The NFL officially turned the page toward the 2025 season in March with the start of free agency, the tipping point of the league’s new calendar year. Teams followed suit in April, before the draft, with the start of voluntary conditioning workouts.
Another marker takes place this weekend for the Pittsburgh Steelers with the team’s annual rookie minicamp. The Steelers typically hold the event two weeks after the draft is concluded, and it’s a chance to bring together the team’s draft picks, undrafted free agents and players invited on a tryout basis.
Rookie minicamp starts Friday and runs through Sunday. It will feature numerous subplots. Here are a few:
1. Big-boy alert
A year ago, it was time for the Steelers to introduce three pieces that they believe will be the future of the offensive line: right tackle Troy Fautanu, center Zach Frazier and guard Mason McCormick.
This year, it’s about the big fellas on the other side of the ball.
This weekend will provide coaches with the first chance to evaluate first-round pick Derrick Harmon and fifth-rounder Yahya Black, a pair of rookies who could contribute immediately.
Harmon’s indoctrination to the organization on draft weekend was cut short because of the death of his mother. He didn’t get to experience the pomp and circumstance that surrounds the top pick’s arrival to the city.
In that regard, he and Black will be on equal footing. Harmon has been called the next Cameron Heyward. Black can prove that a nose tackle still has a role in the modern NFL game.
2. Help wanted
Nobody attending this weekend’s minicamp will be asked to take over the No. 2 wide receiver role that became open when the Steelers traded George Pickens to Dallas. But it will provide a young, unproven receiver a chance to show he deserves a longer look at a potential roster spot.
The Steelers did not draft a receiver this year, which makes the Pickens trade in the aftermath of the draft even more curious.
After the draft, the Steelers signed a pair of rookie free agents in Memphis’ Roc Taylor and Indiana’s Ke’Shawn Williams. Taylor provided consistent numbers in his final two seasons at Memphis, catching 66 passes for 950 yards and two touchdown in 2024 after amassing 69 receptions for 1,083 yards and four scores in 2023.
Williams spent his final season in college at Indiana after transferring from Wake Forest. In 2024, he had 39 catches for 448 yards and five touchdowns.
3. Passing fancy
Will Howard lasted until the sixth round, and 184 players were taken before his name was called at the draft ceremony in Green Bay.
The Steelers will get their first chance to see whether they have unearthed a diamond in the rough with Howard, whose work in the inaugural 12-team college football playoffs impressed the organization enough to select him as a developmental passer.
Howard is one of three quarterbacks the Steelers have on the roster, and he’ll remain third in the pecking order at least until the arrival of Aaron Rodgers or another to-be-determined veteran passer. Howard’s goal, starting this weekend, will be to show he’s ready to handle the third spot on the final 53-man roster when that decision is made following the preseason.
4. Running man
When the Steelers watched Najee Harris depart in free agency, they figured they could find a capable replacement in the draft. Time will tell if Kaleb Johnson unseats Jaylen Warren as the No. 1 back, but the Steelers are confident that the 6-foot-1, 224-pound running back from Iowa is part of the solution.
Harris showed remarkable consistency in four seasons with the Steelers, but his inability to break long runs was a glaring weakness.
Despite running a 4.57 40, Johnson displayed breakaway potential in his final college season when he averaged 6.4 yards per carry and had 43 runs of 10-plus yards. He had a 75-yard touchdown run and reached the end zone a school-record 23 times.
5. Hawkeye connection
Not content with drafting two players from Iowa in Johnson and Black, the Steelers added another as an undrafted free agent when they agreed to terms with safety Sebastian Castro.
A late bloomer who spent six seasons in college and took advantage of the extra eligibility afforded by the pandemic, Castro arguably is the most interesting of the undrafted free agents. He also plays a position the Steelers did not address in the draft.
Castro started 32 games and appeared in 21 others during his time at Iowa. He was often around the ball, accruing 113 solo tackles, including 14 for loss. He broke up 18 passes, forced five fumbles and had four interceptions.