The 2024 NFL season is rapidly approaching, as teams have already begun training camp, with the rest of the league to follow this week. The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the latter category.
The Steelers will have all of their players report on Wednesday, July 24, with the first practice scheduled for Thursday, July 25, which will also be open to the public.
But things will really pick up once the pads come on, something that will occur for the Steelers starting on Tuesday, July 30. You can check out the Steelers’ full training camp schedule right here.
There are no shortage of interesting storylines and positional battles set to take place at Steelers training camp this year. Here’s a look at the most important competitions set to take place, along with a prediction for each.
Steelers QB Competition
Russell Wilson vs. Justin Fields
It’s been the talking point of the offseason, but it has never been a question. Wilson, signed after being released by the Denver Broncos, is being paid $39 million by Denver this season, and signed for the veteran minimum in Pittsburgh.
Any team with at least a temporary need at quarterback would have loved to sign Wilson, 35, for $1 million and change. He chose Pittsburgh because he would be the starter.
Former Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett was bothered by the fact Wilson was named the starter and demanded a trade — and the Steelers obliged him. Fields was acquired after all of that, and, incidentally, they gave Chicago less than what they got from Philadelphia to take Pickett.
Bottom line: Fields was not acquired to start. His fifth-year option was declined, and he’s playing out the remaining year on his rookie deal. If Wilson tanks, it might be a different question, but the Steelers’ offensive ship is being driven by Wilson, and certainly through training camp.
Prediction: Russell Wilson wins
Steelers RB Competition
Najee Harris vs. Jaylen Warren
The numbers speak for themselves that Warren has been the more consistently effective back in recent years, but we know that doesn’t guarantee he’ll get more work than Harris.
The problem is that Warren has never been tasked with carrying a consistently big workload during his young NFL career, with the third-year back tallying double-digit carries in just seven of 33 games over two seasons. He has also shown a propensity to cough up the football.
Harris has shown he can carry the load, and he’s broken 1,000 yards in each year. However, he has no doubt struggled to gain consistent yardage, partly because of the lackluster situation in front of him, and it’s clear the team doesn’t have total confidence in him after declining his fifth-year option.
That said, Harris deserves another shot with a (hopefully) better situation in front of him. He’ll likely remain the top back in Pittsburgh, but Warren will still play a significant role in the offense and could further close the gap when it comes to touch distribution.
Prediction: Najee Harris wins
Steelers WR Competition
Van Jefferson vs. Quez Watkins
Roman Wilson could very well end up being the No. 2 option among the wide receivers behind George Pickens, but he’s likely to be the primary slot receiver instead of someone who contributes on the boundary, which is what Pittsburgh needs.
Jefferson and Watkins both have the size to be a boundary receiver, but neither is a lock to make an impact in a significant role.
Watkins is coming off an injury-plagued season in which he played in just nine games and tallied 142 receiving yards. Jefferson showed flashes earlier in his career but has been mostly irrelevant the previous two campaigns.
This competition is a true toss-up, but we’ll take a shot in the dark and give the edge to Jefferson for now. It’s very possible neither receiver lands this role, though, as the Steelers could (and should) bring in a more established option.
Prediction: Van Jefferson wins
Steelers OT Competition
Troy Fautanu vs. Broderick Jones vs. Dan Moore
The Steelers did not draft a tackle in the first round from 1996-2022. Then they took them in back-to-back years. Stands to reason they’ll start them both now.
The question is, who will play where?
Early indications suggest Fautanu will take over Jones’ right tackle spot, with the second-year phenom out of Georgia moving over to the left side. That’s not set in stone, though.
Fautanu has less NFL experience than Jones does, but he’s played more overall than Jones has. That said, Fautanu saw work on the right side over the spring, which lends to the idea that Jones is slated to play left tackle.
However they do it, Steelers fans will likely agree the bigger picture point here is that Dan Moore will no longer be a starter — and that’s a good thing.
Prediction: Broderick Jones wins LT, Troy Fautanu wins RT
Steelers C Competition
Zach Frazier vs. Nate Herbig
The Steelers haven’t found a long-term solution at the center position since the retirement of Maurkice Pouncey, but the team is hoping Frazier, a second-round pick, can solve that issue.
Before he can do that, he’s got to win a battle against veteran guard Nate Herbig, who has very limited experience at center (49 career snaps in the NFL). Herbig did, however, run with the first-team offense at the position during the spring, which leads us to believe he’s the favorite entering camp.
There’s no question the Steelers would prefer Frazier to win this job. He has all the makings of an absolute mauler upfront, but there’s no telling what he’ll be in Year 1. Look for Herbig to win the job out of camp, but Frazier to take over at some point later in the season.
Prediction: Nate Herbig wins
Steelers LB Competition
Cole Holcomb vs. Elandon Roberts vs. Payton Wilson
The Steelers have one inside linebacker spot wrapped up with Patrick Queen, but how things shake out behind him remains to be seen.
Holcomb and Roberts both started for the Steelers last season, and both were solid. The problem is that Holcomb suffered a serious knee injury that could prevent him from being ready for the start of the season, let alone training camp. Adding fuel to the idea that Holcomb may not be ready is the fact that the Steelers recently brought back Tyler Matakevich, who could serve as depth insurance.
With the uncertainty surrounding Holcomb and a rookie like Wilson, who isn’t guaranteed to be ready for a big role in Year 1, Roberts is the favorite to win this job entering training camp.
Prediction: Elandon Roberts wins
Source: Predictions for Pittsburgh Steelers’ most important training camp competitions | Sporting
