Steelers training camp positional breakdown: Offense

OFFENSE

Quarterbacks

8 AARON RODGERS · 6-2 · 223

One of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, the four-time NFL MVP isn’t at that level anymore at age 41. No one is. But he’s still probably an upgrade from what the Steelers have had at QB over the past half-decade.

2 MASON RUDOLPH · 6-5 · 235

During the final week of the 2023 season, Rudolph arguably gave the Steelers their best one-month stretch of QB play since perhaps 2018. After a year in exile with the Titans, he’s back to serve as backup once more.

18 WILL HOWARD · 6-4 · 236

Sixth-round picks don’t come more high-profile than the quarterback for the national champs. Howard has the size and intangibles – but before anyone anoints him the QB of the future, just remember 184 players and seven quarterbacks were drafted ahead of him.

17 SKYLAR THOMPSON · 6-2 · 219

Howard’s old college teammate at Kansas State, Thompson has four career NFL starts (one in the playoffs) for Miami. He was a late part of the infamous 2022 draft class that began with Kenny Pickett and ended with its only success story, Brock Purdy.

Running backs

30 JAYLEN WARREN · 5-8 · 215

With Najee Harris gone, Warren got a significant raise (to $5.3 million) and figures to finally get a shot to serve as a No. 1 running back. That is, if rookie Kaleb Johnson doesn’t wrest the role from him.

20 KALEB JOHNSON · 6-1 · 224

Regardless of how things play out, Warren probably won’t end up on the field for, say, 80-plus% of the snaps. Few backs do these days. The Steelers believe Johnson can be a workhorse, be it in 2025 or the future.

84 CORDARRELLE PATTERSON · 6-2 · 220

Steelers players in 2024 liked to refer to Patterson as a future Hall of Famer. If so, it’s for his kick returns. At age 33 last season, there weren’t many big plays on kickoffs or offense. Due $2.8 million, is Patterson a camp cut candidate?

14 KENNETH GAINWELL · 5-9 · 200

The third-down back for the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles, Gainwell filled that niche with aplomb for four seasons. But where does he fit in here with Warren, Johnson and Patterson around?

38 EVAN HULL · 5-10 · 209

Injury ended what appeared to be a promising rookie 2023 season early after he was drafted by the Colts. Hull is probably an NFL RB, but again, where does he fit in among this group?

27 TREY SERMON · 6-0 · 215

Also a former Colt, Sermon had arguably his best career game against the Steelers in 2023. A former third-round pick, the 25-year-old was signed by the Steelers off a tryout at rookie minicamp in May.

48 DJ THOMAS-JONES · 6-2 · 256

Signed quickly after the draft ended, Thomas-Jones is the Steelers’ latest attempt to integrate a fullback onto the roster. They have tight ends who can line up in the backfield, though, for those rare occasions a fullback is required.

Wide receivers

4 DK METCALF · 6-4 · 229

Seven years after the trade of Antonio Brown, the Steelers finally have another proven, reliable, top-level WR. It came at a cost though – both in cash (five years, $150 million) and trade compensation (second-round pick).

19 CALVIN AUSTIN III · 5-9 · 162

If the season started today, Austin would likely serve as WR2. In an ideal world, the Steelers would probably prefer his speed and playmaking some in smaller doses as a WR3 or WR4. Time will tell if they acquire anyone else.

10 ROMAN WILSON · 5-10 · 186

A third-round pick last year, the Steelers had high hopes for Wilson in 2024. Injury was a big part of why that didn’t happen, and there’s optimism for Year 2. But even when healthy, Wilson was scratched and unable to get on the field last year.

16 ROBERT WOODS · 6-0 · 190

At 33 and in his 13th season, at this stage of his career, Woods is nothing more than quality depth. But so far he’s been a good influence in the locker room and could serve as a WR4 or WR5.

15 BEN SKOWRONEK · 6-3 · 224

Signed just before the season began, Skowronek was good enough as a “gunner” on special teams and as a depth receiver that the Steelers gave him a two-year, $4.48 million deal in March.

13 SCOTTY MILLER · 5-9 · 174

A seven-year veteran who won a Super Bowl ring catching passes from Tom Brady in Tampa Bay, Miller appeared in 13 games for the Steelers last season. He’s a good veteran presence who provides insurance at WR.

11 BRANDON JOHNSON · 6-2 · 195

Johnson had five touchdowns catching passes from Russell Wilson in Denver from 2022-2023, and he appeared in three games for the Steelers last season. He’s a dark horse to make the team and have a role.

81 ROC TAYLOR · 6-1 · 213

An undrafted rookie signed after the Steelers drafted no receivers, Taylor totaled 163 catches for 2,375 yards and seven touchdowns in college at Memphis. An invitee to the NFL combine, Taylor is a future option on the outside.

85 KE’SHAWN WILLIAMS · 5-9 · 188

A pure slot receiver in college, Williams is another undrafted rookie receiver. Williams played four seasons at Wake Forest but this past season was part of Indiana’s meteoric rise in 2024. He has experience returning kicks and punts.

82 LANCE MCCUTCHEON · 6-3 · 202

A big receiver who has NFL experience for the Rams as a rookie in 2022, McCutcheon has a two-touchdown game in the preseason on his resume. He joined the Steelers’ practice squad last October and has stuck since.

21 MONTANA LEMONIOUS-CRAIG · 6-2 · 194

Lemonious-Craig was signed off a tryout at May rookie minicamp after finishing his college career at Arizona the past two seasons. Lemonious-Craig began his college career with three seasons at Colorado.

