Participant: CB Donte Kent
Inventory Worth: Up
Reasoning: A rookie seventh-round choose, Donte Kent is off to a great begin in his uphill battle for a roster spot. It helps that the younger cornerback recorded an interception within the workforce’s final apply. Certainly, he has discovered his means across the ball to date, however he additionally has to contribute extra. Maybe his best path to a roster spot is to earn a return job on particular groups, which has issues.
The Steelers wouldn’t have drafted CB Donte Kent in the event that they didn’t assume he had an opportunity to make the roster. Certainly, underneath GM Omar Khan, it appears they’ve positioned better emphasis on factoring in roster odds in late rounds. So far, they’ve but to launch a draft choose as a result of efficiency over two years.
Granted, their two sixth-round picks final yr, Logan Lee and Ryan Watts, each wound up on IR. Watts is now retired as a result of his damage, however Lee’s was by no means critical. Like Kent, Lee has an uphill battle to make the roster as effectively.
And each younger gamers are dealing with the identical drawback at their positions: important depth. In entrance of Donte Kent are Joey Porter Jr., Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, Brandin Echols, Beanie Bishop Jr., Cory Trice Jr. and James Pierre. That’s already eight cornerbacks, in case you weren’t counting.
That’s why, though he’s made some performs, together with an interception, Kent’s greatest shot is on particular groups. Danny Smith stated Kent was close to the very prime of his record of gamers he preferred from this yr’s class. The Steelers drafted him due to his potential return skill and different particular groups contributions. However he additionally has a number of expertise in protection on the faculty degree, which certainly didn’t slip their discover.
In fact, we nonetheless haven’t even hit padded practices. Many gamers will rise and fade over the course of coaching camp and the preseason. Proper now, it’s simple to place the highlight on Donte Kent, an underdog and a rookie. A month from now, his story might be fully totally different.
With coaching camp underway and the Steelers exploring their new roster, it’s as soon as once more time to “take inventory.” It took some time, however we lastly noticed a few of that change the workforce talked about after the season ended. Definitely, the transfer to commerce for WR DK Metcalf qualifies as a change, to not point out the accompanying contract. Oh, and so they additionally traded some man named George Pickens, which individuals discovered important.
As we communicate, we’re within the means of studying what this Steelers workforce goes to seem like. The mud is settled on each free company and the 2025 NFL Draft, and now we’re in camp. What different strikes would possibly the workforce make, maybe sudden acquisitions or departures? They’ve actually made a flurry of strikes, although some query whether or not they make a lot distinction. It is a Steelers workforce ravenous for postseason success, however how determined are they for a playoff win in 2025?
