Steelers 2-a-days: Aliquippa’s Dravon Askew-Henry, big Zach Banner look to seize opportunities
Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of 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 2019 season. The breakdown will go through the roster in alphabetical order, (at least) two per day, between June 14 and July 26.
S DRAVON ASKEW-HENRY
Experience: Undrafted rookie
Contract status: Signed a 3-year rookie contract, $495,000 cap hit in 2019,
2019 outlook: A former standout at Aliquippa High School and West Virginia University, Askew-Henry came to the Steelers as an undrafted player after the Steelers, in a mild surprise, did not use any of their nine picks on a safety. If Askew-Henry can show he can excel at special teams, a roster spot is there for the taking for at least one relatively-unknown safety.
Dravon Askew-Henry, former Aliquippa and West Virginia standout, insists he can handle the safety job for the #Steelers https://t.co/3kYle3Sgj1
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) May 19, 2019
OT ZACH BANNER
Experience: Technically his 3rd NFL season, 2nd with Steelers
Contract status: $645,000 cap hit in 2019, restricted free agent after season
2019 outlook: The Steelers signed the mammoth Banner (6-8, 360 pounds) during last year’s camp and kept him on the 53-man roster as something of a “redshirt” season following a 2017 rookie year in which he appeared in eight games for Cleveland. Banner has slimmed down some over his 10 months in Pittsburgh, and he’s impressing coaches this summer with the progress he’s made. The raw potential is there; can Banner tap it?
Meet Zach Banner, a 6'9", 360-pound right tackle prospect out of USC. There are a lot of big guys out here, but he stands out from even them pic.twitter.com/d584CMgZiY
— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) January 25, 2017
PREVIOUS 2-A-DAYS
June 14: OLB Ola Adeniyi, CB Brian Allen
June 15: S Marcus Allen, DL Tyson Alualu
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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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