Steelers 2021 training camp preview: Breaking down the defense

The Pittsburgh Steelers open 2021 training camp Thursday. Here’s a look at each of the defensive players on the roster.

Defensive linemen

97 CAMERON HEYWARD · 6-5 · 295

Remember when Heyward was frustrated he couldn’t get national recognition? He made his first Pro Bowl in Year 7 and has been named every season since — with three All-Pro recognitions.

91 STEPHON TUITT · 6-6 · 303

Tuitt has been Robin to Heyward’s Batman going on eight seasons now, and when healthy, he has arguably been just as good. He has yet to get the same accolades but few would be surprised if he eventually did.

94 TYSON ALUALU · 6-3 · 304

On his third contract with the Steelers, Alualu backed out of a return to the Jacksonville Jaguars this spring to stay with Pittsburgh. He has been a perfect fit with the Steelers, even last season at age 33.

95 CHRIS WORMLEY · 6-5 · 300

Traded from the rival Baltimore Ravens last spring, Wormley had an up-and-down first season with the Steelers, but once he reached full health, he was good enough that the team re-signed him for 2021.

92 ISAIAHH LOUDERMILK· 6-7 · 293

Projected on the NFL’s official draft page as an undrafted free agent, the Steelers coveted Loudermilk enough that they traded a 2022 pick to take him in the fifth round in April.

73 CARLOS DAVIS · 6-2 · 320

A former seventh-round pick, Davis was inactive until Week 8. But he seemed to endear himself to the coaching staff and is a favorite to earn a backup rotational job this season.

99 HENRY MONDEAUX · 6-4 · 280

Mondeaux worked himself into a rotational lineman for the Steelers last season after two years of toiling on practice squads. He is capable to hold onto the role but will have to fend off young challengers.

96 ISAIAH BUGGS · 6-3 · 295

Buggs began his second NFL season as a regular part of the Steelers defense in 2020. But by the end of the season, he’d been passed on the depth chart by Davis and Mondeaux. Buggs likely has work to do to make the team.

67 CALVIN TAYLOR · 6-9 · 310

Signed as an undrafted free agent last season, Taylor is a large man who showed ability to rush the passer in college at Kentucky (he was tied for second in the SEC in sacks in 2019).

65 ABDULLAH ANDERSON · 6-4 · 295

An end who played at Bucknell, Anderson appeared in six games for the Chicago Bears in 2019 and Minnesota Vikings for a game in 2020, but he was let go in the spring and scooped up by the Steelers.

61 T.J. CARTER · 6-4 · 289

Another in a long line of front-seven defensive players the Steelers acquired who played at Kentucky, Carter was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cardinals last season but never was on a 53-man roster.

Outside linebackers

90 T.J. WATT · 6-4 · 252

One of the pressing questions of training camp is Watt’s contract. Heading into his option year, Watt is due an extension. The two-time All-Pro potentially could become the NFL’s highest-paid defender.

56 ALEX HIGHSMITH · 6-4 · 242

Highsmith was solid as a rookie out of Charlotte last season, but the Steelers are putting plenty on his shoulders in Year 2. A lot is riding on Highsmith’s ability to adequately replace the departed Bud Dupree.

48 QUINCY ROCHE · 6-3 · 245

There is no proven depth behind Watt and Highsmith, but Roche is an intriguing option. Though he fell into the sixth round after poor testing numbers, Roche had 30½ sacks in college.

49 CASSIUS MARSH · 6-4 · 254

The Steelers became Marsh’s seventh team in seven NFL seasons last year. The 29-year-old ended up being in uniform and playing 46 defensive snaps for their playoff game.

50 JAMAR WATSON · 6-2 · 241

A team captain at Kentucky last season, Watson had 18½ sacks in his college career. He is considered a project, but the Steelers have a history of unearthing talent at this position.

44 JAMIR JONES · 6-3 · 255

The younger brother of Steelers offensive lineman Jarron (both played at Notre Dame), Jamir Jones didn’t even make it to training camp after signing with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent last year.

33 CALVIN BUNDAGE · 6-2 · 221

Bundage was productive as a pass rusher at Oklahoma State. An injury history is part of why he wasn’t drafted in April.

Inside linebackers

55 DEVIN BUSH · 5-11 · 234

Bush is coming off a sophomore NFL season cut short by a torn ACL, and his offseason on social media has been … well … interesting. But there is hope he will break out into a Pro Bowl-caliber player.

98 VINCE WILLIAMS · 6-1 · 233

Williams came back at a reduced salary after being released this spring. Entering his ninth season with the team, he is building quite the Steelers legacy for a linebacker who hasn’t made a Pro Bowl.

