The obvious motif of the Steelers' draft class was physicality.
On all fronts, Omar Khan and his staff selected seven players who -- as Andy Weidl worded it -- are "physical, tough, (and) love football, high-character guys, high-football-character players, guys that are resilient" to mesh with what is anticipated to be an improved roster after a proactive offseason led by Khan.
With rookie minicamp in the books, organized team activities beginning Tuesday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex will give Mike Tomlin a chance to stack the blocks built by Khan.
"It's important that we create an environment where they get an opportunity to learn and show some skills and be evaluated," Tomlin said after rookie minicamp. "It's an opportunity for us to give and receive some information. To see how they learn. To work on some presentational things from a coaching collective perspective. And so, there's a lot of little things that are getting done that make this an important weekend."
Nine days after the conclusion of the three-day rookie minicamp, those rookies and signed tryout players will have their first look at their counterparts on the offense and defense. Broderick Jones was highly coveted by the front office enough for them to trade up and give up extra capital for him, and Darnell Washington slipped into the Steelers' lap in the third round.
Both were a part of that physical class, and now the left tackle and tight end will have their initial -- official -- looks at operating under Kenny Pickett.
Of course, Jones and Washington lining up in front of Pickett will not be totally new, as the two rookies have been on the South Side working through the Steelers' voluntary offseason workout program, which took place last week on the South Side.
Known as the "sixth offensive lineman," Washington not only gives Pickett another weapon to throw to on the occasion, he also brings that physical mentality to the running game and brings opportunity for Pat Freiermuth to have a breakout season at tight end. Freiermuth, Zach Gentry, and Connor Heyward all profile uniquely, and that quartet can be utilized in varying combinations alongside Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, and the rest of the Steelers' receiving corps while Heyward might prompt to move to fullback.
"Him and Pat are certainly very, very different players," Matt Canada said after Washington was drafted. "Obviously, depth at that position and what you do with those guys depends on who’s on the field. He’s a different type of a tight end, but we’re certainly looking forward to playing him this year and the opportunities he creates and matchups he creates."
Khan has not only been busy with acquiring talent at varying levels of depth this offseason; there has also been the calculated shredding of salaries and spots to help clear space for other signings. Namely and most recent was the releasing of Ahkello Witherspoon on Wednesday, which saves the Steelers $4 million in cap space. He was part of an overhaul in the secondary that included the departures of Cam Sutton, Arthur Maulet, and William Jackson and bringing in Keanu Neal, Patrick Peterson, and Chandon Sullivan while re-signing Damontae Kazee.
The defensive rookie class led by Joey Porter Jr. and Keeanu Benton have already made their impressions throughout the rookie camp, and along with Nick Herbig and Cory Trice Jr. bring more punch to each level of the defense. Benton will have his shot alongside Cam Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi along the line, while Herbig figures to look alongside T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith as an outside linebacker, and Porter and Trice bring imposing presences to the overhauled secondary led by 2022 team MVP Minkah Fitzpatrick and the incoming Peterson.
The eight-time Pro Bowler Peterson is still productive at age 32, as his five interceptions last season with the Vikings were his most in a season since his seven in 2012. After the Steelers drafted Porter, Teryl Austin noted a familiar dynamic between Peterson and Porter compared to one he experienced in Detroit, with Rashean Mathis mentoring a rookie Darius Slay.
"The young guy keeps the older guy loose, and the older guy gives his knowledge to the young guy," Austin said. "If the young guy is willing to take it, there’s a great dynamic there and I think we can get that same type of dynamic because everybody knows the type of guy Pat P. is and Joey is a great young man. I think those two guys working together along with the other guys in our room and Grady (Brown) and everybody is going to be good. He’s going to be in an environment that gives him an opportunity to succeed."
