It used to be that rookies in the NFL (or at least ones drafted in the first four rounds) played the duration of their rookie contract (four years) before team's made a decision on their future.
In today's league, that runway has been shortened to three years, especially for first-round picks, with teams having to decide on their fifth-year option after the three-year landmark.
But for 2022 fourth-round pick Calvin Austin III, he realizes he's fighting for a spot just two years into his tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers:
Calvin Austin III is ready for whatever
"I would be like that if they told me I had a guaranteed starting spot," Austin told 93.7 The Fan when asked about his back-against-the-wall mentality. "If they brought in nobody, if they brought in everybody. I'm a walk-on. I literally always have that mindset. Nothing can change it. It's just business as usual."
The thing is, Austin thrives in these situations. He was a touted prospect during the draft process thanks to his electric highlight reel. But it wasn't always like that for him. When he says, "I'm a walk-on," he means it.
A zero-star recruit, Austin walked on to the Memphis Tigers football team, carved out a role for himself, and parlayed that opportunity into becoming a fourth-round pick for one of the best WR drafting franchises in the league.
But outside of Roman Wilson and George Pickens, there are no solidified spots in the Steelers WR corps, and that's before a potential trade, which is back in the fold following yesterday's contract news in San Francisco.
Even in a room that lacks proven talent, the Steelers' depth chart is packed with similar skillsets and players below George Pickens and Roman Wilson:
- Van Jefferson
- Calvin Austin III
- Quez Watkins
- Marquez Callaway
- Denzel Mims
- Duece Watts
- Dez Fitzpatrick
So it's not going to be an easy road for the year three speedster. After being robbed of his rookie season by a foot injury, Austin struggled to allocate snaps on last year's offense, stuck behind George Pickens, Diontae Johnson, and Allen Robinson.
And while two of those three are gone, Roman Wilson replaces Diontae Johnson, (in theory) and Van Jefferson is in pole position to be the WR #3 on the offense. That means Austin could be fighting recently acquired WR Quez Watkins for a roster spot, who is almost identical in skillset.
But for him to come out and publicly share his mentality, I would imagine his innate belief in himself is even higher, leading me to believe that he will be on the team come September.
