Steelers offseason winners, losers: Russell Wilson maintains his lead on Justin Fields (2024)

PITTSBURGH — “We are a work in progress.”

You don’t typically hear that from a position coach in a public setting, but new Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni knows what he’s dealing with in his room beyond George Pickens. There’s a little bit of everything in terms of experience and expectations but no difference-makers who jump off the page.

And that alone is a concern for the Steelers, as they wrapped up their offseason practices last week at pretty much the same place they started them: not knowing who else will step up at wide receiver. Many believe the Steelers will trade for a star receiver, but until that time comes (if it ever does), Azzanni has to make do with what he has.

“A lot gets made of the one, the two, the three. … Listen, this day and age, we move everybody around and guys get balls depending on matchups,” Azzanni said. “That number thing is a little overrated to me. Yes, we are trying to find the best three or four, for sure.”

Some players stood out over the dozen on-field practices, and others didn’t. Now, that won’t mean much come the end of July when the Steelers report to training camp, but it does provide a jumping-off point.

Winners

1. TE Pat Freiermuth

Nobody performed better and more consistently for four weeks than Freiermuth. He had an instant connection with Russell Wilson and came across as a potential playmaker in Arthur Smith’s tight-end-heavy offense. The Steelers can overcome shortcomings at the receiver spot by relying more on Freiermuth. Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts went over 1,000 yards as a rookie in Smith’s offense, and backup Jonnu Smith had 50 catches with Atlanta last year, so there is a history of tight ends thriving in this scheme.

Freiermuth might not have dropped a pass all month, and he’s talented enough to take a short pass and turn it into something big. Entering his fourth season, it’s the best he has looked.

2. QB Russell Wilson

You couldn’t have asked for much more out of Wilson during OTAs and minicamp, on the field and off it. His leadership is more than noticeable, and that’s been true since the first day he showed up. What stood out was his arm talent, whether it was a throw in the flat, at the goal line or down the field.

Wilson did nothing through 12 practices to even slightly indicate he could lose the quarterback competition to Justin Fields. The work ethic, the experience, the arm talent and the fact he basically took all of the first-team snaps strongly suggest that nothing Wilson can do between July 24 and Sept. 8 would prevent him from starting.

3. CB Cameron Sutton

You can be critical of the Steelers for signing Sutton, but you can’t be critical of his play since he signed. Sutton showed last year with the Detroit Lions that he wasn’t a CB1. But in the two weeks since he returned to the Steelers, he has shown he’s a major upgrade at slot cornerback. Now, that’s not saying much given who previously manned the position, but Sutton makes the defense instantly better.

4. LB Patrick Queen

Queen spent the better part of the past month learning the defense, and he was impressive when on the field. Imagine when he gets the defense down. Queen wore the green dot throughout, but that was the least of what stood out. He’s everything he was made out to be when the Steelers brought him in as the highest-priced free agent in team history in March. His speed and quickness are noticeable, but his ability to be a three-down linebacker who plays with intensity will make him a difference-maker.

5. LB Nick Herbig

Mike Tomlin talks about that second-year jump all the time, yet you don’t see it come to fruition much. Herbig won’t disappoint there. His speed is better than last year, but his addition of moves as a pass rusher stands out. Sure, he’s undersized, but he also ran over Jaylen Warren during a drill, so how undersized can he be? The issue: Where will the Steelers find snaps for him, especially with T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith both playing more than 80 percent of the defensive snaps per game?

T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig working at minicamp pic.twitter.com/D0T2zyoapR

— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) June 12, 2024

Honorable mention

• OG Isaac Seumalo: Once labeled as injury-prone earlier in his career, Seumalo was there every day, looked healthy and was like a second coach on the field. He easily could have stayed home or even sat out of practice, but he didn’t.

• RT Dan Moore Jr.: When you compare him with first-round pick Troy Fautanu, it’s night and day. Now, that’s expected, considering Moore has started 49 career games and Fautanu is a rookie. But if you are thinking Moore is just going to hand over the right tackle spot to the rookie, it’s not going to happen.

