Steelers' Rookie Camp Tryout Came To Pittsburgh On Blind Faith To Make The Team

The Pittsburgh Steelers rookie camp got underway on May 10th with plenty of hopeful players looking to make an impact and earn a chance at a roster spot. While many are young, first-timers, cornerback Anthony Averett is taking a different path. The six-year NFL veteran wants that chance to play for the Steelers, but with a crowded group at the position, Averett may have his work cut out for him.

Averett was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft and did his best to carve out a role, but his last year in Baltimore was 2022. After unsuccessful stints with both the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions, Averett finds himself back at the drawing board. With Pittsburgh having a slew of defensive backs trying to make the roster, Averett was asked by Chris Adamski of the Tribune-Review if he looked into the cornerback situation before coming to try out for the Steelers.

"Not really, I kind of just go. Yeah, I just go. I mean, hey, rookie -- didn't really expect to be here my seventh year in, hey, you know, life takes you different, you know, different places."

It isn't just that Averett is a veteran at a rookie camp that presents a challenge; it is the fact that the Steelers have more than a few cornerbacks ready to prove what they can do. Standout UDFA Beanie Bishop Jr. is poised to make a run at a roster spot, with Cedric Anderson and Marquis Williams also trying out at Pittsburgh's rookie camp.

There is a need for slot cornerback on the Steelers roster, and that is probably why there is the scent of blood in the water for Averett and the other players hoping to earn an NFL spot. Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson are anticipated to begin at the starting spots, but it will take heated competition to determine who else will round out the position group. While Averett may not expect to contend with Porter and Jackson, he has the confidence that is needed at this point in the offseason.

Patrick Peterson, at least at the moment, isn't returning to the Steelers to provide the veteran presence he was supposed to during the 2023 season. Pittsburgh would certainly be eager to fill a position spot with a veteran player to fill that role, and Averett could be just the guy for that. However, it is a seriously uphill climb for Averett to go from rookie camp tryout to an NFL roster.

Darius Rush is also ready to play in the Black and Gold, and Cory Trice Jr. is champing at the bit to return from a dreadful knee injury at the start of the 2023 training camp. There are plenty of names and only a few spots, something Averett knows very well from his six years in the league. All it takes is a moment and a chance, and Averett is positioning himself to take advantage when those come around.

Steelers' Secondary Depth Will Be Key

When the 2023 season began, Peterson was in a starting role, and Porter Jr. was having to earn his way onto the field. With the 2024 rookie camp underway, Porter Jr. has a rookie campaign behind him that earned him a Defensive Rookie of the Year nomination. Jackson was brought in thanks to the trade that sent Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, presenting a decent duo to begin the 2024 season. However, injuries are simply a reality in the NFL, which means at some point, Pittsburgh will look to their depth players to make a difference.

Averett may be at the start of his journey to make the Steelers roster, but he understands the importance of team depth and it is why he wants to put in the work now. It is humbling for a former fourth-round pick to find himself earning a spot in a rookie camp, but it is all for a purpose. The Steelers were decimated at the linebacker position with a ton of injuries striking at the worst times, some ending the players' season. If something similar happens in 2024 at cornerback, the Steelers will be happy they had players like Averett to evaluate for the depth roles.