The Pittsburgh Steelers are almost done for the spring. The team is holding one final OTA practice Friday, a “rookie school” next week, and then breaking for the summer. The team will come together on training camp report day July 28 with the first practice the following day.
It creates a lull in the Steelers’ offseason, but there are still questions, and maybe answers, to talk about during this six-week interim. Here are three of them to wonder from now until then.
1. Will Any Deals Get Done Before Camp?
Omar Khan and Cole Marcoux have been busy men already, inking K Chris Boswell, EDGE Nick Herbig, and TE Darnell Washington to multi-year extensions. Will any others join them before camp? Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is the top name to watch. His deal seems certain to happen. It’s just a question of when. With a new coaching staff, getting a deal done and avoiding a likely hold-in is ideal. Porter’s deal could be complicated by second-year guaranteed money, something that wasn’t in the other deals, and it’s set to be the team’s largest contract of the offseason.
Defensive lineman Keeanu Benton is another candidate. Can Pittsburgh get his deal done, and if so, what will the numbers look like?
Could any other player have a chance? Inside linebacker Patrick Queen, offensive guard Spencer Anderson, and offensive tackle Dylan Cook all feel unlikely, but Khan has been full speed ahead spending money on retaining talent.
2. Who Will Be Pittsburgh’s New Special Teams Coordinator?
Pittsburgh’s coaching staff was previously set but a spot opened after the team fired special teams assistant Derius Swinton II for alleged workplace misconduct. Mike McCarthy has confirmed that the team will hire a replacement.
The pool of options is shallower, but McCarthy still has options. Will it be someone who has a past connection to him? Someone out of left field? A college name or someone part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship who impressed in the spring? Pittsburgh figures to have the hire in place before the team reports to camp.
3. Any Other Roster Moves?
As Dave Bryan annually notes, the Steelers historically have at least one player on their 53-man roster who was added after the spring. Last year had multiple: S Chuck Clark, OL Andrus Peat, and late June’s blockbuster deal that brought in S Jalen Ramsey and TE Jonnu Smith.
A player could be added during camp, especially as injuries strike, but will Khan make a move prior? Pittsburgh’s continued to tweak its roster with multiple moves on Thursday and might evaluate the group one more time after next week. At least there’s punter clarity after rookie Aidan Laros was claimed off waivers earlier this week.