Roster Recap: Lots of changes

May 20, 2022 at 09:00 AM

Teresa Varley

Steelers.com

It's not a surprise, but since the 2021 season ended the Steelers roster has undergone numerous changes.

The team has signed veteran free agents, added rookie draft picks, and signed undrafted rookie free agents, giving the roster a whole new look.

Catch up on an offseason full of moves in the roster recap below.

Receiver Calvin Austin III: The Steelers selected Austin in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the 138th pick overall. Austin was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2020 and 2021, contributing not just on offense for Memphis but also on special teams. He finished his career ranked second in school history with 22 receiving touchdowns, fourth in receiving yards with 2,541 and fifth in receptions with 156. He also returned punts, including 29 for 323 yards, an 11.1-yard average, and two touchdowns.

Receiver Miles Boykin: The Steelers were awarded Boykin off of waivers, adding him to the mix on offense. Boykin was released by the Baltimore Ravens this offseason where he spent the first three seasons of his career. He was the Ravens third-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. In his three seasons he pulled in 33 receptions for 470 yards and seven touchdowns, while playing in 40 games with 24 starts. He saw the majority of his playing time in 2019 and 2020, also blocking on offense and playing special teams.

Offensive lineman Mason Cole: Unrestricted free agent who was signed to a three-year contract. Cole spent his first three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals and played for the Minnesota Vikings in 2021. In his four seasons he has played in 60 games, starting 39, working at both the center and guard positions. Cole was traded from the Vikings to the Cardinals last March. Last season he played in 14 games, starting seven for the Vikings. He started four of those games at center, beginning in Week 9 at Baltimore through Week 12, and then started the next three games at right guard. Cole finished the 2021 season on the Reserve/Injured List with an elbow injury. In his three seasons with the Cardinals, Cole played in 46 games, starting 32. He started 30 of those games at center and two at guard.

Offensive lineman James Daniels: Unrestricted free agent who was signed to a three-year contract. Daniels spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, who selected him in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, the 39th overall selection. In four seasons Daniels has played in 54 games, starting 48 of them. He has started 23 games at left guard, 17 at right guard and eight at center. In 2021 he started all 17 games for the Bears at right guard, part of a line that blocked for an offense that had multiple 100-yard rushing games during the season.

Offensive tackle Jake Dixon: Signed as an undrafted rookie free agent following the 2022 NFL Draft. Started all 10 games at left tackle in 2021, earning first-team All-NEC honors for the second straight season, at Duquesne University. Played in a total of 50 games for Duquesne, one of their most consistent players on the line. He also showed off his talents as a receiver with three catches, one for a touchdown. Dixon is from Pittsburgh and the graduate student went to Bethel Park High School.

Running back Mataeo Durant: Signed as an undrafted rookie free agent following the 2022 NFL Draft. While at Duke he played in 44 career games, starting 12, and missed only four games during his career. He carried the ball 489 times for 2,562 yards, a 5.24-yard average, with 18 touchdowns. He also caught 55 passes for 488 yards and added four receiving touchdowns. He finished with 3,050 career all-purpose yards.

Tight end/Fullback Connor Heyward: The Steelers selected Heyward in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the 208th overall pick. Heyward, who played at Michigan State, is the younger brother of defensive tackle Cameron Heyward. Heyward converted to tight end his redshirt senior season, finishing with 35 catches for 326 yards and two touchdowns. During his time at Michigan State he had 211 carries for 825 rushing yards and five touchdowns, with 96 receptions for 711 yards and six receiving touchdowns.

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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Chris Oladokun (5) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during rookie minicamp, Friday, May 13, 2022 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)