Undrafted Lineman Speaks Out On Steelers Opportunity

The Pittsburgh Steelers are still finding their direction as the calendar trickles into the summer months of the offseason. Free agency and the draft have come and gone, leaving the team with some lingering questions as the OTAs begin. 

Most glaringly at quarterback, the Steelers have yet to get a final answer from Aaron Rodgers, who would presumably step in as QB1 if he signs with the team. That drama recently took a backseat to a stunning trade of George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. 

At the same time, the franchise continues on, looking to fill in more areas with some talent. And that makes way for some interesting stories of unlikely players trying to prove themselves to earn a spot on the team. 

Undrafted signee Gareth Warren hopes to be the next success story, signing with the Steelers after rookie minicamp. He told his story during an interview with "Steelers Afternoon Drive."

“My agent called me up after the draft, and usually, you get signed in that time, but he told me some teams were interested in me, and so, I got the invite from the Steelers.

“And I wanted to take it and do my best. I went into the week and was like, ‘Just play your game, learn fast, and it’s going to mentally and physically exhaust, but this what you worked for and dreamed for.’"

Warren, a product of Lindenwood, has versatility on his side, having played both tackle and guard in his career. This means the Steelers could move him around to all but one spot on the line. 

During the grind of the regular season, the brutes in the trenches take a beating, and sometimes that calls for some depth across the formation. Warren's extended look means he still has to prove himself to be a pro, though his tools give him a leg up. 

“They told me they see a lot of potential in me,” Warren said. “They wanted me to continue to develop into my game and pick off of the veterans. I think it’s great to be a player in this organization. I was very blessed to hear that and very thankful, so I took it.”

Warren has a long way to go before picking off anyone ahead of him on the depth chart, but his story is one to monitor as the team starts to mesh together in the coming months.