theathleticuk
Steelers coach Mike McCarthy will begin his first training camp in Latrobe in less than one month.
There will be plenty of intrigue as a franchise long known for stability and continuity begins a new era.
The reunion with Aaron Rodgers, the development of the young quarterbacks, the installation of a new offense and a 10-man rookie class will all be worth watching.
Advertisement As we count down the days until the Steelers put on the pads at Saint Vincent, lets take a big-picture look at the team.
Heres one quick thought on every offensive player currently on the roster.
(Note: well hit the defense and special teams in an upcoming story.) Quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers: The Steelers cant expect MVP-level performance from a QB who will turn 43 this year, but they are counting on the future Hall of Famer to produce some vintage moments when they matter most.
Will Howard: Perhaps no player has been the subject of such a wide range of roster projections.
At one point in the offseason, it wasnt unreasonable to wonder if he could have a shot to compete for the QB1 job.
Now, some are asking if the Steelers could keep Mason Rudolph and bump Howard off the 53-man roster.
My thought is Howard doesnt have to necessarily beat out Rudolph as much as prove he can be a steady QB2 worth developing.
Mason Rudolph: His spot on the roster could be tied to those around him.
Do you re-sign a 37-year-old Cameron Heyward and wait around for a 42-year-old Rodgers if you arent in a win-now mode? Will Howard look capable of being QB2? Drew Allar: A QB who has everything you cant teach but also needs considerable refinement is the perfect canvas for McCarthy.
Allar will be a good measuring stick of how well McCarthy can develop a QB.
Wide receivers DK Metcalf: How much will he benefit from having a legitimate No.
2 receiver taking some attention away from him? Michael Pittman Jr.: Last year in Indianapolis, 23 percent of his routes were hitches, 18.3 percent were digs and 15 percent crossing routes, according to Pro Football Focus.
The hitches mesh with the West Coast offense and the willingness to go over the middle should help a QB like Rodgers who wants short, quick completions.
Roman Wilson: Fans want to look past Wilson and go right to Germie Bernard.
But Wilson will clearly be WR3 when camp starts.
The question will be how long he can keep it.
Advertisement Germie Bernard: His versatile, pro-ready profile and potential for yards after the catch should ease his transition.
How quickly can he take control of the WR3 spot? Ben Skowronek: A Pro Bowl special teams player and Rodgers best friend on the team: Two good attributes to secure a roster spot.
Kaden Wetjen: McCarthy keeps saying everyone needs to have two jobs.
Will Wetjen just be a return man or will he actually find a way to contribute on offense? Im a bit skeptical given his college production.
Max Hurleman: The new Steelers staff might soon discover what fans did last preseason: Hurleman can play.
Listed as a running back, hes really a wide receiver.
Brandon Smith: The 27-year-old has three NFL games on his resume, all with the Jets in 2024 (one) and 2025 (two).
A.T.
Perry: His 6-5 size is intriguing, but hell need to play his way into a job, even on the practice squad.
Cole Burgess: A Division III national champion and second-team All-American in 2023 at SUNY Cortland, Burgess was signed as a UDFA by the Bengals in 2024.
Joaquin Davis: He has 6-4 size and tested well with a reported 4.44 40-yard dash and 40.5-inch vertical at the HBCU Legacy Bowl.
A second-year player out of N.C.
Central, hell be looking to make the practice squad.
Levi Wentz: One of the newest Steelers, Wentz signed with the Steelers in mid-June.
The Seahawks originally signed him as a UDFA.
Running backs Rico Dowdle: After back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in Dallas and Carolina, will he share the backfield or emerge as the lead back? Jaylen Warren: He led the league last year with 11.0 YAC (yards after catch) per reception.
Kenneth Gainwell is gone, so Warren has the chance to become Rodgers new check-down favorite.
Kaleb Johnson: The special teams blunder derailed his rookie season.
Ironically, he may have to prove himself in the third phase of the game while he waits for another chance.
I saw too many good things on his Iowa tape to give up on him this early.
