3 Steelers in danger of losing their starting jobs after minicamp

This time of year, NFL teams are not forced to release their depth charts. However, we can make assumptions about which players are in pole position for starting jobs based on factors like their status from the previous position and where they are lining up in the pecking order in drills.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have wrapped up OTAs and will soon begin mandatory minicamp. This minicamp stretches from Tuesday, June 11, and runs through Thursday, June 13. Though this only equates to three days of practice sessions, we have already seen some notable takeaways from Steelers OTAs, and more could be on the horizon.

Pittsburgh’s coaching staff is going to want a clear picture of their roster long before training camp. Here are three Steelers veterans who could lose their starting jobs after mandatory minicamp.

Elandon Roberts was everything the Steelers hoped they were getting when they signed him during the 2023 offseason. The veteran linebacker certainly wasn’t lacking in the physicality department. But despite being credited with starting 15 games for Pittsburgh last season, Roberts could lose his starting job after minicamp.

We know for certain that one starting linebacker job belongs to Patrick Queen — a 2023 Pro Bowler who was Pittsburgh’s top free agent signing. Roberts wasn’t a full-time player early in the 2023 season when Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander were healthy.

In steps Payton Wilson. While Wilson was the 98th overall pick, many believed he was the best linebacker in the country last season. If the former NC State product continues to flash, it’s going to be hard to keep him off the field. His time could come sooner rather than later, as he’s already 24 years old well ahead of Steelers training camp.

Because there’s no official team depth chart, we can’t guarantee Van Jefferson would have been a starter to begin his Steelers tenure, but it’s pretty safe to assume that’s where he began. Jefferson was the most seasoned veteran of the group and he already has a history with Arthur Smith.

Jefferson could be demoted in the wide receiver pecking order by the time mandatory minicamp wraps up. Roman Wilson turned heads during Steelers OTAs, and he looked like the best option to pair with George Pickens at wide receiver. We don’t want to read too much into football in shorts, but don’t be shocked if Wilson (or maybe even Calvin Austin III) poaches a starting WR job from Jefferson.

Montravius Adams was the Steelers’ starting nose tackle for most of the 2023 season (by default if nothing else). Even late in the season, his snap count rivaled what we saw from rookie DT Keeanu Benton.

Now we can leave no doubt that Adams will be kicked to the bench. Benton was electric during Steelers OTAs, and by the time he wraps up his second mandatory minicamp, he will leave Adams in the dust as an afterthought. If we didn’t have enough evidence before, we certainly will when minicamp wraps up.