Winners and Losers From Steelers Training Camp

UNITY TWP., Pa. — The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially wrapped up their training camp from Saint Vincent in Latrobe, and there were plenty of things learned from that camp. However, who were the big winners and losers? As I do every year from Latrobe, I pick five big winners and five guys that probably could have done more to help their stock. So, who gets the hats?

Winner: George Pickens

The undoubted winner of training camp this year. George Pickens is a guy who has looked like a star in the making every step of the way. Yes, the flash is incredible, but we knew Pickens was a human highlight reel. To me, the more important thing we saw from this season were three things for Pickens, all of which signal that this year, he could be more than the heave-it-down-the-field go-ball receiver.

For one, Pickens had a diverse route tree and won on multiple routes. He flashed the ability to run slants, wheels, nines, posts, digs, and other in-breaking and out-breaking routes at a higher level with more nuance. Second, Pickens learned from his mistakes and eliminated them. If he got called for illegal touching, he would talk to referees to understand why, and it has not come up since. Third, he makes the routine look easy. Pickens has picked up veteran traits by making all of the plays that he should make. There are still little things he has to work out, but Pickens looked like he took a real second-year leap.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens at training camp, Aug. 8, 2023. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Loser: James Pierre

The Steelers suffered a blow early in training camp when they lost Cory Trice. That thrust James Pierre into the spotlight, but he has not responded in the way that you would have hoped for a guy heading into his third season. Pierre was inconsistent and too feast or famine, but far more lows than the team would have liked. For a team that is relying upon Pierre to be quality depth should an injury occur in that room, the entirety of camp, paired with a lackluster first preseason game is a disappointing downtrend for a guy who the team needs to step up.

Winner: Kenny Pickett

Yes, the starting quarterback is a winner from this training camp. Do you want to know how Pickett looked? The man looked like a starting NFL quarterback. Throughout the entirety of training camp, he pushed the ball down the field to success and went through progressions at what seemed like a faster, higher level than a year ago. Everything was simply routine for him and there was no way you walked out of Latrobe thinking that Pickett was not on the upward trend.

There are some pocket presence traits that he seemed to be actively working on, though that is hard to gauge without a live pocket. I think it is reasonable for Pickett to take the next step into a true game manager territory. I keep saying it, but there are some real Alex Smith vibes to his game right now. It’s not an exact comparison but the plus mobility combined with what I expect to be low interception numbers are a good baseline stylistic comparison for this season. Maybe he can shoot higher than that, but incremental steps in expectation are a good idea for any young quarterback.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett at training camp, Aug. 8, 2023. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Loser: Kendrick Green

The Steelers really do have a backup center problem. Kendrick Green struggled in the team’s first preseason game and simply has not played well enough for the team to trust him as a backup center option. The fullback experiment is fun, and Green has potential there, but they did not draft him to be a fullback. The likelihood of the team looking outside to potentially add a backup center are probably pretty high. He has struggled to anchor against rushes or clear enough lanes. There is some solace here because Green ended the camp strong, but it does not make up for everything.

Winner: Dan Moore Jr.

Dan Moore Jr. has done everything right this training camp and offseason. He reworked his diet and body to come in stronger and quicker than before. First-round pick Broderick Jones has a steady mentor to work with throughout the season and lead up-to it. And moreover, he has taken to learning right tackle along with left tackle graciously. To be honest, Moore had an excellent training camp. He struggled the first two days against Alex Highsmith with no pads on, but I can not remember him making a bad block since then. Moore is steady and consistent. The competition between him and Jones is fun and spirited, but Moore seems likely to hold onto that first-team spot. To his credit, so far he has earned it.

Steelers left tackle Dan Moore Jr. at training camp, Aug. 1, 2023 — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Loser: Slot CBs

The entire slot cornerback room is going on here for this one. I have not been too impressed by Chandon Sullivan, who has moments of good plays, as any veteran should, but for the most part, he has been lackluster. Elijah Riley is the guy who stands out here and could have a role as a run-down slot cornerback, however, he is not consistent enough in coverage to grab the full-time gig. But outside of those two, none of the other depth options have done much to give you confidence in them. Moreover, Patrick Peterson just has not seen much time in the slot, so he is a question mark.

Maybe the team feels comfortable with where their guys are at this time, but I would not be surprised to see an external addition join the squad at slot cornerback and play some significant snaps in the regular season. It just feels like a position that the team needs to circle.

Winner: Kwon Alexander

Man, Kwon Alexander burst onto the scene the moment he stepped into Latrobe. He was signed just days before the team’s first practice but in their first team period, he laid the wood two or three times. The guy is an absolute missile who just continued to stack good days and roles onto his plate. Somehow, he seems to have already claimed the dime linebacker role and is rotating in with Elandon Roberts in the team’s nickel package.

Alexander was signed for the veteran minimum by the Steelers, but he will play, and probably play a lot to open up the season. That is all for good reason.

Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Kwon Alexander in a drill at training camp, Aug. 8, 2023. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Loser: Depth WRs

Coming into training camp, I thought the Steelers had a nice wide receiver corps that could really push each other and round out the roster well. However, that simply has not come to fruition. Outside of the top four wide receivers, no one has really grabbed the opportunity by the scruff and pulled themselves up into further roster consideration. Gunner Olszewski is the closest there, but he has been more up and down over the last week and a half.

Miles Boykin is the reliable guy in the room as a special teamer. Dez Fitzpatrick stood out as a good practice squad candidate. But outside of that, there was a lot that was left to be desired from the room. Hakeem Butler, who could have really pushed for a spot, has not had enough splash to make up for the routine inconsistencies with his drops. It could certainly be a sleeper area the Steelers could pay attention to on the waiver wire.

Winner: Nick Herbig

The Wisconsin rookie took the ghost move from T.J. Watt and added an Alex Highsmith-twist to his spin move, and became one of the best players at training camp. Nick Herbig was virtually unblockable and looked like a guy who should have a legitimate role on the squad in 2023. He held up against the run at a high level even on the edge, which might be the most surprising thing of the entire standout camp for Herbig. But the biggest thing that overrules this all is that Herbig has a deep bag as a pass rusher, and will clearly be a guy the team relies upon in 2023.

Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Nick Herbig at training camp on Aug. 5, 2023. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Loser: Montravius Adams

An under the radar loser, but Montravius Adams is a guy who has competition pushing him from all angles on the defensive line. However, the guy who is currently listed as the starting nose tackle did not stand out in really anyway during training camp, while others like Breiden Fehoko, had strong camps that aided their roster pushes. We will see if Adams and he reliable hot motor and all-around skillset can keep him on the roster, but I feel less confident he makes the roster than I did on the first day of training camp.