Steelers 2-a-days: Rookie Tyler Snead another slot WR candidate, Robert Spillane a good No. 3 ILB

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 2022 season. The breakdown will go through the roster in mostly-alphabetical order, two per day, between June 11 and July 25. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

WR TYLER SNEAD

Experience: Rookie

Contract status: $705,000 cap hit in 2022 if he makes the 53-man roster, signed through 2024

2022 outlook: There are no shortage of slot specialists in the Steelers wide receivers’ room for this training camp, and that is probably by design after the two men who most often filled that role last season (JuJu Smith-Schuster and Ray-Ray McCloud) left via free agency. Snead was the latest option thrown into the slot mix, signed after an invite to rookie minicamp as a tryout.

Snead fits the profile of the player who perhaps is the favorite to be the Steelers’ slot receiver by the end of the season, fourth-round pick Calvin Austin III. Both are former walk-ons to American Athletic Conference programs that became highly productive but have repeatedly been overlooked because of their size (Snead is listed at 5-foot-7, 174 pounds).

Where the parallels end in a big way is speed — Austin is elite fast, as proven by his status as a sprinter on the Memphis track team. Snead lacks typical NFL-level straight-line speed. But Snead has that “shiftiness” the Steelers have long coveted, and he found ways to amass 162 catches, 1,881 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns in 31 career games. That includes two kickoff return touchdowns (Snead returned punts at times, too) — but does not include three career touchdown passes.

Snead is probably too limited by size and speed restraints to make it as an NFL wide receiver. But the Steelers saw enough of him in his college tape and at rookie minicamp to take a closer look to more definitively find out.

Tyler Snead has been HUGE for @ECUPiratesFB. What a performance so far after two TDs. pic.twitter.com/904ZSMYZJI

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) November 18, 2018

ILB ROBERT SPILLANE

Experience: 36 regular-season games over the past four seasons, including 34 since 2019 with Steelers

Contract status: $2.43 million cap hit in 2022, after which scheduled for unrestricted free agency

2022 outlook: Spillane’s 2020 tackle of Tennessee Titans star running back Derrick Henry will keep him in the consciousness of Steelers fans for, likely, decades. But Spillane has carved himself out a niche in the Steelers defense. He started the final four games of last season and had a subpackage role throughout, even when starters Devin Bush and Joe Schobert were healthy and available.

Schobert was released over the offseason and Myles Jack was signed to replace him. Spillane won’t start again (if all are healthy) unless Bush continues to regress. But depending on how things shake out at the position, Spillane likely will have a role in some defensive personnel packages. Despite Spillane’s reputation as a run-stopper, last season he was deployed at times as the lone ILB on the field in the dime.

Adding in Spillane’s special teams skills, his spot on the 53-man roster would appear safe — but don’t forget that his salary this season jumped because he was eligible for a restricted free agent tender. That perhaps could make Spillane more vulnerable.

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