Steelers 2-a-days: OT Alejandro Villenueva, rookie DT Calvin Taylor among NFL’s tallest players

Editor’s note: Leading up to a unique Pittsburgh Steelers training camp staged at Heinz Field this year, the Tribune-Review will be running through the team’s 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2020 season. The breakdown will go through the roster, in mostly alphabetical order, two per day, between June 9 and July 23, a day that was originally planned to be reporting day for players to camp. (Contract data courtesy spotrac.com)

Kentucky DL Calvin Taylor Jr. pressured the QB on 14.0% of pass-rushes.

Highest rate among power-five interior defenders. pic.twitter.com/etbYEHepDh

— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 22, 2020

DE CALVIN TAYLOR

Experience: Rookie

Contract status: $613,333 cap hit in 2020, part of three-year entry deal

2020 outlook: The 6-foot-9, 310-pound Taylor could be enough of a late bloomer that the Steelers believe they got a steal in the undrafted free agent out of Kentucky. Only one player in the SEC had more sacks last season than Taylor’s 8½. Pro Football Focus repeatedly lauded Taylor’s ability to get after the passer.

Bottom line: If Taylor shows anything during camp — if there is one — he is a strong candidate for the practice squad because of his raw size and proven production. An unheralded recruit who ended up as a 2½-year starter for the Wildcats, Taylor perhaps can be a developmental prospect. The Steelers have a history with turning big bodies into legitimate NFL players.

Alejandro Villanueva, JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Conner are all likely headed into their final season with the #Steelers, writes @MarkMaddenX https://t.co/1y2PgJH7jc

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) May 12, 2020

OT ALEJANDRO VILLANUEVA

Experience: sixth season

Contract status: $8.39 million cap hit in 2020, scheduled to be unrestricted free agent in 2021

2020 outlook: By now, Villanueva’s story of going from West Point wide receiver to deployed Army Ranger to NFL practice-squad defensive lineman to Pro Bowl Steelers left tackle is well-chronicled. But is the fairy tale coming to an end? The 6-foot-9 Villanueva had by what many accounts was the worst of his five NFL seasons in 2019, and he turns 32 in September and is in the final year of his contract. This could be his final season with the Steelers.

Bottom line: The Steelers have two tackles-in-waiting in Zach Banner and Chuks Okorafor. But Banner and incumbent starting right tackle Matt Feiler are likewise in their contract years, meaning there is no simple succession plan if the Steelers let Villanueva walk this spring. So a path to an offseason extension is there if he has a good season.

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.