Steelers Rumors: Latest Buzz, Players to Watch at Mandatory Minicamp
It's been rare for the Pittsburgh Steelers to miss the playoffs during the Mike Tomlin era. They've only failed to reach the postseason six times over his 16 seasons as head coach, including during the 2022 NFL campaign.
Now, Tomlin is aiming to guide the Steelers back to the playoffs in 2023. But with more than three months to go before the regular season opens, they have plenty of time to prepare and sort out some of their bigger roster questions.
That will continue during Pittsburgh's mandatory minicamp, which is set for June 13-15. It'll be the first time every member of the team will be required to be in attendance, as that hasn't been the case at voluntary OTAs of late.
Here's some of the latest buzz surrounding the Steelers with their mandatory minicamp around the corner, along with a look at some players/storylines to keep an eye on this month.
Will Highsmith Get a New Contract Before the Season?
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One of the biggest storylines surrounding Pittsburgh of late has been the status of Alex Highsmith.
The linebacker is about to enter the final year of his contract, meaning he's set to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
It seems likely Highsmith will get a new contract from the Steelers before then, though. It's even possible he'll ink a deal before the 2023 season gets underway.
The Athletic's Mark Kaboly believes the 25-year-old will sign an extension before Pittsburgh's self-imposed Sept. 10 deadline to get a deal done. And Highsmith's salary "could push to as much as $17 million per year with significant guarantees into the second year of the deal."
Highsmith has proved he's deserving of a big deal, especially after his performance during the 2022 season. He set career highs in sacks (14.5) and forced fumbles (five) while recording 63 tackles and starting all 17 games for Pittsburgh.
Jones Looking to Begin Rookie Season as a Starter
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Broderick Jones is the Steelers' projected franchise left tackle who is likely to solidify the position for the team for years to come.
That's why Pittsburgh traded up to No. 14 in the 2023 NFL draft to select the former Georgia standout, who has a ton of potential entering his pro career.
Will Jones be the team's starting left tackle for Week 1 of the upcoming season, though? The coaching staff hasn't decided yet, but it's clear the 22-year-old is firmly in that conversation.
According to Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Jones has been getting reps with the first-team offense this offseason. He got that opportunity because the Steelers moved Dan Moore (their starting LT each of the past two seasons) to the right side.
Is that a sign of things to come? Possibly. Either way, though, it's likely only a matter of time before Jones takes over the starting spot at left tackle and holds onto it for a long period.
How Will New Cornerbacks Be Utilized?
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Pittsburgh's top returning cornerback for the upcoming season is Levi Wallace. But he's going to be joined by a pair of newcomers: Free-agent acquisition Patrick Peterson and rookie Joey Porter Jr.
Peterson is a 12-year NFL veteran who spent the past two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. Porter, meanwhile, was selected by the Steelers with the No. 32 overall pick in April. Both should have sizable roles in Pittsburgh's secondary in 2023.
Porter has been getting first-team reps this offseason, while Peterson has been moving around in different spots on the defense, per Noah Strackbein of Sports Illustrated. That could be an indication of how the Steelers plan to use the duo during the upcoming season.
It will be a position group to monitor throughout the summer, though. Regardless of how they're utilized, Porter and Peterson should combine to make Pittsburgh's secondary a much stronger unit than it was last year.
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