The Steelers have not even drafted all of the players they will have yet for the 2023 NFL Draft, but that does not mean the workouts stop, as players reported to the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Monday to get started on the offseason workouts program.
The workouts are the first stage of the offseason prior to the rookie minicamp, where players will hit the weight room and start some preliminary work with one another. Multiple players have all talked about bulking up, including quarterback Kenny Pickett, who has stated he wants to bulk up this offseason. This is one of the stages that can help with that process.
“In the combine training, I got a little too lean, I would say,” Pickett said. “I was a little under 220. I want to get a little bit bigger for this season. You’re training for the 40, the (shuttle), you’re not training to be a football player, you’re kind of doing the drills. I wanted to perform well in those, so then I was playing catch-up after that, trying to gain some weight. I want to gain a little bit more weight and have a little bit more muscle mass on me getting into the season after experiencing a lot of these hits.”
After the rookie minicamp, the team will then dive into offseason training activities (OTAs) from May 23rd through June 8th, spanning 10 practices in that week. As such, mandatory minicamp will take place from June 13th to June 15th on the South Side before the players then go on a break before reporting to Latrobe for training camp.
Some of the team already worked out together in Florida, but this is the first time the entire new team will be together for the 2023 NFL season. It is the first step in building a group that the Steelers hope can compete.