Steelers 2020 training camp preview: Breaking down the offense

Quarterbacks (5)

7 Ben Roethlisberger, 6-5, 240: At age 38 in his 17th season and coming off elbow surgery, the future Hall of Famer faces legitimate questions as to whether this could be the end. Roethlisberger is running out of time for his stated goal of four Super Bowl wins.

2 Mason Rudolph, 6-5, 235: Given a golden opportunity last season to prove he was NFL starter material, Rudolph emerged with more questions surrounding his abilities than answers. It seems unlikely at this point he is Roethlisberger’s heir apparent. But he can prove he is a solid No. 2?

6 Devlin Hodges, 6-1, 210: “Duck Mania” swept through Pittsburgh last season. But after a 3-0 start as a starter, Hodges was bad over the final three games he played: 39.6 rating, one touchdown, six interceptions. Can he hold onto the No. 3 job?

5 Paxton Lynch, 6-7, 244: A former first-round pick, Lynch was out of football before his third season started. He was back in the league last season, spending the final 15 weeks with the Steelers. He will be given a shot to beat out Hodges.

16 J.T Barrett, 6-2, 225: The former Ohio State star was brought in during Week 17 last season to act as Lamar Jackson’s clone for the scout team. The Steelers must have liked what they saw because they kept Barrett around. He is a longshot to be the No. 3QB.

Running backs (9)

30 James Conner, 6-2, 233: Conner’s absences tend to emphasize his worth and abilities. When he comes back, he quickly shows he clearly is the Steelers’ best back. The problem has been too many injury absences. In a contract year, staying healthy would benefit Conner.

24 Benny Snell, 5-10, 224: “Benny Snell Football” had mixed reviews his rookie season. But Snell’s job is safe for 2020, even in a crowded backfield. What will his role be? Niche, short-yardage? No. 2? Both?

38 Jaylen Samuels, 6-0, 225: The drafting of Anthony McFarland could put Samuels’ roster spot in jeopardy. The Steelers seem to have soured using him as a featured runner, but that doesn’t mean Samuels can’t have a passing-game role.

26 Anthony McFarland, 5-8, 193: The latest of the Steelers’ draft-day swings at finding a home-run hitter for the offense. McFarland showed that ability — at times — in college. Can that translate to the NFL? There’s reason to believe it can. But there also is reason to think he is another Dri Archer.

44 Derek Watt, 6-2, 234: T.J.’s big brother got a three-year, $9.75 million contract from the Steelers. That’s rarefied money for a fullback. Will the Steelers use Watt more on offense than they did Roosevelt Nix? Or is Watt being paid to be the leader of the special teams?

33 Trey Edmunds, 6-2, 223: Another big bro of a more famous Steeler, Edmunds also has special-teams prowess. He needs to show plenty of that to make the team because there are too many in the running backs room for him to fit.

40 Kerrith Whyte, 5-10, 204: Whyte flashed potential as an ideal change-of-pace, big-play back late last season. But the drafting of McFarland — purportedly to fill that role for the Steelers, at least initially — did Whyte no favors.

29 Ralph Webb, 5-10, 200: Webb’s resume includes 4,178 yards in the SEC and a two-touchdown preseason game with the Patriots in 2018. The Steelers keep bringing him back because there are things to like. But it’s difficult to envision Webb beating out any of the Steelers’ other backs.

42 Spencer Nigh, 6-0, 267: There is no room on the roster for a backup fullback, so Nigh’s long-shot lone hope of making the team is being a standout on special teams. Perhaps the Steelers stash him on the practice squad.

Wide receivers (10)

19 JuJu Smith-Schuster, 6-1, 215: The Smith-Schuster of 2018 had the look of one of the NFL’s best receivers. The Smith-Schuster of 2019 was unproductive and oft-injured. Still just 23, the sky remains the limit. In a contract year, millions are on the line.

18 Diontae Johnson, 5-10, 183: Johnson was a surprise as an early-third-round pick last year. Fair to say he lived up to the billing and more as a smallish, small-school product. But that has raised expectations for Year 2. Can Johnson show he can be a future No. 1 WR?

13 James Washington, 5-11, 213: After 1 ½ mostly disappointing seasons to begin his career, Washington’s strong 2019 stretch run showed his potential and provided the Steelers with hope he can become the reliable big-play threat they thought they were getting as a second-round pick in 2018.

11 Chase Claypool, 6-4, 238: Claypool has the look of a high-ceiling prospect. He enters a situation where he won’t be counted on to be too much more than a No. 4 WR as a rookie. His size/speed package is tantalizing, especially after producing at Notre Dame.

10 Ryan Switzer, 5-8, 185: Switzer believes he can be one of the NFL’s best slot receivers. He is the best the Steelers have for that specialized role. But with only one or two WR roster spots available, Switzer might have to fend off others.

17 Deon Cain, 6-2, 202: Picked up midway through last season off the Colts’ practice squad, Cain showed flashes of his abilities. The numbers game of the Steelers’ WR room is not Cain’s friend, but it would not be surprising if he finds a way to stick.

82 Amara Darboh, 6-2, 215: Darboh had the big-school pedigree, size and speed entering the NFL. But three years into his career, it hasn’t translated into production. Added to the practice squad midway through 2019, Darboh was promoted to the 53-man roster in December but never appeared in a game.

83 Anthony Johnson, 6-2, 220: Johnson was worth a flier as a reserve/future deal in January, two years after he completed a prolific career at the University of Buffalo. Big, fast and productive in college, Jackson seems to have potential — if the Steelers can unlock it.

