Connor Heyward is among the many Steelers’ most weak veterans to overlook the 53-man roster this season as a result of personnel turnover. Together with some 2024 free-agent signings, veteran gamers lose jobs to the incoming class yearly. The Steelers may see some fairly important roster turnover in 2025, although, and actually, they’ve already began.
After the efforts of final season, the Steelers can be inspecting their roster carefully in August. Frankly, if there’s a tie between a returning veteran and a brand new participant, the brand new one could properly win. Particularly in sure areas of the roster, just like the line of defense, they wish to attempt one thing completely different.
Connor Heyward
Because the Steelers proceed to fine-tune their skill-position blocking, Connor Heyward may discover himself weak. Whereas he continued to load up on particular groups snaps, topping 300 final season, there’s a restrict. If, for instance, they wish to make use of a real fullback this yr, what does that imply for him?
The Steelers did add a fullback in rookie school free agent DH Thomas-Jones. At 6-2 and 256 kilos, he definitely has the construct for it. However what he really want is particular groups potential—the best option to earn a hat. That’s why Connor Heyward remains to be right here, or no less than primarily why.
It’s truthful to query how properly Heyward suits into Arthur Smith’s scheme for the Steelers. He noticed his enjoying time minimize practically in half final yr, although there have been extenuating circumstances. He performed extra in 2023 partially as a result of Pat Freiermuth coping with an damage, for instance. However the Steelers additionally repeatedly selected to play MyCole Pruitt over him.
Pruitt is now not right here, however they added Donald Parham Jr. as a veteran and rookie JJ Galbreath. Any mixture of those gamers named within the article may bump Connor Heyward off the Steelers’ roster. However it will be about particular groups efficiency, at the start.
Heyward did catch a landing cross final yr, however amongst simply six catches all season. He solely noticed eight targets after claiming 34 the earlier season. The Steelers up to now have been looking for methods to make use of him, however he doesn’t notably excel at something.
One will get the sense that they would like to have a extra appropriate devoted lead blocker. The Steelers attempt to use Heyward, and generally others, lined up at fullback. As usually as not, nonetheless, the endeavor reminds us that they don’t seem to be really fullbacks.
The Steelers have Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, who’ve loads of snaps they will take in at tight finish. And Arthur Smith can at all times use an additional lineman as a blocker, because the Steelers have completed often up to now, in the event that they really feel they will half with Connor Heyward.
