Steelers 2022 training camp positional breakdown: Offense

The Pittsburgh Steelers report to 2022 training camp Tuesday. Here’s a look at each of the offensive players on the roster.

Quarterbacks

10 MITCH TRUBISKY · 6-2 · 220

He’s quickly endeared himself to teammates and coaches so much so that despite proclamations that it’s an open competition, Trubisky has become the runaway favorite to be the starter for the opener. But how permanent is that?

2 MASON RUDOLPH · 6-5 · 235

At one point thought to have a decent shot to be Ben Roethlisberger’s successor, the Steelers’ moves this offseason made it clear they do not see Rudolph as that. Will he still be on the roster come September?

8 KENNY PICKETT · 6-3 · 220

Arguably the highest-profile rookie in Steelers history, but at this point a longshot to start the Sept. 11 opener. Odds still favor Pickett making a start at some point in 2022, though.

5 CHRIS OLADOKUN · 6-2 · 195

Brought in for a pre-draft visit, the Steelers took Oladokun in the seventh round despite taking Pickett in the first round. They obviously see something in him; his development in camp could make Rudolph expendable.

Running backs

22 NAJEE HARRIS · 6-1 · 232

The Steelers certainly put their money where their mouth was in taking Harris with a first-round pick — they relied heavily on him in 2021. Despite indicating they’ll lighten his workload in 2022, expect Harris to remain a workhorse.

24 BENNY SNELL JR. · 5-10 · 224

Snell has always produced when asked to be a featured back in a game. But his production falters in spot duty. Without an obvious niche as a complementary back to Harris, will the Steelers keep Snell to be a traditional backup?

26 ANTHONY MCFARLAND JR. · 5-8 ·193

McFarland’s profile would seem to be the opposite of Snell’s — he probably can never carry a 25-touch load but theoretically is perfect for specialized packages or gadget plays. An injury derailed McFarland’s 2021.

33 TREY EDMUNDS · 6-2 · 223

The older brother of starting Steelers safety Terrell is buried deep on the offense’s depth chart. But he is trusted on special teams, and that’s why he’s stuck around so long.

30 JAYLEN WARREN · 5-8 · 215

If McFarland falters, Warren is an intriguing dark horse to be a possible third down-type back to supplement Harris. The undrafted rookie had 1,216 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns for Oklahoma State last season.

40 MATAEO DURANT · 6-1 · 195

Durant had a similarly-productive 2021 season for a Power Five program: 1,241 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns at Duke. A different style back than Warren, Durant also is jockeying for a role.

44 DEREK WATT · 6-2 · 234

The only pure fullback on the roster, is Watt assured to make the team with a $4.7 salary-cap hit? For a player who appeared in just 138 offensive snaps over two seasons, that’s a lot.

Wide receivers

18 DIONTAE JOHNSON · 5-10 · 183

One of the biggest storylines of camp will be if there is a contract extension for the Steelers’ No. 1 WR. Measured by targets and catches, Johnson has a case to be paid like a star.

11 CHASE CLAYPOOL · 6-4 · 238

Claypool’s production between Years 1-2 was almost identical in catches (62, 59) and receiving yards (873, 860) — but because his touchdowns dropped from 11 to two, it felt like a failure. He’s talking big for Year 3.

14 GEORGE PICKENS · 6-3 · 200

If Pickens hadn’t suffered a torn ACL last spring and then gone on to have a productive 2021, he might have been a top-10 draft pick. The Steelers rolled the dice on that talent level in Round 2.

Steelers 2022 training camp preview

• All eyes on offense when Steelers open 1st post-Ben training camp
• Steelers vow to get back to 'the standard' of stopping the run on defense
• Tim Benz: Steelers may be a middle of the road team, but these aren't middle of the road predictions
• Mark Madden's Hot Take: Steelers have a method with rookies, so expect Kenny Pickett to be 3rd string

15 CODY WHITE · 6-3 · 215

White’s father, Sheldon, was recently added to the front office. But it wasn’t nepotism that kept Cody on the active roster all of last season — it was his propensity on special teams. Can he develop offensively?

89 GUNNER OLSZEWSKI · 6-0 · 190

About 13 months after he was a first-team NFL All-Pro punt returner, the Patriots let Olszewski go. The Steelers scooped him as an option to return punts and kicks — and maybe have a role on offense.

19 CALVIN AUSTIN III · 5-9 · 162

If the modern NFL is a game of speed, Austin could be a star. A college all-conference sprinter, he was among the fastest timed receivers at the combine. But can he thrive at that size?

13 MILES BOYKIN · 6-4 · 220

A former third-round pick of the Ravens, Boykin was let go and scooped by a division rival. With 33 catches (one in eight games last season) in three years, this could be his last shot.

17 ANTHONY MILLER · 5-11 · 199

Another former high draft pick (second round, 2018) who might be on his last chance, Miller had 134 catches in three seasons with the Bears. Miller is a viable option for the Steelers’ vacated slot role.

82 STEVEN SIMS · 5-10 · 176

Sims had five touchdowns (one on a kick return) as an undrafted rookie for Washington just three years ago. He’s another option for the slot, a position where the Steelers lost two players to free agency.

