Five players to watch during Steelers’ camp

Pittsburgh players are scheduled to report Wednesday to St. Vincent for training camp.

With the Pittsburgh Steelers trickling into Unity Township in advance of Wednesday’s mandatory reporting day to Saint Vincent for the start of training camp, here are five players who are worthy of keeping an eye on when practices begin Thursday:

1. PATRICK QUEEN

We’ll omit the four — four! — new quarterbacks to the team from this list because it’s a given that all eyes are almost always on the quarterbacks. But aside from Russell Wilson and Justin Fields (and maybe even regardless of if you include those two high-profile passers), Queen was the biggest-name acquisition over the offseason. Given the most money ($41 million) to a free agent signed away from another team in Steelers history, Queen has the pedigree of a first-round pick, the background of a productive college linebacker, the NFL resume of a 2023 second-team AP All Pro recognition and the yet-toreached ceiling associated with a player at age 24.

Queen is the latest in a long line of attempts the Steelers have made at replacing Ryan Shazier since Shazier’s 2017 career-ending neck injury. He represents the best chance yet at (finally) getting it right.

2. NAJEE HARRIS

Harris hasn’t spoken to media since January, so when he does make himself available to questions it will be interesting to hear his thoughts after an offseason in which the market for running backs rebounded in the form of bigger contracts for free agents … but that not translating into anything for Harris because the Steelers declined his $6.7 million fifth-year option for 2025. Is he perturbed at the organization for that decision? Motivated to prove them wrong and earn an even bigger payday next spring now that this is a “contract year?” Pleased that the likes of Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley and Tony Pollard were rewarded with lucrative deals?

Aside from contract issues … is Harris content sharing the Steelers’ ball-carrying load with Jaylen Warren? Does Harris see himself with the Steelers over the longer term? Is he still embracing a role as a leader of the offense? What does he think of the Steelers bringing in Wilson and Fields?

Oh, and on the field, how is Harris’ body holding up now that he’s 26 and has the most touches in the league since he was drafted in 2021?

3. BRODERICK JONES

Last year’s first-round pick didn’t enter the regular starting lineup until halfway through the season — and he did it at a spot few projected him at (right tackle).

There’s not much coach Mike Tomlin likes to cite more than the second- year leap he expects from players in the season after being a rookie. A high-profile sophomore, Jones’ development is worth tracking. So is where he lines up. Will he remain nailed down on the right side of the line every time the first team lines up? Or will coaches give him work at left tackle in a nod to his likely future home? And, of course, will Jones continue to progress into the look of a dominant NFL tackle many believed he would be when he was drafted 14th overall 15 months ago?

4. PAYTON WILSON

During any training camp, rookies typically draw plenty of practice reps from the coaches and lots of attention from observers. With good reason. After all, history has shown that no matter the level of preparation and research and resources put into the draft, truly no one can say for sure how well a prospect will perform in the NFL until he is working against NFL players.

This year’s Steelers draft class, in particular, has no shortage of intriguing players. Arguably, none is more interesting than Payton Wilson, taken late in Round 3. After all, he was feted with honors proclaiming him 2023’s best college linebacker (Butkus Award) and overall defensive player (Bednarik Award) after an extraordinarily productive season for NC State. And Wilson’s combine might have even been better: His 4.43-second 40-yard dash time was faster than Queen ever ran and the fastest of any 2024 prospect that was not a wide receiver, running back or defensive back.

An injury is an issue, though. Wilson might make for a fascinating watch during practices at Saint Vincent.

5. “WR PLAYER”

That’s a nod to the old video games from decades prior that lacked the rights to use the names of players and would instead use either generic names or something akin to “RB 32” or “WR 89.”

It’s used here to represent the possibility — and it’s only a possibility — that the Steelers yet make an acquisition of a proven, quality NFL wide receiver. Brandon Aiyuk and Davante Adams are the biggest names — two of the best at their position in the league — who maybe could be had in a trade. Of course, the Steelers would have to submit a bounty to the San Francisco 49ers or Las Vegas Raiders, respectively, to make either happen. And then they would have to pay significantly more in salary to either than they have to any wide receiver in team history in order placate and/or keep either Aiyuk or Adams. So it’s by far no shoo-in the Steelers will end up with either, or with any other starting-caliber veteran receiver, for that matter.

But there’s certainly a chance they will. If they don’t, the competition for a role in the offense for a wide receiver beyond George Pickens largely involves a mishmash of unprovens and castaways from other teams.