Predicting Steelers' Breakout Players at 2024 OTAs, Minicamp
The Pittsburgh Steelers were a playoff team in 2023, but they never felt like a legitimate title contender. However, there are reasons for optimism heading into this month's organized team activities (OTAs) thanks largely to some offseason additions.
Pittsburgh's new quarterback room—headlined by Russell Wilson and Justin Fields—is expected to fix the Steelers' biggest issue from last season. The Steelers also added several new likely starters during the draft, including offensive tackle Troy Fautanu, center Zach Frazier and receiver Roman Wilson.
The Steelers could make an even bigger jump in 2024, though, if some of their returning players have the sort of breakthrough season that wideout George Pickens (1,140 yards, 5 TDs) had last year.
Here, we'll examine three Steelers veterans who could jumpstart their own breakout campaigns during OTAs and minicamps.
WR Calvin Austin III
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It feels like we've been waiting for receiver Calvin Austin III to break out ever since he was taken in the fourth round of the 2022 draft. A foot injury erased his rookie campaign, and he didn't get a ton of opportunities last season.
However, Austin's speed is an asset that he flashed on a 72-yard touchdown catch against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3. He finished his sophomore season with 17 catches for 180 yards.
There are a few reasons why Austin can and should be more productive in Year 3, starting with Pittsburgh's quarterback turnover. While neither Wilson nor Fields was a high-end quarterback in 2023, both had more success in generating big plays than Kenny Pickett did.
With a new quarterback under center and a new offensive coordinator in Arthur Smith in the fold, Pittsburgh's passing game, as a whole, should be much more effective than it was last year.
While the Steelers added Van Jefferson and rookie Roman Wilson to the receiver room this offseason, they also traded away Diontae Johnson. Expect Austin to start pushing for significant playing time in OTAs.
TE Darnell Washington
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A little over a year ago, the Steelers used a third-round pick on tight end Darnell Washington. While he did appear in all 17 games as a rookie, he mostly contributed as a blocker and a part-time special-teams player.
Washington finished his rookie campaign with only seven catches and 61 yards. Of course, he was never likely to see a lot of receiving opportunities behind Pat Freiermuth in Matt Canada's offense.
With Smith coming in, Washington should get a lot more opportunities in the passing game. Smith's Atlanta Falcons had a clear-cut No. 1 tight end in Kyle Pitts last season, but No. 2 tight end Jonnu Smith still finished with 50 catches, 582 yards and three touchdowns.
Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported in January that the Steelers drafted Washington amid concerns about his ongoing knee issues and knowing that he may not have a lengthy career.
Those issues and some athletic limitations will likely prevent Washington from ever challenging Freiermuth as Pittsburgh's top receiving tight end. However, he should start showing how much he was underutilized last season as Smith's offense is implemented during offseason workouts.
DL Keeanu Benton
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While the Steelers are starving for offensive improvements, their biggest breakout candidate might be defensive lineman Keeanu Benton. The 2023 second-round pick only played 43 percent of the defensive snaps as a rookie but still impressed with 36 tackles, a sack, and nine quarterback pressures.
"I think he's capable of being dominant," head coach Mike Tomlin said in January, per Chris Adamski of TribLIVE, "sooner rather than later."
With an expanded role, Benton should see a dramatic rise in production this season. He could be even more productive as an interior pass-rusher too, with players like Patrick Queen, DeShon Elliott and Donte Jackson joining the back seven.
The Steelers already have a pair of stellar edge-rushers in T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. If opposing quarterbacks are forced to focus on those two and hold the ball, Benton will frequently get chances to make game-changing plays.
Expect Benton to start showing how impactful he can be during OTAs. Star defensive tackle Cameron Heyward recently confirmed on his Not Just Football podcast (h/t ESPN's Brooke Pryor) that he doesn't plan to attend voluntary OTAs.
Benton should be a standout of Pittsburgh's early workouts.
*Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference
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