If there’s one constant in covering the Steelers, it’s that this is the most common question: How do the rookies look?
Often, that question is impossible to answer with any kind of thoughtfulness during the offseason workouts. After all, it’s “football in shorts,” as Mike Tomlin likes to say, and the team isn’t permitted to do any real blocking, tackling or other true football-type stuff for most of the program. It’s mostly a glorified 7-on-7 drill, which is good for working on the passing game both offensively and defensively, but not as much for the linemen on both sides of the ball.
Still, we did see enough of the rookies to come away with some impressions. Now, with training camp set to start next week at Saint Vincent College, fans will get their first look at the new guys.
We’ll touch on all of the draft picks and some of the key undrafted guys today.
TERRELL EDMUNDS
Safety
Edmunds was continually the first guy onto the field for every OTA and mini-camp session. He’s bright, energetic and a hard worker. But can he play and how does he fit into the defense this season? We’ll find that out in training camp.
But don’t think for a second that Edmunds is going to take anything for granted, despite being a first-round pick.
“You can’t think that you are a first-round pick and everything is just going to fall to you,” he said following one practice. “I come out here and compete every day. I try to put my all out there.”
That he does. The Steelers have yet to unveil their dime defensive look, saving that for the fields at Saint Vincent College, but when they do, you can expect Edmunds to be out there somewhere. He lined up at safety and linebacker at various times in the offseason. The team is planning on getting him on the field.
JAMES WASHINGTON
Wide Receiver
If there was one player capable of impressing throughout OTAs, Washington was the guy. The second-round draft pick was as good as advertised. During one practice, he caught a pass across the middle and exploded toward the end zone, causing some Pitt players who were watching following their own morning workout to react with oohs and ahs. Of course, they had seen plenty of that last season when they played Washington at Heinz Field when he was still at Oklahoma State.
But, as good as he looked on the field, he was equally impressive off it.
“It’s a blessing just to make it this far,” he said. “Only one percent of college players make it here, so every day we step onto this grass, we should show why we are here.”
Washington should win the Steelers’ No. 3 receiver spot. He needs to tighten up his route running a bit and get plenty of work with Ben Roethlisberger in the no-huddle package, but Washington has the look of a player who can be a potential star. That might not happen this year, but the Steelers would be in great shape if he has a rookie season like the one JuJu Smith-Schuster had last year, as he got better and made more of an impact as the season wore on.
MASON RUDOLPH
Quarterback
If there’s one player Steelers fans are looking forward to seeing in preseason games, it’s Rudolph. And they shouldn’t be disappointed. Rudolph will get the majority of the snaps in the preseason and then likely settle in to the No. 3 QB spot behind Roethlisberger and Landry Jones.
That’s fine, though, for this season. Next year, he’ll be expected to move up to No. 2.
What can you expect to see from Rudolph? He’s accurate, poised and polished. Rudolph has a knack for moving around in the pocket that, while not at the level of a young Roethlisberger, is still impressive. He’ll have his struggles in the preseason, to be sure, but as he told me at the end of minicamp, he’s a quick learner.
“I think I had a great minicamp. I made a lot of mistakes in the first rookie minicamp. I corrected them,” he told me. “In OTAs, it was similar, threw a couple of picks. But I had a great finish. It was kind of the same trend to minicamp. I’m looking forward to how I progressed. I’m utilizing these next four weeks to get up to speed with the guys. I probably won’t get to 100 percent, but I want to close the gap quickly. I want to mentally know it so I can physically get out there and cut it loose.”
CHUKWUMA OKORAFOR
Offensive Tackle
Okorafor was something of a surprise pick for the Steelers at the end of the third round after taking Rudolph. But when Jerald Hawkins went down with a season-ending quad injury during OTAs, he suddenly went from being a player considered a luxury to a necessity.
Okorafor worked at left tackle throughout the offseason workouts and will get every opportunity to be the backup at both tackle spots in training camp.
“He’s very strong. When you have a big man like him, it’s hard to just run around him,” offensive line coach Mike Munchak said. “He’s got nice long arms, good size and has a lot of growth ahead as far as growth and strength and technique. He’s capable of doing everything we want him to do and we ask our tackles to do.”
MARCUS ALLEN
Safety
Allen played both safety spots throughout the offseason — when he was on the field. He missed some time with an undisclosed injury and that could put the first of the Steelers’ two fifth-round draft picks behind the eight ball a bit. But he should, at the very least, be a demon on special teams.
Allen should make this team as part of a completely revamped safety position. He joins Edmunds and free agent signing Morgan Burnett as the team’s three new faces at that position. But unlike Edmunds and Burnett, he might not necessarily have a niche carved out.
Allen had just one interception in his career at Penn State but finished as one of the team's all-time leading tacklers. Can he be more than just a tackler?
JAYLEN SAMUELS
Running Back
Samuels can line up in a lot of different spots and can do everything reasonably well. But he’s got work to do at training camp. He admitted to me he hasn’t ever been asked to be a blocker on passing downs.
“No, I haven’t done that,” he said. “I was always out in pass patterns.”
Samuels is going to have to show he can hold up as a pass blocker if he’s going to carve out a role. The Steelers know he can catch the ball, but they already have Le'Veon Bell to do that -- at least this season. But he'll need to do more, including blocking. Just ask James Conner. That’s one reason he wasn’t used more last season.
JOSHUA FRAZIER
Nose Tackle
Frazier has talent. But it’s largely been untapped. He was a big-time recruit coming out of high school in Arkansas, choosing Alabama, where he fell behind a bevy of high draft picks.
Frazier has great size and desire, but given the restrictions of the offseason program, he didn’t get to show much of his physicality. That will be critical for him as he tries to knock Daniel McCullers off the roster. At the very least, he seems destined for a practice squad spot if he shows anything.
MATTHEW THOMAS
Inside Linebacker
A top-15 recruit coming out of high school, Thomas never quite lived up to the hype at Florida State. But he’s got some things in his favor that could help him make this roster, 4.58 speed and off-the-charts athleticism. Does he want it? That’s going to be the question.
The Steelers made Thomas a priority free agent signing. He’s going to need to flash early and often, something he didn’t do much of at Florida State, despite his athleticism.
GREG GILMORE
Defensive Lineman
At 6-4, 308 pounds, Gilmore has outstanding size and had 53 tackles and a team-high 7.5 sacks at defensive tackle at LSU last season. Can he be the team’s next project at defensive end? He’s probably destined for the practice squad, at best, but keep an eye on the big man in the preseason.
QUADREE HENDERSON
WR/Return Man
At 5-8, 192 pounds, Henderson isn’t big on size. But the Steelers would love for someone to take the punt return duties off Antonio Brown’s hands.
Is that Henderson? He’ll get a shot.