3 Pittsburgh Steelers veterans who could lose starting jobs to rookies
By Mark Powell
Give Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin some credit for hitting a home run with their 2023 draft class. For some entrenched Steelers veterans, that’s not good news.
Pittsburgh’s 2023 NFL Draft class was headlined by Broderick Jones and Joey Porter Jr., but beyond that pair of future stars — or so Pittsburgh hopes — the roster has filled out nicely. Here is the complete list of players selected by the Steelers this April:
- Broderick Jones – Offensive Tackle – Round 1
- Joey Porter Jr. – Cornerback – Round 2
- Keeanu Benton – Defensive Lineman – Second Round
- Darnell Washington – Tight End – Third Round
- Nick Herbig – Linebacker – Fourth Round
- Cory Trice Jr. – Defensive Back – Seventh Round
- Spencer Anderson – Offensive Lineman – Seventh Round
Much of the Steelers success this coming season depends on the development of the offense, and quarterback Kenny Pickett, under OC Matt Canada. Pittsburgh established its run-first approach late in the year and had success with Najee Harris as the focal point of their offense.
Should that development continue, and the star-studded defense take another step forward, the AFC North should look out.
Steelers: Keeanu Benton will take over for Montravius Adams
For now, Pittsburgh doesn’t have too many options at the nosetackle spot, which is good news for rookie Keeanu Benton. As recently as minicamp, Benton impressed Steelers coaches enough to receive the starting nod in many of their drills.
“He’s doing a great job,” Dunbar said, per Steelers Now. “He hit the ground running when he got here after the draft for rookie minicamp. He’s a smart kid. He’s a big athletic, mobile kid. So, I’m really happy with what we got.”
Montravius Adams is the only other known nosetackle on the roster. The veteran will likely have to settle for backup reps, even should he start the season on the first unit. Benton is coming on fast, and the Steelers know this.
“I think he is,” Dunbar said of Benton being ahead of the learning curve, per Alan Saunders. “Because, it’s kind of funny, his D-line coach (at Wisconsin), I coached in Minnesota. His D-line coach knows me and he’s learned a lot of stuff that we do here in college. Ross Kolodziej was his D-line coach, so it seems like a perfect fit.”
That fit should decrease the amount of time necessary for Benton to adjust to the NFL level. For Adams, it represents a missed opportunity.