Steelers’ 2023 training camp positional breakdown: Defense
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Defensive linemen
97 CAMERON HEYWARD · 6-5 · 295
Thirteen seasons into his career, is Heyward finally going to hit the wall at 34? Already cemented as an all-time Steeler and building a Hall of Fame resume, Heyward hasn’t slowed down yet.
99 LARRY OGUNJOBI · 6-3 · 305
The Steelers scooped up Ogunjobi at a bargain rate last summer after a failed physical related to foot surgery nixed a lucrative deal with the Bears. Though he was limited last season, Ogunjobi showed enough to earn an extension with the Steelers this spring.
57 MONTRAVIUS ADAMS · 6-4 · 304
Adams found a home with the Steelers since joining them as his fourth team over a nine-month span in late 2021. He has been their No. 1 nose tackle most of the time since, but there’s no guarantee that will continue.
98 DEMARVIN LEAL · 6-4 · 290
The biggest question surrounding Leal is how much he plays on the defensive line and how much he plays on the edge. Leal popped as a rookie last season, albeit a raw one.
95 KEEANU BENTON · 6-4 · 309
A second-round pick from Wisconsin, Benton has a chance to serve as the No. 1 nose tackle as a rookie. He figures to be eased into the defensive line rotation, at very least.
92 ISAIAHH LOUDERMILK · 6-7 · 293
Loudermilk’s stock seems to have fallen in the eyes of the organization, which had been aggressive in trading to draft him in 2021. He played less last season than as a rookie.
94 ARMON WATTS · 6-5 · 307
A five-year NFL veteran, Watts started a career-high 12 games for the Chicago Bears last season. Signed to a modest veteran contract, the 27-year-old Watts is veteran insurance as a D-line backup.
96 BREIDEN FEHOKO · 6-3 · 300
An option at nose tackle who has played 19 career NFL regular-season games with the Los Angeles Chargers from 2020-22, Fehoko was among the low-cost veterans added to the D-line room this offseason.
91 JONATHAN MARSHALL · 6-3 · 310
A late-2022 addition to the active roster after being a New York Jets’ sixth-round pick in 2021, Marshall never played a game for the Steelers but has enough raw talent that he could contend to be a rotational DL piece.
Steelers’ 2023 training camp positional breakdown:
• Specialists
• Offense
72 MANNY JONES· 6-4 · 290
Jones appeared in four games as an undrafted rookie for the Arizona Cardinals last season but was waived in May. A four-year starter at Colorado State, he’s likely a candidate for the practice squad.
66 JAMES NYAMWAYA· 6-5 · 305
An undrafted rookie from low-FCS Merrimack who was at the Division III level through 2021, Nyamwaya moved to the U.S. at age 9 and did not play football until high school. He is a practice-squad developmental project.
Outside linebackers
90 T.J. WATT · 6-4 · 252
Watt’s year-by-year gradual career ascension went from NFL all-rookie in 2017, to Pro Bowler, to All-Pro, to Defensive Player of the Year runner-up. But he couldn’t make the jump to Defensive Player of the Year, in part because of injury. Will he regain top form?
56 ALEX HIGHSMITH · 6-4 · 242
Armed with a $68 million contract extension signed Wednesday, there are no longer worries if Highsmith will be a full participant in team drills. He has been an ideal “Robin” to Watt’s “Batman.”
54 MARKUS GOLDEN · 6-2 · 260
Golden, 32, has 47 sacks over eight seasons (11 in 2021). He would seem to be an ideal OLB3 behind the dynamic starting duo at this stage of his career, particularly while Nick Herbig or another rookie develops.
51 NICK HERBIG · 6-2 · 240
The Steelers love Wisconsin defensive players, especially the edge rushers. Herbig won’t be another Watt, but after leading the nation in sacks last season with 11, the fourth-round pick has shown his lack of ideal size doesn’t hinder his pass rushing.
48 QUINCY ROCHE · 6-3 · 245
A 2021 sixth-round pick of the Steelers, Roche is back with the team after appearing in 17 games for the New York Giants the past two years. Roche made three starts as a rookie but had fallen out of the Giants’ plans in 2022.
40 DAVID PERALES · 6-3 · 255
Perales was a highly productive pass rusher over the past three seasons at Fresno State, enough so that the Steelers were eager to overlook average athletic traits to take a flier on him as an undrafted free agent.
45 TOBY NDUKWE · 6-3 · 250
Signed off a rookie tryout, Ndukwe barely earned playing time over five years at SMU — but when he did, he seemed to pressure QBs. In one season at Sam Houston State, he had just a half-sack but was all-conference.
Inside linebackers
50 ELANDON ROBERTS · 6-1 · 238
Part of the near-total makeover of the inside linebackers corps over the offseason, the 29-year-old Roberts is a two-time Super Bowl champion and a four-time team co-captain over his seven previous NFL seasons.
55 COLE HOLCOMB · 6-1 · 240
In part because he is three years younger, Holcomb got a bigger contract than Roberts did in free agency to join the Steelers. Holcomb did not fully participate in OTAs or minicamp as he recovered from December foot surgery.
