The Pittsburgh Steelers wrapped up their stay in Latrobe on Tuesday with a final padded practice. The team has a scheduled combined practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before their contest this weekend at Acrisure Stadium. Before all of the excitement this weekend will bring, let’s take a look back and recognize some players who separated themselves and stood out during the two and a half week stint at Saint Vincent College.
Awards and honors
In an offseason for the Steelers where there was no shortage of roster turnover, we got to see plenty of new faces take the field as members of the team for the first time. Here are the prestigious awards we will be handing out:
Offensive player of camp
Defensive player of camp
Offensive rookie of camp
Defensive rookie of camp
Standout offseason addition
Most improved player
UDFA of camp
Best camp moment
Offensive player of camp
Joey: Aaron Rodgers — While the early camp practices were dominated by the defense, the offense seemingly caught its stride after the first week. Rodgers is the catalyst for the Steelers’ season. The team will live and die with his play, and his presence has brought a new identity to this offense.
Say what you want about Rodgers, but he is the best quarterback talent the Steelers have had in half a decade. Ever since his signing in June, Rodgers has fully embraced being a Steeler. We should all be encouraged by the direction of the offense entering the 2025 season, and Rodgers’ strong showing in the second half of last season should be closer to what we see this season.
Ryan: Troy Fautanu — The Steelers’ offensive line has rightly taken its fair share of criticism following the 2024 season. The team’s handling of 2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones’ development and his inconsistent performance has been a sore point among the fan base. As such, it was crucial for Fautanu, the Steelers’ 2024 first-round pick, to not only make it to camp healthy, but to show he can be counted on. Reports on Fautanu out of Latrobe have been glowing, and after Saturday’s performance against the Jaguars, he gets my nod for this honor.
Defensive player of camp
Joey: Jalen Ramsey — Ramsey dealt with an injury that kept him out for several practices, but when he was on the field, it was easy to see why the Steelers traded for him. Ramsey anchored what figures to be a very strong corner room when he did practice. He often shadowed DK Metcalf, and we can expect Ramsey to play the role of shadow corner this season. Communication issues will be a thing of the past this season. Even when Ramsey was sidelined, he was always involved and talking with Joey Porter Jr. and the rest of the corners on the sidelines. He brings a veteran presence and some much needed communication to a much-improved Steelers secondary.
Ryan: Jalen Ramsey — It’s pretty hard to give this award to anyone but Ramsey. The veteran corner’s battles against DK Metcalf, another prized offseason addition, have been the highlight of camp. Metcalf and Ramsey, former NFC West rivals, have a long history of legendary matchups, and that was renewed in all its glory this summer. Ramsey has been the talk of camp, and while he always brings a high level of confidence and swagger anywhere he goes, it seems to have been rubbing off on the entire defense.
Offensive rookie of camp
Joey: Kaleb Johnson — The Steelers only drafted two offensive players in the 2025 NFL Draft, but both quickly became fan favorites in Latrobe. Johnson figures to be in a committee with Jaylen Warren this upcoming season, but he possesses all the traits to be the future of this backfield. Johnson showed major improvements in pass protection throughout camp. I was also intrigued by just how much Johnson was used out of the backfield as a pass catcher. Overall, Johnson is going to be an exciting player to watch develop, and the Steelers are already seeing the early returns of molding him into a true all-around back.
Ryan: Will Howard — It’s unfortunate that an injury to his throwing hand brought an abrupt end to the Ohio State quarterback’s rookie camp. While Johnson is undoubtedly an exciting prospect, Joey did a fine job of giving the young running back his flowers. Instead, I’ll praise Howard, who had been putting together a strong camp prior to the injury.
Defensive rookie of camp
Joey: Derrick Harmon — The first-round pick has been nothing short of unstoppable throughout camp. Harmon stepped into a defense that desperately needed defensive line depth, and throughout the summer, he has done nothing but impress. His quick get off was what made him such a desirable prospect, and it will help the Steelers’ run defense, which lacked throughout the back half of last season. Harmon was listed as a starter in the Steelers’ initial depth chart. You can say what you want about initial depth charts not mattering, but Harmon immediately being named a starter shows the confidence the team has in their first-round pick.
Ryan: Yahya Black — Harmon makes a ton of sense here. The early reviews have been glowing as the former Oregon Duck has essentially already secured a starting job. But I’ll give love to Black, who was the highest graded pass rusher in the Steelers’ preseason opener, and who seems likely to be the first defensive lineman off the bench in the Steelers rotation.
Standout offseason addition
Joey: Juan Thornhill — There are lots of choices that deserve their flowers here. I’ll go with the guy who has surprised me the most and had one of the best total bodies of work throughout camp on the entire team. I was very skeptical of Thornhill and his ability to step into Minkah Fitzpatrick’s role. Thornhill has stood out in this camp. He is someone who, like Fitzpatrick, seems to have a nose for the ball. In the camp practices I attended, he recorded an interception during team periods in all of them. If this camp is any indication, Khan has found himself a steal to anchor this new-look secondary.
Ryan: The whole damn secondary — The Steelers completely overhauled the defensive backfield, and if the returns in camp are sustainable, we could be in for a fun season. Ramsey, Thornhill, Darius Slay, and Brandin Echols have all had positive buzz this summer, and their collective play has Mike Tomlin and the coaching staff talking about this defense achieving “historic things.”
Most improved player
Joey: Roman Wilson — I did not expect to be beating the Roman Wilson drum as much as I have been the past week. His connection with Aaron Rodgers is blossoming by the day, and he has earned the respect of his offensive coordinator, who made it a point to get him the ball early in the preseason game against Jacksonville. When Calvin Austin III went down with his injury, Wilson continually made plays running with the first team offense in practice. Wilson has all the tools to be the second-best receiver on the team this season, and the opportunity seems inevitable.
Ryan: Payton Wilson — I’ll go with the Steelers’ other sophomore Wilson. Payton Wilson had a strong rookie season, and his interception of Lamar Jackson remains one of the sickest plays I’ve ever seen. But word from Latrobe this summer is that Wilson has taken great strides in defending the run, something that was a weak spot for him just a season ago. Wilson’s starting to step up in the defense, to the point he was given the green dot for some of Saturday’s game against Jacksonville.
UDFA of camp
Joey: Ke’Shawn Williams — In what is a wide open receiver room, the five foot ten inch tall receiver has shone in camp. Williams also made what might have been the play of the game against Jacksonville, bringing in a highly contested throw for a touchdown. I know Roc Taylor has become a fan-favorite, but Williams has made too many impact plays to not get this award from me.
Ryan: Sebastian Castro — I’ll keep this one short and sweet. While the tweet below is more than a little hyperbolic, I’m increasingly encouraged by the development of the UDFA safety.
Best camp moment
Joey: Aaron Rodgers and his beef with his new helmet.
Rodgers is the oldest active player at 41 years old. He certainly isn’t afraid to let people know how he feels about things. However, his being upset over not being able to wear the helmet he has been wearing his entire career takes the cake for me. I have to agree with him, I do think some of these new helmets do look like space ships.