Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2024 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with at least two players each day between June 14 and July 25. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.
WR Scotty Miller
Experience/age: Sixth season/Turns 27 on July 31
Contract status: $1,152,500 cap hit if he makes the team, signed through 2024
The past: Miller became another of offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s former pupils to follow him to the Steelers when he signed a one-year contract May 8 — about a week after the NFL Draft concluded.
Miller spent last season in Atlanta when Smith was wrapping up his third year as head coach. He appeared in all 17 games but had modest numbers: 11 catches on 16 targets for 161 yards. Two of those catches, however, were for touchdowns.
He joins Van Jefferson, Cordarrelle Patterson and MyCole Pruitt as skill positions players who followed Smith to the Steelers.
Before his stint in Atlanta, Miller spent four seasons in Tampa Bay where he won a Super Bowl in 2020 when he was on the receiving end of Tom Brady’s passes. Miller had his best NFL season that year, catching 33 passes for 501 yards and three scores.
Miller was Tampa Bay’s sixth-round draft pick in 2019 out of Bowling Green.
Tom Brady finds Scotty Miller at the end of the first half!!!
???? (via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/IUUDyspNXr
— #RingerNFL (@ringernfl) January 24, 2021
2024 outlook: At 5-foot-9, 174 pounds, Miller is the smallest receiver on the Steelers roster aside from 162-pound Calvin Austin. As evidenced by his success in Tampa Bay in 2020, Miller can use his diminutive stature to his advantage by getting open. He had a connection with one Super Bowl-winning quarterback in Brady, and he’s hoping lightning can strike twice with Russell Wilson.
Miller played more snaps in the slot last season than he did at outside receiver, so he will be given a chance to work at both positions in training camp. Miller will need to use his experience to his advantage because competition will be fierce in the preseason.
The Steelers have George Pickens and Austin returning, and they drafted Roman Wilson in the third round. Miller will try to stand out among a group of veteran newcomers that include Jefferson, Quez Watkins and Marquez Callaway.