34 MAX HURLEMAN · 5-11 ·200

Hurleman was a running back/wide receiver at Colgate until a graduate transfer to Notre Dame in 2024. He was a reserve defensive back, punt returner and special-teamer for a Fighting Irish team that made the national title game.

Tight ends

88 PAT FREIERMUTH · 6-5 · 258

Freiermuth has had a pair of seven-touchdown seasons and three years with 60 or more catches since joining the Steelers as a second-round pick in 2021. He’s solidly been their TE1 since, though the acquisition of Jonnu Smith could muddle that.

JONNU SMITH · 6-3· 248

For the Dolphins last season, Smith put up numbers that would have led the Steelers in catches (88) and receiving touchdowns (eight) and been narrowly second in yards (884). But was it an outlier in his career? Did the Steelers “buy high?”

80 DARNELL WASHINGTON · 6-7 · 264

Washington has appeared in half of the Steelers’ offensive snaps since he was drafted in the third round two years ago. Smith’s arrival might affect his role.

83 CONNOR HEYWARD · 6-0 · 230

Heyward hasn’t missed a game in three seasons with the Steelers. But his role in the offense diminished last season, and with the addition of Smith, he might be fighting for a roster spot this preseason.

87 JJ GALBREATH · 6-4· 240

An intriguing undrafted rookie who looked the part during OTAs and minicamp, Galbreath is fast (4.61 pro day time in the 40 would have led all tight ends at the combine) and was an FCS All-American at South Dakota.

Offensive linemen

73 ISAAC SEUMALO · 6-4 · 303

The lone veteran among the projected starting offensive line, Seumalo was named to the Pro Bowl last season. He’s played in 32 of 36 games (including playoffs) since joining the Steelers but is in the final year of his contract.

54 ZACH FRAZIER · 6-3 · 310

One year into his career, Frazier has the look of a player who could be next in the lineage of the Steelers’ decades-long run of great centers. He wasn’t perfect as a rookie, but he probably provided the Steelers’ best play at the position since Maurkice Pouncey.

76 TROY FAUTANU · 6-4 · 317

Fautanu looked so good early in last year’s training camp that he won a starting job as a rookie despite rarely practicing. Injuries to his knee limited the 2024 first-round pick’s rookie season to one game. He’s the starter at right tackle in 2025.

77 BRODERICK JONES · 6-5 · 311

Entering Year 3 since he was a first-round pick, Jones is finally a full-time left tackle. With a club decision on his fifth-year option due next May, Jones needs to show he is capable of succeeding (upgrading over?) departed four-year starter Dan Moore Jr.

66 MASON McCORMICK · 6-5 · 315

Quietly, McCormick played well enough as a rookie fourth-round pick out of South Dakota State last season that he is basically unchallenged as the starter at right guard entering this year’s camp.

67 CALVIN ANDERSON · 6-5 · 300

Signed three weeks into the regular season, Anderson served as a steady veteran backup at both tackle spots. After playing extensively at left tackle during the Steelers’ playoff game, the team in April re-signed him to a two-year deal.

74 SPENCER ANDERSON · 6-5 · 305

A jack of all trades on the offensive line, Anderson can play anywhere — and at times practices at all five spots. Anderson has settled in primarily as a guard, though, and will duel with Max Scharping for the top backup spot at that position.

62 RYAN McCOLLUM · 6-5 · 300

Though he can play any of the interior spots, McCollum has become something of a center specialist and is the clear backup at that spot. He made two starts there last season filling in for an injured Frazier.

64 MAX SCHARPING · 6-6 · 327

A veteran of seven NFL seasons, 81 games and 33 starts, Scharping was signed off the Commanders practice squad last October. Scharping, who will be 29 next month, was re-signed to a one-year deal in April.

60 DYLAN COOK · 6-6 · 305

Cook was quite the story in 2023 when he made the 53-man roster and stuck all season. But a foot injury suffered during the 2024 camp landed him on IR and then the practice squad. The former junior-college QB has fallen down the depth chart.

72 DOUG NESTER · 6-6 · 306

A four-year starter — some each at guard and tackle — at West Virginia, Nester spent the entirety of last year’s regular season on the Steelers’ practice squad. He played tackle during the preseason for the Vikings, who had signed him as an undrafted free agent.

69 GARETH WARREN · 6-6 · 333

A massive rookie tackle from FCS Lindenwood, Warren was signed off a tryout at rookie minicamp in May. A native of Hawaii who was all-conference left tackle in 2024, Warren started as a sophomore at guard before two seasons at tackle.

61 NICK BROEKER · 6-5 · 305

Over the prior two seasons with the Texans, Broeker appeared in 12 regular-season games with nine snaps played on offense (53 on special teams). Broeker played tackle and guard in college at Ole Miss and in NFL preseason games. He was signed in May.

79 STEVEN JONES · 6-5 · 340

The heaviest player on the Steelers’ camp roster, Jones spent all of last year’s regular season on the Jaguars’ practice squad. He joined the Steelers via a reserve/future deal in January. Jones was an all-Pac-12 guard in 2023 for Oregon.

71 AIDEN WILLIAMS · 6-5 · 314

An undrafted rookie free agent from Division II Minnesota-Duluth, Williams is an Alaska native who was a three-year starter in college. A tackle in college, Williams was projected as a guard in the NFL and could be a longer-term developmental prospect.