The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to level up in 2023. 

No more missing the playoffs, no more late-season runs, this team wants to compete from week one. 

If they are to do that, it will start with being elite on defense. That means they need to make sure the right personnel is on the field at all times. That determination begins in less than a week when the Steelers open camp in Latrobe:

Steelers Training Camp Battle: Defense

Cornerback: Levi Wallace Vs. Joey Porter Jr.

Wallace is returning to the Steelers in 2023 with a clear opportunity to be the starter. He is only in his second year with the team but he has developed a leadership role in the secondary and is just a solid, plug-and-play corner.

Porter Jr. has been groomed to be in the NFL likely for as long as he can remember. And despite being a highly anticipated prospect, he's far from finished, with some polishing still needed in the nuances of his game.

Between that and the slap in the face that can and will be training camp for the rookie, there is a chance that he doesn't come away with the ravest of reviews in August.



I fully expect Porter to be the future of the position for years to come, making good on the draft night note he shared with his father but patience is a virtue and something that needs to be practiced when it comes to Porter and his NFL readiness.

Strong Safety: Damontae Kazee vs Keanu Neal

Typically, Pittsburgh goes for the “thumper” at strong safety, something that Kazee’s competition specializes in. But ball production trumps all, and Kazee is already acquainted with the system, giving him the leg up in this battle. 

Neal is a physical defender that has had success in multiple spots across the league. He doesn't have the range or ball production that Kazee has, but his omnipresent physicality is something lacking in the secondary.

Nickel Corner: Patrick Peterson Vs Chandon Sullivan

Peterson is one of the best corners of his generation and surely has his spot in Canton waiting for him five years after he retires. But if some of the conjecture surrounding Peterson's usage in Pittsburgh is correct, he may be in for his toughest test yet.



Moving inside to nickel would be a challenge based on inexperience if nothing else, but the all-time great is likely up for it.

A fellow Viking turned Steeler, unlike Peterson, Sullivan is experienced at the slot corner position dating back to his time in Green Bay. The soon-to-be 27-year-old is in his prime and brings a lengthy profile to the position, making him a considerable contender to earn the starting role at Nick.

Punter: Pressley Harvin Vs. Braden Mann

Harvin was drafted in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft by Pittsburgh after winning the Ray Guy Award as the nation's best punter during his time at Georgia Tech.



But things haven't been smooth sailing for Harvin, who has struggled to acclimate to the NFL game, with more than a few shanks on his resume. 

Mann was solid during his tenure in New York, showing constant improvement year over year, and making him a suitable free agent prospect when he was released by New York. Harvin still has the edge seeing he was drafted by Pittsburgh, but the NFL is a results business, and we will soon see who produces when it matters most. 

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Trimming a roster from 90 to 53 players is no easy feat, even for the bad teams. That makes the challenge even greater in Pittsburgh, as the defense is brimful with talent along the front, solid in the middle, and mysterious but promising on the backend. 



The decision(s) won't be easy, but every rep counts starting in just six days' time. 

Steelers sign pass rusher Alex Highsmith to five-year contract extension

This has been brewing for a while

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