Steelers 2-a-days: James Pierre fell down CB depth chart, Kevin Rader rose up TE depth chart

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.

CB JAMES PIERRE

Experience: 3rd season

Contract status: $898,000 cap hit in 2022, after which scheduled to be restricted free agent

2022 outlook: Pierre went from playing starter-caliber snaps on defense early last season to not playing at all on defense the final seven games (including playoffs). At this point last year he was probably the odds-on favorite to be Joe Haden’s successor as Steelers outside cornerback; now, he barely registers a blip in any conversation about how the CB depth chart will play out in 2022.

Pierre’s career has evolved from promising undrafted rookie to starter and back down again to where he was merely a special-teamer (albeit a trusted one). Considering the Steelers signed three unrestricted free agent cornerbacks in March (two of them, their own they brought back) it does not appear likely they envision Pierre reclaiming a significant role on defense. Pierre’s struggles in 2021 led to that.

At 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, Pierre has the length and tackling ability the Steelers covet in their defensive backs. He also had pedigree and athleticism (academics are how he ended up at FIU). Though it would probably take either multiple injuries or multiple players dealing with ineffectiveness for Pierre to get a meaningful shot on defense in 2022, he hasn’t completely played himself out of a job yet. And the value he’s shown on special teams keeps him on the better side of the bubble when it comes to potentially earning a 53-man roster spot.

Asked after an organized team activities session earlier this month if his first taste of regular pro action proved to #Steelers CB James Pierre that he fit in and belonged with high-caliber NFL receivers, he repeated his answer four times. “For. Sure.” https://t.co/ZLVFUK2f3Z

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) June 23, 2022

TE KEVIN RADER

Experience: 7 regular-season games (6 last season) since going undrafted in 2018

Contract status: $895,000 cap hit in 2022, after which scheduled to be restricted free agent

2022 outlook: Though technically he spent a day or two at various points not officially on the roster, Rader in some ways is one of the longest-tenured Steelers. This will be his fourth training camp with his hometown team. (Rader went to Pine-Richland High School.)

By the end of 2021, Rader had finally broken through to become a regular part of the Steelers’ gameday activations. He appeared in six of their final seven games (counting the playoffs), averaging about 10 offensive snaps and 11 special-teams snaps per game over the final four. Over the offseason the Steelers allowed Eric Ebron to become a free agent (he remains unsigned) and did not bring in another veteran tight end to replace him. That signals Rader has better-than-even odds to make the team, even after the draft addition of Connor Heyward.

Long respected for his blocking ability, Rader vowed during minicamp that he’s honed his skills to be a better all-around tight end. If so, he could serve as a fine TE3 to Pat Freiermuth and Zach Gentry at the position for the Steelers.

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