Pittsburgh

Steelers

This deal comes just as the Steelers are gearing up to begin training camp. Allar was selected with the No. 76 pick in this year’s draft and, if all goes to plan for the Steelers in their first year under Mike McCarthy, is expected to redshirt his rookie season. The Penn State product who threw for 7,402-61-13 in his career will spend plenty of time developing behind the scenes with his sights set on possibly earning the QB1 job for the Steelers next season. Allar has reportedly already undergone some serious overhauling, as it was reported in May that the team was “uninstalling everything” he learned about the position at Penn State. It sounds like Allar has a ways to go before being NFL ready, but it will be interesting to hear how he progresses throughout training camp and he’ll be a player to watch when the preseason starts up.

Oh, is that all? Howard and Mason Rudolph appear to be in a roster battle for one spot with third-round pick Drew Allar the likely QB3 behind Aaron Rodgers. DeFabo seems to be saying that Howard has an upper hand in this competition by virtue of not needing to directly compete with what Rudolph is doing in training camp or in preseason action. It’s not exactly great news for Howard that the question needs to be asked in the first place.

Wallace did not play in the league last season, last suiting up for the Broncos in 2024. The 2018 UDFA appeared in 96 games during his career while making 72 starts, with his most notable seasons coming with the Bills. The 31-year-old corner totaled 56 pass breakups and 12 interceptions in his career.

Buried on the depth chart after a key special teams error last year, Johnson now has Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle ahead of him for carries. We’d still bet Johnson makes the roster — he was a third-round pick just last year — but the early run out has been wildly disappointing.

While Jones did “a bit more” at OTAs and was at least present, he himself has said he doesn’t have a timeline to return, and the Steelers declined his fifth-year option and drafted Max Iheanachor in the first round while moving Troy Fautanu to left tackle. It doesn’t sound like there’s any guarantee that Jones suits up this season from either his words or the Steelers’ actions.

Porter, 25, is eligible for an extension this offseason, with one year remaining on his rookie contract. Roughly one month ago, a report indicated that Porter would make “around $22 million to $27 million per year” on a new deal. If Porter is hoping to significantly surpass those numbers, a delay in negotiations makes sense. The Steelers’ $3.192 million in salary cap space ranks dead last this season. Unfortunately, they only have $6.6 million in salary cap space next season. Porter made the 2023 PFWA All-Rookie Team and has racked up 21 pass breakups over the past three seasons.

Kaboly and his co-host, Chris Mack, were wondering aloud why the Steelers have not yet signed CB Joey Porter to an extension this offseason when the conversation shifted to Benton. Both Kaboly and Mack were seemingly of the opinion that signing Benton, 24, to an extension does not appear to be a priority for the front office. Since joining the Steelers as a 2023 second-round pick, Benton ranks fifth on the team in sacks (nine) and quarterback pressures (75), 10th in solo tackles (82) and ties for sixth in TFLs (13). He is a capable defender, who should stick around in the league, but he may not earn a lucrative extension from team that drafted.

The Steelers notably signed TE Darnell Washington to a four-year, $42 million contract extension this offseason, but DeFabo believes Freiermuth is still the team’s TE1. He expects Washington to continue operating as a receiving threat, “especially in the red zone,” but he is apparently stuck in the TE2 role. Washington’s profile is certainly more intriguing, but he may be best viewed as a boom-bust backup option in best ball for now.

DeFabo wonders whether Steelers coach Mike McCarthy will be “willing to open up the playbook for Heidenreich and how does the rookie fare in pass protection?” If McCarthy is willing to design plays for Heidenreich, and the youngster can be trusted to keep QB Aaron Rodgers safe from oncoming pass rushers, it is possible he earns a spot on the game-day roster. If not, he may need to spend 2026 refining his skill set while RB Jaylen Warren works on becoming Rodgers’ “new check-down favorite.” That said, DeFabo adds that “an injury or a surprising training camp performance could change things positively for Heidenreich. Keep an eye on him, but temper expectations.

The rookie second-rounder joins an offense that includes established veterans on the outside in D.K. Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr., so a slot role may be his best path to early playing time. DeFabo is already on record as saying that he believes Bernard “has a good shot” at early playing time this season, a point he reiterated in his latest article. It’s hard to imagine Bernard having much fantasy upside this season given the veteran presence in the receiver room, but for those holding Bernard in dynasty leagues, it sounds like the rookie has gotten off to a good start ahead of his first NFL training camp, which is set to kick off next month.