanded role was complicated by the drafting of Washington. Will Heyward play some fullback?
87 RODNEY WILLIAMS · 6-4 · 235
Williams was a second-team FCS All-America at Tennessee-Martin, and he stuck on the Steelers practice squad for 17 weeks last season after getting cut by the Denver Broncos at the end of their training camp.
Offensive linemen
76 CHUKWUMA OKORAFOR · 6-6 · 320
Tied for the fourth-longest active tenure with the Steelers, Okorafor is beginning Year 4 as the starting right tackle. He’s the only O-line starter from 19 months ago for whom the Steelers did not acquire a replacement.
78 JAMES DANIELS · 6-4 · 327
The most expensive signing of an outside free agent in Steelers history when he agreed to a three-year, $26.5 million contract in March 2022, Daniels graded out as an above-average NFL right guard last season.
61 MASON COLE · 6-5 · 298
Cole ended up being everything the Steelers could have asked for in 2022 after he signed a three-year free-agent contract. He stabilized the center position and provided leadership to an O-line in flux.
73 ISAAC SEUMALO · 6-4 · 303
Part of the consensus best O-line in the NFL with the 2022 Eagles, Seumalo was the best guard available in free agency. His three-year, $24 million deal is among the biggest the Steelers have ever given an outside free agent.
65 DAN MOORE JR. · 6-5 · 315
Twenty-seven months in, Moore has had the best start to a career for any Steelers fourth-round pick over Tomlin’s 16 seasons. But that doesn’t mean he’s been good enough that they didn’t seek his replacement.
77 BRODERICK JONES· 6-5 · 311
The Steelers didn’t invest first- and fourth-round picks (the latter in trading up) to take Jones and not replace Moore at left tackle. It’s a matter of when, not if … but that doesn’t mean it will be immediately.
69 KEVIN DOTSON · 6-4 · 321
Dotson has 30 career starts in three seasons, including all 17 at left guard in 2022. But the Steelers repeatedly have tried to upgrade from him, and barring injury, Dotson has no chance of starting to begin 2023.
71 NATE HERBIG · 6-4 · 334
When Herbig joined the Steelers via a two-year, $8 million contract, it appeared he would be given a chance to start. A few days later, that changed when the team signed the more heralded Seumalo.
67 LE’RAVEN CLARK · 6-5 · 311
Another veteran signed as a free agent, Clark has 18 starts and 64 games worth of NFL experience since 2016. He is expected to serve as a swing tackle.
53 KENDRICK GREEN · 6-4 · 315
Green’s unique career: a 2021 third-round pick, moved to an unnatural position (center) to replace a legend (Maurkice Pouncey), starting immediately. Then he lost his job last year, sat all season practicing at guard — and now is moving back to center.
74 SPENCER ANDERSON · 6-5 · 305
Anderson made starts at tackle, guard and center (and on both sides of the line) over his college career at Maryland. He took practice reps at all of those spots during OTAs and minicamp as a rookie seventh-round pick.
62 RYAN MCCOLLUM · 6-5 · 300
That he’s the most natural pure center on the roster is McCollum’s advantage in sticking with the Steelers once the season starts. He has an NFL start and 100 regular-season snaps at center.
68 WILLIAM DUNKLE · 6-5 · 330
A 2022 undrafted free agent signed by the Eagles when now-Steelers assistant GM Andy Weidl worked there, Dunkle was second-team AP All-American and first-team All-Mountain West Conference as a senior.
64 JARRID WILLIAMS · 6-6 · 308
Signed June 6, Williams spent much of his first pro season as part of the Eagles organization aside from two weeks on the Lions practice squad. Williams played in college at Houston and Miami.
60 DYLAN COOK · 6-6 · 305
Signed five days before the start of OTAs after being released by the Bucs, Cook spent most of last season on the Tampa Bay practice squad after being signed as an undrafted free agent out of Montana.
Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.