Steelers 2-a-days: When ‘21 ended, OL John Leglue was starting, DL Isaiahh Loudermilk in rotation

Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent College, the Trib will be running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2022 season. The breakdown will go through the roster in mostly-alphabetical order, two per day, between June 11 and July 25. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

OL JOHN LEGLUE

Experience: Six regular-season games and one playoff game for the Steelers last season, but has been on camp and offseason rosters and practice squads since 2019.

Contract status: $825,000 cap hit in 2022 after which scheduled to be an exclusive rights free agent

2022 outlook: Leglue finished the 2021 season as the Steelers’ starter at left guard, and that included their wild-card round playoff loss at the Kansas City Chiefs. While he was their fourth-string at the position, by the time the playoffs rolled around the team had other options but stuck with Leglue.

That doesn’t mean management necessarily views him as a permanent starter — indeed, two others are ahead of Leglue on the depth chart at left guard to begin this training camp. But Leglue is far from a guard alone; he can play tackle and center (as well as serve as the emergency long snapper). As such, he’s a nice versatile insurance policy for the team to have available. Barring a poor camp, Leglue’s floor would seem to be a practice-squad spot, while his ceiling is not only the 53-man roster but being in-uniform on gamedays as a backup at multiple positions.

And there aren’t many players on the #Steelers roster who have shown an ability to do more than John Leglue. https://t.co/IINNHx4nLb

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) June 26, 2022

DL ISAIAHH LOUDERMILK

Experience: 2^nd season

Contract status: $905,072 cap hit in 2022, signed through 2024

2022 outlook: Loudermilk’s rookie season generally was characterized as a success by virtue of him appearing in six regular-season games as a rookie fifth-round pick. At 6-foot-7, 293 pounds he is considered to have the ideal body type for the Steelers’ three and/or two-man fronts. Loudermilk had a sack and had another taken away by penalty in limited action last season, and he showed promise on the practice field, too. By all accounts he is receptive to coaching and liked by teammates, fitting in well within the position room.

The Steelers have reason to believe Loudermilk will be a significant part of their rebuilt defensive line after their older starters move on. But in 2022, the position is crowded: Cameron Heyward, Tyson Alualu, newly-signed Larry Ogunjobi, Chris Wormley, Montravius Adams, rookie DeMarvin Leal and Loudermilk all have legitimate cases, to varying degrees, to significant snaps. There are therefore no assurances Loudermilk will even “earn a hat” on gamedays. But that’s the low end of the expectations for Loudermilk in 2021; the high end is he slides into a quasi-starter’s role (or even, after an injury or two, as a full-on starter). Either end of the spectrum is seemingly in play.

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