Steelers Bring In A Significant Amount Of Players For Workouts Including Multiple QBs

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the home stretch of what seemingly has been one of the more wild seasons in recent years. For the first time since his hiring, Head Coach Mike Tomlin has been facing extreme criticism from both the local and national media. Last Saturday however, was one of the brighter moments of the 2023 campaign when the Steelers surpassed the 30-point mark for the first time this season. 

Led by veteran backup quarterback Mason Rudolph, the Steelers put together their most complete performance offensively. The defense also left its mark, forcing Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning into throwing three interceptions and holding Joe Mixon to only 43 yards rushing. 

The Week 16 victory came at a crucial time for the Steelers who are still hanging onto their slim hopes at receiving the final Wild Card spot in the postseason. Unfortunately for the Steelers, their most daunting task awaits them in the next two weeks as they have two gruesome road contests against the Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens. 

The hurdles don't stop there for the Steelers as they have been battling the injury plague all season and now are in jeopardy of losing inside linebacker Elandon Roberts ahead of the road trip to Seattle.

With all the issues the team is dealing with for the final weeks of the season, it seems as if they want to get a head start on the roster for 2024, as they brought in nine different prospects for workouts during Thursday's practice. 

Quarterback

• Adrian Martinez- Kansas State
• Matthew McKay- Elon 

Wide Receiver 

• Keilahn Harris- Oklahoma Baptist
• Xavier Malone- Henderson State

Tight End

• Johnny Lumpkin- U of Louisiana Lafayette

Offensive Tackle

• Devery Hamilton- Duke 
• Tyler Beach- Wisconsin 
• Hunter Thedford- Utah

Fullback

• Derek Parish- Houston

Not too many names stick out as real difference-makers for the Steelers, but it is noteworthy to see that they brought in two quarterbacks. In a season where a majority of the teams in the AFC have faced some sort of injury to their starting quarterback, it can never hurt to keep your options open.

After the performance Rudolph put together for the Steelers on Saturday, it looks as if Mitch Trubisky's days in Pittsburgh are numbered. Bringing in a high-profile college quarterback such as Adrian Martinez might simply be nothing more than a look at a possible third-string option for the Steelers heading into next season. 

Martinez had quite a stellar career at both University of Nebraska and Kansas State where he threw for over 2,600 yards twice in his five seasons in college. He can use both his arm and his legs to his advantage. In all five of his collegiate seasons, he ran for over 500 yards including 45 rushing touchdowns in that span as well. Recently, Martinez signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL, but I would expect him to call Pittsburgh home if the Steelers believe he would provide some quality depth moving forward. 

Tyler Beach at offensive tackle could be a depth piece option for the Steelers moving forward. They have struggled mightily at the tackle position for multiple seasons, and having Beach added to the roster may just provide some depth that this unit desperately needs heading into next season. Beach has made stops with the Houston Texans, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, and New York Giants. 

Although he has yet to make a start in the NFL, he was a three-year starter for the Wisconsin Badgers in college. The upside of Beach is the possible versatility he can bring to the table. The Texans moved him to guard when he was in Houston, so it is quite possible the Steelers would do the same with him. 

Expect the Steelers to bring in multiple tackles this offseason likely through the NFL Draft and free agency, but Beach is the first one we will have to keep an eye on heading into this offseason.

Steelers Are Likely Just Getting A Head Start On Their 90-Man Roster

The total of nine players on the Steelers' southside facility is more than normal and likely none of them will play a part in the Steelers' 2023 campaign. With none of these players being in any position the Steelers need in the coming weeks, this was likely nothing more than a head start on their 90-man roster for this offseason. 

There will be plenty to keep an eye on this offseason for the Steelers heading into the 2024 NFL Draft with many glaring holes on each side of the line of scrimmage. General Manager Omar Khan will be hoping to build off of what looks like his extremely successful first draft class as general manager.

Who would you like to see the Steelers bring in for a workout? Are there any pieces the Steelers need to key in on heading into this offseason? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below.  

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