The Steelers are set to open rookie mini-camp Friday and begin work with their 2021 NFL Draft selections and undrafted rookies for the first time at their UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Before that can happen, the Steelers needed to set straight what numbers their rookies would be wearing during their first drills. That was announced Thursday afternoon on the team's Twitter account:
🗣 JERSEY NUMBERS 🗣
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 13, 2021
Jersey numbers for the whole roster: https://t.co/HbLmg3qG1w pic.twitter.com/IEuUEnGhVD
Harris keeping his No. 22 from Alabama comes as no surprise, especially after Steven Nelson was released by the Steelers in April. But Pat Freiermuth getting No. 88 instead of Kevin Rader's No. 87, which Freiermuth wore in high school, is interesting considering Rader still hasn't played an NFL snap.
Another interesting factor is that none of the skill players among the Steelers' drafted rookies took advantage of the new NFL jersey rule that expanded jersey numbers from 0-19 to be available for all non-linemen. That could have been an internal policy, as even the Steelers' undrafted rookies followed suit and chose traditional numbers for each of the position groups, outside of one cornerback who took No. 17.
Undrafted rookie jersey numbers:
• Shakur Brown, CB: No. 29
• Calvin Brundage, LB: No. 33
• Rico Bussey, WR: No. 84
• Mark Gilbert, CB: No. 17
• Isaiah McKoy, CB: No. 29
• Jarvis Miller, LB: No. 45
• Matthew Sexton, WR: No. 80
• Donovan Stiner, S: No. 26
• Lamont Wade, S: No. 24
• Jamar Watson, LB: No. 50
Remember that in rookie camp, it's common for a duplicate number to be given to a player when an existing player on the roster already has that number, so long as they are on different sides of the ball. That's why Stiner can wear Anthony McFarland's No. 26 and Wade can wear Benny Snell's No. 24 without breaking any rules.