• WR Calvin Austin III: Austin continued to get better from the first day to the last. If there is one receiver besides Pickens who has a chance to have a big role in this offense, it’s Austin.

• KR/RB/WR Cordarrelle Patterson: Patterson was signed for his ability to return kicks, but there’s much more to him than that. It’s unclear what that will be, but he brings an air of confidence to the team, which is always welcomed.

• P Cam Johnston: The Steelers might finally have a legitimate punter. Johnston has a powerful leg and is deadly accurate with his directional kicks.

Losers

1. OT Troy Fautanu

This certainly doesn’t mean Fautanu will be a bust or never be a star. But he makes the list because Moore is ahead of him on the depth chart, which is not his fault but the reality of the situation. Sure, that can change quickly in Latrobe, but the limited amount of time Fautanu has to get acclimated to the NFL — coupled with how the organization approached the Broderick Jones/Moore battle last year — makes you wonder. Fautanu is smart and talented, and that comes through immediately, but he must make strides to win a starting job.

2. C Zach Frazier

It would’ve been nice to see Frazier work more with the first team than he did, but it didn’t materialize, as Nate Herbig took most of the reps. With linemen limited to drill work, for the most part, it’s hard to get a grasp on what kind of player Frazier will be once he puts the pads on. Everything suggests he will take over the starting spot within a week of camp and never relinquish it. But once again, when a guy doesn’t take first-team reps, you have to think about Jones last year and how Tomlin approached that situation.

3. QB Justin Fields

Don’t get bent out of shape with Fields finding himself on this list. His talent speaks for itself. But unlike Wilson, he has a lot of obstacles to overcome for an opportunity this year. Fields didn’t get many first-team reps, and that’s significant come training camp. More than that, you can see what made him a first-round pick … and also what made the Chicago Bears move on. The arm strength, speed and playmaking with his legs are undeniable. However, he showed inconsistent accuracy and relied on his feet too quickly after the first read. That stuff can be fixed, but maybe not throughout a training camp.

4. TE Darnell Washington

Washington struggled last year in the spring, and it was noticeable. Nothing has changed 12 months later. Washington is what he is, and that’s a solid blocking tight end. He won’t be a 30-catch guy, and a second offseason illustrated that. That’s fine. Just don’t expect much more offensive output than he had last year.

5. DL Cameron Heyward

Heyward looked fabulous and is healed from last year’s groin surgeries. With his future in limbo, he didn’t have to show up, but he did. He finds himself in this category because it sure appears the Steelers aren’t in a hurry to extend his contract. But one thing was evident: Heyward is not going to let the uncertainty of his future affect his play.

(Dis)honorable mention

• K Chris Boswell: Boswell is fine. I don’t think he kicked over the few days he was there, but what does it matter?

• WR Van Jefferson: Jefferson is a guy the Steelers needed to stand out, and he didn’t. Now, take spring practices for what they are worth, but nothing has jumped out to suggest he can be a difference-maker.

• LB Mark Robinson: You have to feel bad for Robinson. About 14 months ago, it looked like he had a shot at a starting job, and now he’s mired way down the depth chart.

• OG James Daniels: Although he played well last year, Daniels said the Steelers have told him they won’t extend him before their self-imposed deadline of Sept. 8, as he enters the final year of his contract. It’s a business decision, and I get it, but that business doesn’t make sense unless fourth-round rookie Mason McCormick turns into a starter by this time next year.

• LB Cole Holcomb: If we could get a straight answer from anybody about Holcomb’s health and timeline and return from a serious injury, it would be refreshing. The organization is not saying much of anything, which probably tells you all you need to know about him this year.

(Photo of Russell Wilson, center right, and Justin Fields, center left: Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press)

Mark Kaboly is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the Pittsburgh Steelers. He joined The Athletic in 2017 and has covered the team since 2002, first for the McKeesport Daily News and then the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Mark, the president of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America, has covered the Steelers in three Super Bowls (XL, XLIII, XLV). Follow Mark on Twitter @MarkKaboly