Steelers' Projected Winners of Key Position Battles

The Pittsburgh Steelers had their fair share of ups and downs in 2023, but they were good enough to earn a postseason spot. Heading into 2024, Pittsburgh figures to be even more of a playoff threat if it can address the few true needs it had last season.

The Steelers have taken steps to address those needs, and on paper, they appear to have one of the better rosters in the NFL.

Of course, games aren't won on paper, and Pittsburgh still needs to find the best 53 players to carry into the preseason. Roster spots and starting jobs will be settled in the coming weeks through exhibition games and training camp competitions.

Below, you'll find a look at three of Pittsburgh's most important camp battles and a few predictions based on factors like past performance, player potential, roster makeup and any relevant recent buzz.

Quarterback

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Justin Fields

This is the big one, of course, as the Steelers quarterback change an offseason priority. 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett is out, and Pittsburgh added both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields to help replace him.

Wilson is the seasoned vet and was widely expected to get the first crack at the starting job. However, he's been dealing with a calf injury that gave Fields plenty of opportunities with the first-team offense early in camp.

Fields also got the start in Pittsburgh's preseason opener against the Houston Texans. While the former Chicago Bears signal-caller made a few nice throws during the game, he also mishandled a pair of snaps that didn't lead to turnovers but created missed opportunities. Understandably, head coach Mike Tomlin was not pleased.

"From my perspective that's dual responsibility on the center and the quarterback," Tomlin said, per Brooke Pryor of ESON. "It negated a lot of good things going on in those first couple of drives."

Ball security was an issue for Fields in Chicago—he fumbled 38 times in 40 games—and it often offset his upside as a playmaker. For a Steelers team that can lean on its defense and ground game, avoidable mistakes at quarterback may be a deal-breaker.

Fields may have the superior athletic potential, but if Wilson is healthy ahead of Week 1, he'll likely win the starting gig.

Projected Winner: Wilson

Offensive Tackle

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Broderick Jones

The Steelers may have a new tackle combination in 2024, depending on how quickly rookie first-round pick Troy Fautanu develops. 2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones saw time at both right and left tackle in the preseason opener, and he'll likely start at left tackle in the regular season if Fautanu is ready to go.

However, the Steelers typically don't rush rookies onto the field. If they take a patient approach with Fautanu, Jones may remain at right tackle while Dan Moore Jr. returns on the left side.

Of course, fans would probably prefer to see a combination of Fautanu and Jones after Moore allowed eight sacks last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

Unfortunately, Fautanu suffered a knee injury during his debut. The good news is that it's only a minor MCL sprain, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, and isn't considered to be serious. However, it could still slow the rookie's progress over the next few weeks.

Given Fautanu's injury and Pittsburgh's history of taking a patient approach with rookies, fans can probably expect to see both Jones and Moore early in the season, with Jones flipping to left tackle later in the year.

Projected Winners: Jones and Moore

Center

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Zach Frazier

While Pittsburgh rarely thrusts rookies into the starting lineup, it may rookie Zach Frazier may be on his way to earning a Week 1 starting job. The Steelers parted with starting center Mason Cole early this offseason and have few enticing alternatives to the second-round rookie.

Ryan McCollum is back after spending the last two seasons on Pittsburgh's practice squad. Nate Herbig is also in the mix but has spent most of his NFL career at guard—and his botched exchanges with Fields certainly won't help his cause.

Frazier, meanwhile, is still in the process of adapting to the NFL but flashed terrific play strength and finishing ability during his debut. He's spent much of camp behind Herbig and working with the second-team offense, but that should change moving forward.

If the Steelers had an established starting center, like they have at left tackle, Frazier may have to wait until later in the season to get a start. However, his upside is too great to ignore, and he may already be the best pure center on Pittsburgh's roster.

Expect Frazier to be in the starting lineup for Week 1.

Projected Winner: Frazier