41 ROBERT SPILLANE · 6-1 · 229

Spillane seemingly came out of nowhere when Bush got hurt, and he was an adequate replacement. He proved the Steelers could do a lot worse as a No. 3 ILB, but he is probably better as a No. 4.

51 BUDDY JOHNSON · 6-2 · 240

A fourth-round pick out of Texas A&M, Johnson has a chance to develop into a future running mate for Bush. At worst, he has a high floor of a potential dynamic special-teamer and backup linebacker.

27 MARCUS ALLEN · 6-2 · 215

A safety at Penn State and during his first two NFL seasons, Allen abruptly was moved to linebacker during last season’s camp. He probably never will start but shows value as a subpackage player.

28 MILES KILLEBREW · 6-2 · 222

Signed as a free agent this spring, Killebrew was one of the Detroit Lions’ top special teams players. That’s probably the extent of his role with the Steelers, which isn’t a bad thing.

54 ULYSEES GILBERT · 6-0 · 230

Gilbert has been placed on injured reserve three times over his first two NFL seasons since being a sixth-round pick. A balky back has seemingly stunted what is an intriguing athletic prospect.

40 TEGRAY SCALES · 6-0 · 227

Scales has bounced around the NFL and XFL for three-plus years, and this is his second stint with the Steelers. He raised some eyebrows during 2019 training camp, but not enough to make the practice squad then.

45 JARVIS MILLER · 6-2 · 225

Seemingly forever ago (2015), Miller committed to Penn State as a three-star recruit at safety. He ended up a linebacker and transferred to UMass for his final season, moving to the inside.

Cornerbacks

23 JOE HADEN · 5-11 · 195

Among current Steelers, only Ben Roethlisberger has been in the NFL longer than Haden (12th season). Whatever he has lost in athleticism at age 32, Haden seems to make up for in savvy.

20 CAMERON SUTTON · 5-11 · 188

Sutton goes from being a subpackage dime player to the Steelers’ No. 2 CB. Re-signed as a free agent, it’s unclear if he’ll play outside or in the slot on passing downs.

42 JAMES PIERRE · 6-2 · 185

Pierre was the best of the crop of last season’s Steelers undrafted free-agent class, passing Justin Layne on the depth chart by December. He is a dark horse for a significant role in 2021.

31 JUSTIN LAYNE · 6-2 · 192

This is the third season for the former third-round pick. His camp could go in many directions — everything from earning a starting gig to being on the roster bubble.

29 SHAKUR BROWN · 5-10 · 190

Projected as a mid-round draft choice after a strong season at Michigan State, Brown was one of the most coveted undrafted free agents. He likely chose the Steelers, in part, because there’s opportunity here at corner.

17 MARK GILBERT · 6-0 · 175

Another of the higher-profile undrafted rookie cornerbacks, Gilbert has had myriad of injuries over the past three seasons at Duke. If healthy, he has roster-caliber potential.

38 STEPHEN DENMARK · 6-2 · 217

Denmark joined the Steelers after spending the 2019 season and half of 2020 on the Chicago Bears practice squad as a 2019 seventh-round pick. A former Division II wide receiver, there’s potential to grow here.

30 DEMARKUS ACY · 6-2 · 195

Acy went undrafted in 2020 and spent time as part of three organizations in the ensuing 12 months until the Steelers added him this spring. He was a three-year SEC starter at Missouri.

Safeties

39 MINKAH FITZPATRICK · 6-1 · 207

An All-Pro during each of his two seasons with the Steelers, 2021 is the last year they get him at a bargain-priced rookie contract. His fifth-year option is next year, and then he’ll require a lucrative extension.

34 TERRELL EDMUNDS · 6-1 · 217

Edmunds’ fifth-year option was declined, meaning this could be the final season with the Steelers for the 2018 first-round pick. Edmunds has been good but not exactly the dynamic playmaker the team expected.

35 ARTHUR MAULET · 5-9 · 190

Maulet has appeared in 35 games with 12 starts over four NFL seasons for three teams. If he shows he is reliable on special teams, a role with the Steelers seems secure.

21 TRE NORWOOD · 6-0 · 194

Coach Mike Tomlin labeled Norwood as a “Swiss Army Knife/utility back/safety” when he announced him as a seventh-round pick. Norwood could find a way into secondary in some capacity.

24 LAMONT WADE · 5-9 · 190

A product of Clairton and Penn State, Wade is undersized but eventually settled in as a Big Ten-caliber safety. The athleticism is there, but what niche can Wade fill?

26 DONOVAN STINER · 6-2 · 210

Stiner was projected as draftable by the NFL’s official site out of Florida, where he became a starter as a senior. Signed as an undrafted free agent, Stiner is able to play the slot and in the box.

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