The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2025 offseason practices concluded in the course of June and subsequent up is the group’s annual coaching camp, which is able to get underway within the latter a part of July at Saint Vincent Faculty in Latrobe. Forward of that, we’ll preview the group’s offseason roster three gamers at a time as a part of a multi-post sequence. This Steelers roster preview, which incorporates an outlook for each participant, might be carried out alphabetically by final identify to make it straightforward to observe. This sequence figures to exceed 90 gamers this yr because the group can carry 91 gamers throughout the offseason as a result of allowance of 1 worldwide participant designation.
The subsequent three gamers we’ll preview forward of Steelers 2025 coaching camp are Keeanu Benton, Beanie Bishop Jr., and Yahya Black.
DT Keeanu Benton: Chosen by the Steelers within the second spherical of the 2023 NFL Draft, Benson registered 36 complete tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, six passes defensed, eight quarterback hits, and one fumble restoration in 2024, his second NFL season. The Wisconsin product began 14 regular-season video games in 2024 and performed in all 17 contests. He additionally began the group’s lone playoff recreation in 2024 on his method to registering 4 complete tackles.
Benton logged 641 defensive snaps in 2024 and 59 on particular groups. Within the Steelers’ base protection, Benton was primarily used as a nostril deal with. In sub-packages, he was primarily used as certainly one of two defensive tackles.
Outlook: Benton must take yet one more step ahead in 2025. The largest knock on Benson has been his incapability to complete performs within the backfield, and most notably sacks. He has simply two profession sacks however in all probability may have a minimum of eight extra. He additionally must grow to be extra constant as a run defender in his third NFL season.
Benton has confirmed to be a strong participant on the defensive position, particularly early in video games. His club-and-swim is probably his greatest transfer. If he can grow to be a greater bull rusher that ought to spherical out his recreation with regards to getting after opposing quarterbacks.
Benton has the power to register greater than 5 sacks and double-digit tackles for loss in a season. These must be two statistical targets for him coming into his third NFL season. A strong 2025 season may lead to Benton signing a really profitable contract extension subsequent offseason as he’ll be coming into the ultimate yr of his rookie deal. It’s time for Benton to begin enjoying and producing like a second-round choice.
CB Beanie Bishop Jr.: The Steelers signed Bishop final offseason as an undrafted free agent out of West Virginia. He made the Steelers’ 53-man roster as a rookie and performed in all 17 regular-season video games in addition to the group’s lone playoff contest. Credited with six regular-season begins in 2024, Bishop registered 45 complete tackles, two tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, seven passes defensed, half a sack, and one fumble restoration. Two of Bishop’s 4 interceptions got here towards the New York Jets and QB Aaron Rodgers.
Bishop logged 548 defensive snaps throughout the 2024 common season and 175 extra on particular groups. Most of his defensive enjoying time got here as a slot cornerback as a part of the unit’s nickel personnel grouping. Bishop noticed enjoying time on protection proper out of the chute as a rookie and in solely three video games did he fail to log a minimum of 22 snaps.
Professional Soccer Focus charged Bishop with simply three missed tackles in 2024 and 40 receptions allowed for 436 yards and three touchdowns on 59 regular-season targets.
Outlook: Bishop’s first job this summer season might be to outright win the beginning nickel cornerback job. He’ll doubtless have to beat out Brandin Echols for that job in order that might be an fascinating battle to look at as soon as coaching camp will get underway.
After logging proper at 50 p.c of the Steelers’ complete defensive snaps in 20214, Bishop may exceed that in his second NFL season, particularly if he wins the beginning nickel job. He must be much more comfy within the protection in 2025 and thus may barely enhance on his 2024 rookie stat line if he stays wholesome.
Whereas Bishop is definitely not a core particular groups participant, it must be affordable to anticipate him to see some motion as soon as once more in that section of the sport and particularly on the kickoff protection group.
DT Yahya Black – The Steelers chosen Black within the fifth spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Iowa. In 5 school seasons, Black registered 116 complete tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three compelled fumbles and 10 passes defended.
Black was an honorable point out All-Large Ten choice as each a junior and senior, and he began the ultimate 27 video games of his Iowa profession. As a senior, he completed with 34 complete tackles, together with seven tackles for a loss, with one sack, two cross breakups, two quarterback pressures and one blocked subject objective.
Outlook: As a mid-round choice, Black figures to make the 53-man roster later this summer season as a backup defensive lineman. From there it is going to be fascinating to see if he is ready to keep off the inactive checklist at the beginning of the season. Whereas Black may see time in coaching camp this summer season up and down the defensive position, his final dwelling is perhaps as a base nostril deal with towards the run, a minimum of to begin his NFL profession. Aim-line snaps might be within the playing cards for him as effectively in 2025.
Black’s enjoying time in 2025 isn’t more likely to be all that heavy. In actual fact, there’s in all probability a good probability he performs lower than a 3rd of the Steelers’ defensive snaps. All through his rookie season, it’s vital for Black to point out that he generally is a reliable run defender whereas additionally exhibiting some progress as a cross rusher. That was the weakest a part of his total recreation throughout his school profession.