93 MARK ROBINSON · 5-11 · 235
The only ILB who played for the Steelers last season to return, Robinson figures to continue to ascend as a second-year player who was an FCS running back before a move to linebacker for Ole Miss in 2021.
44 TANNER MUSE · 6-2 · 227
A standout safety on dominant Clemson teams, it took three years for Muse to find an NFL niche as a special teamer for the Seattle Seahawks. He was starting on defense by the end of last season, but they let him go.
46 NICK KWIATKOSKI · 6-2 · 242
After helping Bethel Park to a WPIAL title and a college career at West Virginia, Kwiatkoski has carved out a seven-year NFL career. His path to an eighth was getting signed off a tryout at minicamp.
49 CHAPELLE RUSSELL · 6-1 · 230
Russell joins Robinson as the only returnees to his position room (even the coach is different), but he spent all of last season on the practice squad. Russell has 27 games of NFL experience, though.
Cornerbacks
20 PATRICK PETERSON · 6-1 · 203
When was the last time a player with an established career resume as sterling as Peterson’s joined the Steelers? Three All-Pro berths, eight Pro Bowls, 2010’s NFL all-decade team. But at 33, how much does he have left?
29 LEVI WALLACE · 6-0 · 179
Wallace was the only cornerback who played significantly for last year’s team who wasn’t let go over the offseason. He has been an adequate NFL starting outside corner since making the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted rookie in 2018.
24 JOEY PORTER JR. · 6-2 · 193
A fan favorite because of his father, Porter Jr. grew up in Western Pennsylvania and around the Steelers, and he played at Penn State. But drafting him at No. 32 overall was more than nepotism — he fills a need and has talent.
34 CHANDON SULLIVAN · 5-11 · 189
The starting nickel/slot the past three seasons for playoff-caliber teams (the Green Bay Packers in 2020-21 and the Minnesota Vikings in 2022), Sullivan’s signing for $2.133 million for 2023 suggests he’s the early favorite to serve that role for the Steelers.
42 JAMES PIERRE · 6-2 · 185
Pierre is back for a fourth season with the Steelers, although he was non-tendered as a restricted free agent and signed for a lower salary a week later. His position room is more competitive than before.
27 CORY TRICE JR. · 6-3 · 206
Despite being widely projected as a mid-round pick, Trice fell to the seventh round. The Steelers felt he was too good to pass up, even if his profile is redundant to Porter’s. Long term, he could be a steal.
35 LUQ BARCOO · 6-1 · 180
Signed after playing for the Hines Ward-coached San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL this spring, Barcoo tied for the national lead in interceptions during his senior college season at San Diego State. But he never has held an NFL job for long.
33 DUKE DAWSON · 5-10 · 198
A former second-round pick of the New England Patriots, Dawson has spent time on the IR or PUP lists in four of five seasons since entering the NFL. He’s a slot corner by trade on a team without a clear-cut starter there.
30 CHRIS WILCOX · 6-2 · 195
Wilcox was on an active NFL roster for 13 days as a rookie in 2021. But he never appeared in a game for the Indianapolis Colts, who’d claimed him off waivers from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who’d drafted him. The Steelers are his fourth team.
38 MADRE HARPER · 6-1 · 195
A veteran of 12 NFL regular-season games in 2020-21, Harper has some good measurables but hasn’t broken through as a pro cornerback. He has special-teams experience.
Safeties
39 MINKAH FITZPATRICK · 6-1 · 207
A first-team All-Pro three of his four seasons with the Steelers, Fitzpatrick might be on track for the Hall of Fame if he keeps it up for a few more years. That’s not a stretch considering he’s only 26.
23 DAMONTAE KAZEE · 5-11 · 174
Re-signing Kazee again signals the Steelers prioritize ball skills from their DBs. Though his skillset is somewhat redundant with Fitzpatrick, the Steelers figure to go with three safeties more often in 2023.
31 KEANU NEAL · 6-0 · 211
A former first-round pick in 2016, Neal was signed to a bargain two-year, free-agent deal to replace longtime former starting strong safety Terrell Edmunds. Neal might siphon snaps away from Kazee — or from inside linebackers.
28 MILES KILLEBREW · 6-2 · 222
Though he rarely plays on defense, Killebrew has been exactly what the Steelers hoped for when they signed him in 2021. He blocked two punts that fall and was elected unit captain last season.
21 TRE NORWOOD · 6-0 · 194
Since the Steelers drafted him in the seventh round in 2021, Norwood has played significant snaps at free safety, strong safety and slot/nickel cornerback — among other positions — in addition to being a key special teamer.
41 KENNY ROBINSON · 6-2 · 200
A Wilkinsburg native who was All-Big 12 for West Virginia in 2018, Robinson appeared in 19 games for the Carolina Panthers over two seasons after being a fifth-round pick in 2020. He is known for his ball skills.
37 ELIJAH RILEY · 6-0 · 205
After joining the Steelers late during camp last year, Riley was on the active roster playing a niche role by the end of the season. If he can prove special-teams value, Riley has a shot at the 53-man in 2023.
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