Caleb Harris
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ storied rookie class participated in their first NFL training on Friday. As expected, there were several interesting moments on Friday, including where Steelers first-round pick Troy Fautanu lined up during his first official practice.
Fautanu was just one of several stories from Friday’s training. Here’s a quick rundown of several other things Steelers fans should keep an eye on, including the emergence of an undrafted rookie running back.
Fautano’s starting spot on the Steelers’ offensive line
Pittsburgh’s first-round pick confirmed after practice that he spent most of the day at right tackle, which is currently occupied by 2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones. Fautano added that this is the current plan, “for now”, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
If Fautano showed enough to start at right tackle, Jones would move to left tackle, which would mean Dan Moore Jr. — the team’s starting left tackle since 2021 — would be relegated to backup. Moore is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the general consensus is that the Steelers will not try to re-sign him next offseason.
New RB emerges
Many fans are wondering what the Steelers’ long-term plans are at running back after Pittsburgh declined to pick up Najee Harris’ fifth-year option. If Harris isn’t signed after this season, the Steelers will need to find someone who can complement Jaylen Warren.
It’s early, but that player could eventually end up being undrafted rookie Daijun Edwards, who stood out enough until Friday to get the attention of Mark Kaboly of The Athletic.
Edwards, 23, spent four years at Georgia, where he helped the Bulldogs win back-to-back national titles. In 2023, Edwards rushed for 769 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging an impressive 5.5 yards per carry, as Georgia successfully defended its title. Last year, Edwards threw for 881 yards and 13 touchdowns (averaging 5.4 yards per carry) and capped off his college career with two touchdown runs in Georgia’s Orange Bowl victory over Florida.
Edwards, 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, has an elegant back and impressive evasiveness. He is a very decisive runner who sometimes attacked and passed defenders in the same play. Largely an interior runner, Edwards also served as a reliable safety valve for Georgia’s defensive backs in the passing game.
So why wasn’t Edwards drafted? The recent devaluation of his position certainly hasn’t helped, along with the fact that he didn’t get many runs at Georgia (which is actually a good thing; he doesn’t have the wear and tear that some backs have coming into the game). NFL). There was a lot of criticism in some of his pre-draft analysis that was (in my opinion) nitpicking.
Like all undrafted rookies, Edwards will try to prove his doubters wrong while earning a spot on the Steelers’ 53-man roster.
A new QB in town, sort of
Former Pitt quarterback and undrafted rookie Phil Jurkovec is participating in the Steelers’ minicamp, but is trying out as a tight end. Jurkovec, who split his college years with stints at Notre Dame, Boston College and Pitt, actually switched to tight end during his final year with the Panthers.
Although he has a lot of work ahead of him, the 6-5 Jurkovec has the size to play tight end. Given the Steelers’ depth at tight end, Jurkovec is likely fighting for a spot on the practice squad unless he impresses the Steelers with his receiving and blocking ability.
Frazier embracing his opportunity
Zach Frazier hopes to join the long lineage of elite centers who have played for the Steelers, a list that includes Hall of Famers Mike Webster and Dermontti Dawson. Frazier, who played college football in neighboring West Virginia, is currently scheduled to start alongside fellow rookie Fautano.
“It puts a little more pressure on me,” Frazier said of Pittsburgh’s rich history in his position, via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I’m going to work as hard as I can, put my head down and just work.”
