Position battles to watch in Steelers training camp

The Pittsburgh Steelers had yet another very active offseason under general manager Omar Khan. Lots of change brings even more uncertainty about who will be in the starting lineup come Week 1.

Here are three key position battles to watch when training camp opens.

Quarterback

Projected starter: Russell Wilson
Player to watch: Justin Fields

The Steelers needed a change at quarterback after Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph and Mitchell Trubisky threw for a combined 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season. That's exactly what they're getting after signing Wilson in free agency and trading for Fields. 

On paper, both players should be better than what Pittsburgh has had.

Wilson alone had double the number of touchdowns (26) and fewer interceptions (eight) than the Steelers' quarterback trio in 2023. At the same time, Fields continued to flash his upside, throwing for 2,562 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushing for 657 yards and four touchdowns last season with the Bears.

However, both quarterbacks still have much to prove after disappointing campaigns with their former teams and only one can win the job. Wilson has the "pole position" for now.

Wide receiver

Projected starters: George Pickens, Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III
Players to watch: Roman Wilson, Quez Watkins and Scotty Miller

Outside of Pickens, Pittsburgh has a lot of question marks at wide receiver. The team traded Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers in March and has only added No. 3 or 4 options since.

That has led many to believe the Steelers will trade for a more established No. 2 wide receiver before the start of the season. 

In the meantime, however, Jefferson, Austin III, Watkins and Miller, none of whom eclipsed 200 receiving yards in 2023, along with the rookie Wilson will battle it out for a chance to be Pickens' complement in the passing attack.

Offensive tackle

Projected starters: Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu
Player to watch: Dan Moore Jr.

Pittsburgh seems to have put the finishing touches on its offensive line this offseason through the 2024 NFL Draft, selecting Fautanu in the first round and center Zach Frazier in the second.

However, the rookies must now earn their spot in the starting lineup. Frazier seems to have the inside track at center, but the same can't be said for Fautanu with Moore Jr. and Jones hoping to return as starters.

The biggest factor in this battle is Jones, the Steelers' first-round pick from a year ago. He spent his rookie season at right tackle, but the team has not been shy in wanting to move him back to the left side, which is where he played during his collegiate career at Georgia.

If Jones can beat out Moore Jr. on the left side, then Fautanu will be the favorite to start at right, but that's a big "if" as Moore Jr. has held off several players throughout his first three years in the league.