80 Saeed Blacknall, 6-2, 208: A Penn State alumnus with speed (4.39 in the 40), Blacknall has big-play ability: six touchdowns of 25-plus yards in college, another (45 yards) during the 2018 preseason and another (42 yards) in the XFL last spring.

15 Quadree Henderson, 5-8, 192: A standout as a punt and kick returner at Pitt, that is likely the path he must take to make it in the NFL. The emergence of Diontae Johnson last season as a second-team All-Pro punt returner, though, complicates things for Henderson.

Tight ends (5)

89 Vance McDonald, 6-4, 267: Over a span of a few weeks this spring, the Steelers took money away from McDonald (restructuring his contract) and gave money to another tight end (Eric Ebron). After a season in which he averaged 7.2 yards per catch, McDonald is looking for a bounce-back.

85 Eric Ebron, 6-4, 253: A former top-10 draft pick, Ebron was largely a disappointment over his four seasons with the Lions. But he had a 13-TD season with the Indianapolis Colts in 2018. Can Ebron be the playmaking tight end the Steelers long have coveted?

81 Zach Gentry, 6-8, 265: A fifth-round pick last year, Gentry probably always was slotted for a “redshirt” season just two years removed from converting from quarterback. Year 2 is when the payoff is supposed to start to come. Will it?

87 Kevin Rader, 6-4, 250: Back for his second camp with the Steelers, the Pine-Richland and Youngstown State alumnus is valued for his blocking. Rader spent time on the practice squad last season.

49 Dax Raymond, 6-5, 255: An undrafted free agent from Utah State in 2019, Raymond was with the Chicago Bears in their camp and, in part, on their practice squad. He was waived/injured in April and joined the Steelers earlier this month.

Guards/centers (8)

53 C Maurkice Pouncey, 6-4, 304: Pouncey enters Year 11 of a career that will get Hall of Fame consideration. Every season he has played at least one full game, Pouncey had been named to the Pro Bowl. After turning 31 this week, though, can he earn another contract extension this coming offseason?

66 G David DeCastro, 6-5, 316: DeCastro enters Year 9 of a career that also will get Hall of Fame consideration. He has made the Pro Bowl roster each of the past five seasons. After turning 30 earlier this year, though, can he earn another contract extension this coming offseason?

71 G/T Matt Feiler, 6-6, 330: Coach Mike Tomlin said Feiler will open camp as the starting left guard. He was the starting right tackle last season and could end up there again. He also is scheduled for free agency in the spring. Lots of ways his year could play out.

61 G/C Stefan Wisniewski, 6-3, 305: A veteran and two-time Super Bowl winner (matched on the Steelers only by Roethlisberger), Wisniewski purportedly was signed to the former B.J. Finney role as interior line backup. But he could be pressed into action, which wouldn’t be so bad for the Steelers.

69 G Kevin Dotson, 6-4, 321: An intriguing fourth-round pick who might have slipped that far only because he was not invited to the combine, Dotson might not play much as a rookie but seems to have enough potential to be a future NFL starter.

60 C/G J.C. Hassenauer, 6-2, 295: Hassenauer won a national title as a backup at Alabama, spent 2018 on the Atlanta Falcons practice squad and spring 2019 in the AAF. The Steelers invited him to camp, later added him to their practice squad and had him in uniform for the season finale.

64 C John Keenoy, 6-3, 300: One of nine XFL players the Steelers signed this spring, Keenoy was a four-year starter in college (alongside Chuks Okorafor for much of that time). He lacks in measurables but could make a good depth player.

62 C Christian Montano, 6-4, 300: Undrafted out of Tulane, where he played last season as a graduate transfer from Brown, Montano probably will need to display versatility for the Steelers to keep him around. He will be competing for a spot on the practice squad.

Offensive tackles (7)

78 Alejandro Villanueva, 6-9, 320: After 4 ½ seasons as a starting left tackle, Villanueva’s career is at a crossroads of sorts as a soon-to-be 32-year-old in a contract year. The Steelers have plenty of decisions to make about the tackle position in 2021 and beyond.

76 Chuks Okorafor, 6-6, 320: A third-round pick in 2018, Okorafor has to be feeling internal pressure to earn a starting gig in Year 3 of his career. He’s started one game each of the past two seasons. He is competing to start at right tackle.

72 Zach Banner, 6-8, 360: Banner and Okorafor begin camp in a virtual dead heat for the starting right tackle job. Banner bet on himself via a lowball, one-year contract. If he wins the gig, he could cash in this spring. Mr. Tackle Eligible eyes a bigger role.

77 Derwin Gray, 6-4, 320: A seventh-round pick last year, Gray is something of a forgotten man among the Steelers’ tackles. But he survived the entire 2019 season on the practice squad, indicating the coaching staff likes what it sees. It will be hard to scale this depth chart, though.

74 Christian DiLauro, 6-6, 300: DiLauro spent the final 11 weeks of last season on the Steelers practice squad. That gives him a slight advantage in a quest to hold onto that spot. The Steelers were his fourth team over an 18-month span after he went undrafted in 2018.

79 Jarron Jones, 6-6, 320: A defensive lineman at Notre Dame, Jones is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Villanueva in making a mid-20s emergence as an NFL tackle with the Steelers. He showed special-teams ability in college and played in the XFL.

68 Anthony Coyle, 6-4, 298: Another XFL expatriate, the Steelers are the fourth NFL organization Coyle has been a part of since going undrafted in 2018. Coyle has experience at guard, too.

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