The Pittsburgh Steelers are back at training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA, and as the players get back to practice it is time to take a look at which player might be seeing their stock rise, or fall, as the team prepares for the official start of the 2023 season.

Welcome to the first Steelers Stock Report of 2023!

Just like the actual stock market, things can fluctuate, so let’s take a look at whose stock is rising, and falling, after an eventful, and often times crazy, offseason.

Stock Up: Kenny Pickett

The hype train for Pickett has been incredible this offseason. When you consider how this has changed since before the 2022 NFL Draft when he was being criticized for his hand-size and age in what was considered a ridiculously weak quarterback class. While Pickett’s stock is up, he still has to go out and perform, but I haven’t seen any player’s stock as high as Pickett throughout the offseason.

Stock Down: Kevin Dotson

When the Steelers signed Nate Herbig via free agency, they called Dotson and told him don’t worry about it. When they signed Isaac Seumalo, he didn’t hear a word. In other words, this guy is here to take your job. At this point, Dotson has to be hoping he can beat out Nate Herbig for the top interior offensive line depth position. Talk about stock down…

Stock Up: Larry Ogunjobi

The Steelers liked enough of Larry O that they gave him a 3-year contract this past offseason. Mike Tomlin said Ogunjobi is healthy, and the fans haven’t seen the best of the defensive lineman. While fans might not have seen what a healthy Larry O looks like, it’s safe to say the Steelers have a lot of hope and faith in his abilities heading into 2023.

Stock Down: The ILB position

I can’t remember a time when the Steelers have completely revamped a position group in one offseason, but that’s exactly what they did to the ILB room. Gone are Devin Bush, Myles Jack and Robert Spillane. In are Cole Holcomb, Elandon Roberts and maybe Tanner Muse/Keanu Neal. The only player to be retained is second year linebacker Mark Robinson. This group could turn out to be a strength, but right now fans are skeptical. We’ve been burned too many times before with free agent linebackers.

Stock Up: The Tight End room

Will the Steelers keep four tight ends on the 53-man roster? It’s a good problem to have, and what might be the most pivotal aspect of the tight ends they have on the roster is how no two are alike. Pat Freiermuth is the move tight end who should be able to exploit matchups in every way. Connor Heyward is more of an H-Back, with Darnell Washington and Zach Gentry being those in-line tight ends who can move bodies in the run game. The Steelers are loaded with options at tight end, and fans should be excited to see what the offense can do with these weapons.

Stock Down: Return Specialists

Who will return punts and kickoffs in 2023? Does it even matter? Some will argue a return specialist doesn’t have the value it once did, and they shouldn’t take up a roster spot. To that, you can also say the last time the Steelers had a kick returned for a touchdown was in 2019 in Arizona when Diontae Johnson took a punt to the house. Whoever wins the job as the team’s primary returner, whoever that may be, will likely earn himself a spot on the 53-man roster.

Stock Up: Najee Harris / running game

No one should be happier with the changes this past offseason than Najee Harris. The improvements along the offensive line, the confidence in Pickett at quarterback and a viable No. 2 to take some of the load off his shoulders. In other words, Harris could be in a set up to succeed in 2023, something he hasn’t been able to say since he was drafted in the 1st Round in 2021.

What do you think? Did I miss anyone? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, and be sure to stay tuned to Steel Curtain Network and Fans First Sports Network for everything you could want/need!