Next season is a pivotal one for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team needs to rally around the adversity, embrace the notion of putting the team first and win the draft to help get back to the playoffs. On paper, there aren’t a lot of positional battles on the current roster, but there are several spots where the right rookie could come in and take a spot.
Here are four Steelers who could lose their spots to rookies this season.
S Sean Davis
Davis is a tough guy to evaluate. When he is playing well, he can be a solid free safety. But when he’s off his game or playing without discipline, he can do more harm than good. The 2019 safety class is very good and there are several Day 1 starters, including Nasir Adderley and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson.
LB Mark Barron
There are two caveats to this one. First, we are assuming new linebacker Mark Barron wins the starting inside linebacker spot next to Vince Williams. It also assumes the Steelers are able to land one of the top two inside linebacker prospects in the draft. Beyond Devin Bush and Devin White, there is very little to get excited about with this group. But if the Steelers get one of those guys, they are the likely starter no matter who they replace.
EDGE Bud Dupree
Last season, former first-round pick Artie Burns got benched in favor of other players. This season, Bud Dupree could be the latest former top pick to lose his job. Again, there are a limited number of guys in this draft who are starter ready as edge rushers, but if Pittsburgh lands a player like Montez Sweat or Brian Burns, Dupree could see his reps drop in a hurry.
WR James Washington
With Antonio Brown off to Oakland, James Washington is the next logical choice to start opposite JuJu Smith-Schuster. But we shouldn’t act like Washington has the spot locked up if Pittsburgh drafts one of the top rookies in this draft class. The same could be said for Donte Moncrief. Neither guy should consider their spots safe if Pittsburgh drafts a guy like A.J. Brown or Hakeem Butler.
