Pittsburgh Steelers OTAs: Top storylines, players, and battles to watch for as the team prepares for 2024
It might only be May, but football is back in Pittsburgh. Sure the real stuff doesn't begin until July, but for the first time since last season, the majority of the team is gathered in Pittsburgh for organized team activities. Here are the main things to look for over the four-week stretch: Steelers QB Battle […]
It might only be May, but football is back in Pittsburgh.
Sure the real stuff doesn't begin until July, but for the first time since last season, the majority of the team is gathered in Pittsburgh for organized team activities.
Here are the main things to look for over the four-week stretch:
Steelers QB Battle
Coach Tomlin has made it clear since the team signed Russell Wilson that he would be the starter. That was the crux of the Kenny Pickett issue, where he felt like he wasn't going to be given a chance to compete and thus requested a trade.
But for Justin Fields, he will be given that chance to compete, and as soon as this week.
If we get to July and Justin Fields is marching the offense up and down the field and making more throws and splash plays in camp, Pittsburgh won't have any choice but to go back on their word. So while it may not be framed as a QB battle in Pittsburgh, it is, and that battle starts Tuesday on the Southside.
More on the battle between Wilson and Fields here.
Roman Wilson as WR #2?
Selected in the third round, Wilson has the chance to be very good from day one in the league. But we have to remember that he is a rookie who played in a pro-style offense that didn't ask much of their WRs, hence the questions about what his ceiling can be.
He's electric with his cuts and top-end speed, but his smaller stature leads you to believe he would be better off starting his career inside the hashes or as a slot WR. But some seem to think that he can and will succeed on the outside right away.
More on the Steelers WR room and a potential trade.
Contract Situations
Heyward is not alone in his contract questions. HC Mike Tomlin is coaching on the final year of his deal and is a year behind on when the Steelers typically sign their coaches to extensions.
The two names that will be most talked about are Mike Tomlin and Najee Harris.
I expect questions to fly when it comes to the contract situation of the duo. It's currently unknown if Harris will attend OTAs, and we know his history with the media, but if he is in attendance, he will be asked about the team's decision to decline his fifth-year option.
More on the OTA contract questions here.