Advertisement Travis Homer: The third running back on the depth chart often shows his value on special teams.
Homer is a special teams ace, while Johnson got himself in the doghouse last year because of a kick return miscue.
The Steelers could have a decision for the final spot at this position.
Homer could start on the practice squad and then be elevated situationally.
Eli Heidenreich: How far is McCarthy willing to open up the playbook for Heidenreich and how does the rookie fare in pass protection? Those are the two biggest questions.
I have him penciled in for the practice squad, but an injury or a surprising camp could change that.
Lew Nichols: A preseason game standout last year and likely practice squad player.
Tight ends Pat Freiermuth: His usage dropped to a career-low 51 percent of snaps in 2025 after appearing on the field for a career-high 69 percent of offensive snaps (when healthy) in 2024.
Jonnu Smiths departure should reopen the door for Freiermuth to cement himself as the Steelers go-to pass-catching tight end.
Darnell Washington: Rodgers began to unlock the 6-7 big man as a receiving threat.
That should continue, especially in the red zone.
Robert Tonyan: He caught 11 touchdowns during Rodgers 2020 MVP season.
If the Steelers keep a fullback and three true tight ends, Tonyan is likely the third.
But will they have room for a third? Currently, Id project him as a practice squad player who gets elevated sometimes, especially if Freiermuth gets injured.
It helps Tonyans case that the Steelers dont have a tight end in Freiermuths mold, since Washingtons route tree is limited to a degree by his size and Riley Nowakowski is more of an H-back.
JJ Galbreath: A productive pass-catching tight end at South Dakota, Galbreath looks noticeably bigger as he tries to become more well-rounded and steady as a blocker.
He was one of Howards favorite targets early in camp last year and is a player who could be on the practice squad this year.
Lake McRee: A UDFA out of USC, hell be trying to make the practice squad.
Jaheim Bell: Another tight end likely playing for a spot on the practice squad.
Advertisement Fullback Riley Nowakowski: McCarthy often utilizes a fullback and Nowakowski is more than just that.
Hell get on the field in many ways.
In some ways, hell fill the role Connor Heyward did last year, but the rookie should be an upgrade.
Offensive line Zach Frazier: Hes either the meanest nice guy Ive ever met or the nicest tough guy.
Either way, hes shown his football IQ and nasty on-field demeanor from Day 1.
Will this be the year he reaches his first Pro Bowl? Troy Fautanu: One of the Steelers most dependable and versatile linemen, Fautanus transition to left tackle should be relatively smooth considering he started on that side for two seasons at Washington.
Mason McCormick: I just love his first-down celebrations.
Hell flip to the left side, where he played a lot in college.
Spencer Anderson: Hes proven his versatility and been worth much more than a seventh-round pick.
How long can he hang onto the first-team right guard job? Dylan Cook: Once a QB himself, Cook was protecting Rodgers blindside last year.
Now at right tackle, how long can he keep the starting job? Max Iheanachor: Can new offensive line coach James Campen develop Iheanachor better and more quickly than the past staff developed Broderick Jones? Broderick Jones: He could start the year on IR.
Gennings Dunker: Iowa players are typically well-coached and NFL-ready.
Once the pads go on, will Dunker earn a starting role based on his performance or will it take an injury to one of the starting guards for him to step in? Hes cross-training at both guard spots.
Brock Hoffman: An interior offensive lineman, hes played near a starters level in the past when thrust into action.
Will he be simply a dependable backup at guard and center, or can he enter the right guard competition? Ryan McCollum: Likely backup center, unless the Steelers feel Hoffman can do two jobs and save one here.
Jack Driscoll: Driscoll could be on the 53-man roster out of camp if Jones starts the year on IR.
Doug Nester: A depth piece likely to land on the practice squad.
Steven Jones: Another potential practice squad candidate.
Greg Crippen: A rookie center out of Michigan who will be trying to make the practice squad.
Lorenzo Thompson: Originally signed with the Browns as a UDFA out of Rhode Island in 2024.
Hell start near the bottom of the depth chart.