The Pittsburgh Steelers were consistently linked to tight end Connor Heyward throughout the pre-draft process. Beyond just the team's need for another tight end, behind Pat Freiermuth and Zach Gentry, everyone knows how much the organization values bloodlines.
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end, Pat Freiermuth (#88) participates in non-contact drills during 2022 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. | Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO
Between Trey and Terrell Edmunds, Derek and TJ Watt, and Carlos and Khalil Davis, the Steelers already had three pairs of brothers already on the team. With That's not to dismiss Connor Heyward's talent, but his bloodline certainly didn't hurt their decision to pick him in the sixth round (No. 208 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Heyward's been keen on making a name for himself, rather than just being known as Cam's brother. With training camp fully underway in Latrobe, the Steelers have been able to display plenty of their new faces in practice. Heyward's one of them, and according to Brian Batko of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, he possibly seems destined for a bigger role than many thought in his rookie year.
Steelers rookie TE/FB Connor Heyward is gonna contribute on offense this year I think. He's getting reps with the first, second and third-team offenses depending on personnel.
— Brian Batko (@BrianBatko) July 30, 2022
"Just getting used to playing Y, F, some stuff in the backfield to show my versatility," he said today.
The Michigan State University product continues to earn rave reviews from around the organization this off-season. from around the organization this off-season. Being a sixth-rounder, Heyward isn't even a lock to make the opening day 53-man roster. Now, it sure seems like he is. At the moment, he has the upper hand for the third tight end spot over veteran Kevin Rader. His versatility helps a ton as well, as he could even get some snaps in the backfield for the Steelers as Heyward talks about in Batko's tweet.
Credit: Steelers.com
Rader is now entering his third season in the NFL, all of which have been spent with the black and gold. He's established himself as a very good blocking tight end, which is essentially what third-string tight ends are used for most of the time. It's unlikely the Steelers opt to keep both Rader and Heyward, unless if the team wanted to save some salary and cut fullback Derek Watt. Those theories seemed to have been put to rest earlier in the off-season though, as Watt is an important piece to the Steelers' special teams.
Where would that potentially leave Rader? Well, whether it be him or Heyward, whoever misses out on the roster will likely end up on the practice squad. Then, in the case of an injury, he would be elevated to the 53-man roster. Regardless, it seems this position will be a strength for the Steelers moving forward. Big things are expected out of Freiermuth in his second season, as he looks to take the next step forward in becoming one of the best tight ends in the NFL. Gentry's made improvements each and every season, as he's locked in to the primary backup position.
This is all just talk after a few days of training camp, as there's still weeks remaining. Unfortunately for Heyward, he wasn't able to finish practice on Saturday due to getting rolled up on. That'll be something to watch for throughout the upcoming week in Latrobe, as an injury would be a huge setback for Heyward. Freiermuth's injury on Thursday helped open up the door for more opportunity for Heyward. Thankfully, neither of their injuries seem to be concerning or long-term.
Do you expect Heyward to make the 53-man roster? If so, what are your expectations for him in Year 1 and beyond? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
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