80 TYLER VAUGHNS · 6-2 · 184

Vaughns had 222 catches (and he returned punts) in 43 games at USC. Undrafted last year, Vaughns made it to final cuts with the Colts but was waived and spent the season on the Steelers’ practice squad.

84 TYLER SNEAD · 5-7 · 174

The longest shot of candidates to be the slot receiver, Snead was signed after a tryout at rookie minicamp. Like Austin, he lacks size. Unlike Austin, he doesn’t have high-end speed. But Snead was productive at East Carolina.

Tight ends

88 PAT FREIERMUTH · 6-5 · 258

After one of the most productive rookie seasons for a tight end in recent years, Freiermuth’s teammates think he’s on track to be a star. If he takes the Year 2 jump, a Pro Bowl berth is possible.

81 ZACH GENTRY · 6-8 · 265

Gentry’s development from converted college quarterback to reliable NFL tight end is complete; he blossomed into an ideal TE2 last season. Now he enters the final year of his contract.

87 KEVIN RADER · 6-4 · 250

The Pine-Richland alum slots in nicely as a depth tight end. Always respected for his blocking, Rader insists he’s developing receiving skills, too. He’s an even bet to make the season-opening 53-man roster.

Steelers 2022 training camp positional breakdowns

• Offense
• Defense
• Specialists

83 CONNOR HEYWARD · 6-0 · 230

Cameron’s brother was a sixth-round pick as a converted running back. There’s a skillset here that should prove valuable on special teams and as a niche piece for coordinator Matt Canada on offense.

85 JACE STERNBERGER · 6-4 · 251

Often forgotten by those looking at the Steelers’ emerging tight ends room is this former third-round pick who played 18 games over two seasons for the Packers. Sternberger is a depth option.

Offensive linemen

76 CHUKWUMA OKORAFOR · 6-6 · 320

The Steelers raised eyebrows when they re-signed Okorafor to a $29.25 million deal. But the structure of the contract can turn it into a one-year, $10.5 million pact if he doesn’t excel at right tackle in 2022.

65 DAN MOORE JR. · 6-5 · 315

Almost quietly, Moore showed in 2021 as a rookie fourth-round pick he could be the Steelers’ longterm left tackle. He wasn’t perfect, but he showed the team enough it essentially handed him the job in 2022.

78 JAMES DANIELS · 6-4 · 327

Many around the league believe Daniels is one of the NFL’s best young guards. Still just 24 years old, the Steelers signed him to a three-year, $26.5 million deal to man right guard.

61 MASON COLE · 6-5 · 298

Signed to a palatable three-year, $15.75 million contract that the Steelers can get out of after 2022, Cole took first-team reps at center throughout summer workouts — a clear indication coaches view him as the projected starter.

69 KEVIN DOTSON · 6-4 · 321

Dotson had the look of a decade-long starter as a rookie in 2020, but the organization seems to have cooled on him some. Still, he’s the heavy favorite to start at left guard this season.

53 KENDRICK GREEN · 6-4 · 315

Green apparently did not show enough as a rookie starter at center in 2021, so the former third-round pick this summer was repping as the second-team left guard. Where does he fit in longterm?

71 JOE HAEG · 6-6 · 298

Haeg in 2021 was everything the Steelers expected after they signed him to a two-year free-agent deal. He started games at both tackles and also played both guard spots. An ideal versatile, reliable veteran backup.

60 J.C. HASSENAUER · 6-2 · 295

Hassenauer has stuck with the organization since being signed out of the AAF in 2019. He’s started three games at guard and five at center, but he will have to fend off some challengers in this camp.

77 JOHN LEGLUE· 6-7 · 310

Like Hassenauer, Leglue started last season’s playoff game. The Steelers’ fourth option at left guard in 2021, he was more-than-adequate over his seven-game audition — perhaps enough so, he can earn a backup job in 2022.

64 TRENT SCOTT · 6-5 · 320

New Steelers offensive line coach Pat Meyer is with Scott with a third team now after Scott was signed in May. A five-year NFL veteran, Scott has 19 career starts, including some at each tackle.

74 CHAZ GREEN · 6-5 · 318

The Steelers became Green’s sixth team last season, the fourth he played a regular-season snap for (albeit, just four — and all on special teams). Now 30 years old, he’s in the mix for a utility reserve role.

79 CHRIS OWENS · 6-3 · 305

Owens started games at Alabama at both tackle and center, an indication of versatility and pedigree for the undrafted rookie. He’s also intelligent. For what it’s worth, he’s listed as a center on the roster.

62 NATE GILLIAM · 6-4 · 310

The interior lineman joined the organization during the final week of last season via the practice squad. He’d been with the Chargers since going undrafted in 2020 but was never active for a regular-season game.

67 JAKE DIXON · 6-6 · 290

From Bethel Park High School to Duquesne University to the Steelers, Dixon developed into a pro prospect after giving up volleyball and putting on weight for a move to tackle. He’s a strong practice-squad candidate.

72 JORDAN TUCKER · 6-6 · 340

If getting the biggest bonus signifies the most worth, Tucker was tied for the most sought-after undrafted free agent the Steelers signed ($15,000). He was a three-year starter at right tackle for North Carolina.

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