We've officially entered June and that means Organized Team Activities (OTAs) are fully underway for the Pittsburgh Steelers and other NFL teams. It's overreaction season, where we all get our hopes up for several different players throughout the roster. Still, it's the only football that we have to stand on as of now. The regular season is just over three months away, and the anticipation is high for black and gold fans.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin smiles on during 2022 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
After an impressive 2023 NFL Draft class, the rookies are expected to provide big impacts in their first seasons. A few of them have done well so far, while a few others have adjusted to the size and speed of NFL players. There have already been a few standouts at OTAs thus far, and that begins with a certain position group:
Steelers secondary WRs
It's natural that the playmakers will stand out in an environment like OTAs. When there's no live contact, the athletic guys will stand out, as it's like backyard football. That's been no different in Pittsburgh, as the wideouts stole the show the first week or so. Dez Fitzpatrick is the name that not many have heard of, but he showed out in the first week. According to Nick Farabaugh, the wideout racked up three touchdowns in one day of action.
Calvin Austin III, who enters his first true NFL season, seems to be fully healthy again. Austin's quickness and speed is something the team could use in 2023, as they missed that dynamic in 2022. OTAs is a setting to which tailors perfectly to Austin's skillset. He flashed at training camp last year before an eventual foot injury forced him to miss all of his rookie campaign. Now, it seems like he's picked up right where he left off last year. On the All Things Covered podcast, veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson discussed how difficult it is to keep up with the speedster.
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (#19) brings an element of speed that the team missed in 2022.
Last but not least, Hakeem Butler's name was a popular one about a week ago. Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that the Iowa State product flashed right away in Pittsburgh. It seems like he has a decent shot at making the 53-man roster, assuming he can contribute on special teams. Via Adamski, Butler gave details on what he brings to the table.
"Everything. A big-bodied guy, explosive plays, physicality, fast as (heck)," Butler said via Adamski.
Linebacker Mark Robinson
A year ago, Robinson was one of the standouts at training camp in Latrobe. As a result, the 2022 seventh-rounder earned himself a spot on the 53-man roster. He didn't end up playing as much as many believed he should have, but he will have that opportunity in 2023. While the team has showed interest in adding another linebacker, like Kwon Alexander, Robinson's emergence could stop them from doing so.
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Steelers inside linebacker Mark Robinson could push for a starting job in 2023.
The hard-hitting linebacker has brought his physicality to OTAs so far. Now, things aren't a full-on game experience at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex as previously discussed. The early signs have been encouraging though, as he's shown some improvements in coverage. That's seen as his biggest weakness, so if he can show a legitimate improvement there, he could eventually start over Elandon Roberts.
Running back Jaylen Warren
Warren showed up to the summer sessions looking like a much different version of his 2022 self. That's not to say he wasn't successful then either, as he racked up 379 rushing yards on 77 carries as an undrafted rookie. Still, he felt the need to get better this offseason. As a result, he put on some serious muscle, which will presumably help him bounce off more tackles in 2023.
In a few clips that have been released at OTAs, it doesn't appear as if he's lost any of his burst either. With no disrespect to Najee Harris, it seems like this truly could become a split backfield. Harris will still see the field more, but the two complement each other's games so well.
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Steelers running backs Najee Harris (#22) and Jaylen Warren (#30) on the field at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
Warren and Robinson were two of the main standouts of the team's training camp in 2022, and they've taken that into 2023. Again, it's important to not overreact to these early standouts. Rookie cornerback Cory Trice Jr. deserves an honorable mention, but that felt a bit too obvious to include him fully. A seventh-rounder just over a month ago, Trice now seems like a lock to make the 53-man roster and provide an instant impact in 2023.
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