What to expect at Pittsburgh Steelers' rookie minicamp

The Pittsburgh Steelers' rookie class, which includes Kenny Pickett, will get their first taste of the NFL during the team's minicamp, held from May 13 to 15. This will be a chance for the players to get used to a new environment before they participate in the mandatory minicamp, held from June 7-9.

The rookies are expected to showcase their strength during the team's minicamp. Aside from Pickett, they will also have to compete with Mason Rudolph and Mitchell Trubisky for the starting quarterback position. Calvin Austin III and George Pickens will also be tasked with filling the voids created by the departures of James Washington and JuJu Smith-Schuster.

High-potential offense rookies

After the draft, Mike Tomlin, the Steelers' head coach, and Kevin Colbert, the team's outgoing general manager, praised Pickett's potential as a starting quarterback. Aside from his physical skills, the coach also maintained that Pickett had the necessary intangibles to succeed in the league.

The coaches will also be monitoring Pickett's command of the huddle as well as his overall performance during the team's summer practices. Aside from improving his mechanics, the former Michigan State quarterback will also need to develop his accuracy and quick release, much like what Tom Brady did to become a successful NFL quarterback.

One of the reasons the Steelers selected George Pickens was his potential as a receiver. Before suffering a serious knee injury during his junior season at Georgia, he caught 85 passes and 14 scores in his first two seasons. He was able to help the team win the national title after returning to play his final season. During the College Football Championship game, one of his greatest feats was a 52-yard pass.

Although it is too early to tell how effective Pickens will be as a receiver for the Steelers, developing a strong rapport with Pickett could help him achieve more targets. If he can win the starting job, this will be very beneficial.

Some people have a lot of opinions about the Steelers' second-round pick, Calvin Austin III. Although he is listed at 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds, he was still able to develop his skills as a receiver and returner during his college career at the University of Memphis. Like Archer, Austin could capitalize on his speed during his college career.

One of the things that coach Mike Tomlin talked about was Austin's versatility. Depending on the Steelers' offensive scheme, he could play wide receiver or in the slot. According to the coach, Austin had physical characteristics unlike those of other players of his size. Aside from his physical characteristics, his potential could also help ease his lack of size concerns.

New defensive line

Although the team's defense took a back seat during the draft, it should not be forgotten that the players the Steelers selected will have a significant role in the upcoming season. For instance, DeMarvin Leal, who was selected in the fourth round, had 8.5 sacks during his college career at Texas A&M. Mark Robinson, who was also selected in the third round, had 91 tackles and three sacks during his time at Mississippi.

Like the other Pittsburgh rookie class members, Leal is expected to contribute immediately to the team's defensive line. His ability to play multiple positions could help Steelers linemen improve their effectiveness.