We are now over a week into Pittsburgh Steelers training camp in Latrobe, and the roster spots seem to be taking shape. In just a few weeks, the team will begin making cuts to get down to the 53-man roster by Week 1. There are still some holes throughout the roster, and there are some talented free agents still on the market. The market will become even more attractive when teams release veterans within the next month.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan has shown a willingness to be extra aggressive, whether it be in the free agency market or via trade.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report suggested three names that the Steelers should target: running back J.D. McKissic, edge rusher Carlos Dunlap, and safety Duron Harmon. If you remember, Dunlap played 11 years for the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals, where he racked up 82.5 sacks. Since then, he's spent the last 2.5 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs.
He hasn't been nearly as effective, as his four sacks in 2022 were a career-low. The two-time Pro Bowler still played 50% of the Chiefs' defensive snaps though and was still somewhat effective. While his pass-rushing prowess isn't quite the same, he has still excelled in stopping the run over the past two seasons. Of 119 edge rushers in 2022, Dunlap ranked 61st with a 64.7 overall Pro Football Focus grade, just two spots behind Steelers backup, Markus Golden.
While the signing of Golden lessens the need at the position, you can never have too much depth. Dunlap makes the most sense of these options, as he could be yet another veteran presence in that room. As shown last season, he doesn't even need a starting role either. The Steelers have moved several guys all around the field this summer, showing their overall flexibility throughout the roster.
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Veteran running back J.D. McKissic has become a prolific receiving back in the NFL, and the Steelers could be argued as a possible fit.
The same can be said for Dunlap, as he could be used on the edge or even along the defensive line.
J.D. McKissic is actually a name that I mentioned last week as an intriguing option for the Steelers' backfield. Following the season-ending injury to rookie Alfonzo Graham last week, there were a lot of uncertainties about the third-string running back role in Pittsburgh. Since then, Anthony McFarland Jr. has established himself as that guy.
He impressed all week with multiple touchdowns, including in the "7 Shots" drills. McFarland has specifically shined in the passing game, showing off his pass-catching skills. That's something we still haven't really seen out of him in Pittsburgh, as he has just nine career catches for 76 receiving yards across three seasons. As a result, the front office may actually be less inclined to sign a veteran running back now.
Even then, they may just wait until roster cuts begin fully taking place. McKissic would make complete sense in the fact that he would bring an added element to the Steelers backfield with his receiving threat. In his seven-year career, he has far more receiving yards (1,674) than rushing yards (1,074). With McFarland's perceived growth and improvement, the need for a running back has lessened over the past few weeks, however.
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Steelers running back Anthony McFarland Jr. has established himself as the team's third-string running back at training camp in Latrobe.
Steelers Safeties Stepping Up
As for Harmon, that one seems to make the least sense. Minkah Fitzpatrick returned to practice late last week after being out for the duration of camp due to an unidentified, excused reason. There's been injuries to Keanu Neal and Damontae Kazee, which has put the position's depth to the test. The depth has proved to be better than expected though, as guys like Kenny Robinson and Elijah Riley have stepped up in a big way.
Regardless, Neal and Kazee's injuries don't seem to be major. Because of those combining factors, bringing another safety into the room feels unnecessary. All in all, Dunlap is the only one listed that could be a realistic, plausible option for Khan. Even then, there seems to be a lot of guys along the front seven vying for playing time in Pittsburgh. With the recent season-ending injury to rookie Cory Trice Jr. as well, cornerback could be considered more of a need than the other mentioned positions.
Which of the three names makes the most sense? Do you think the team should pursue a versatile veteran like Dunlap for the front seven's depth? Is running back depth still a major need heading into the preseason? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
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