The TL;DR? Following each preseason, Behind the Steel Curtain readers vote for whichever young, sixth-round-to-UDFA Steelers player has impressed the most over the offseason. It may have started as a joke, but now we take pride in taking it way, way too seriously around here. <\/p>\n
Jul 24, 2025; Latrobe, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roc Taylor (89) participates in drills during training camp at Saint Vincent College. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images<\/p>\n RB: There\u2019s no arguing that Roc Taylor has enjoyed the loudest training camp so far of the Steelers\u2019 2025 undrafted free agent class.<\/p>\n In fact, he\u2019s stood out from the beginning. Watching the former Memphis receiver\u2019s 2024 tape during the spring, I came away a little surprised that he didn\u2019t hear his name called in the draft.<\/p>\n Taylor is built like an NFL X receiver at 6\u20192, 213 pounds, and he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.49 seconds. He put up 2,033 receiving yards over his last two collegiate seasons. Sure, his game lacks a lot of refinement, but he has what it takes to play in the league.<\/p>\n Over the summer, the legend of Roc Taylor has grown, with the rookie putting together a highlight reel\u2019s worth of training camp plays.<\/p>\n It seems that four of the wide receiver spots on the Steelers\u2019 final roster are already filled barring injury: D.K. Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, and Ben Skowronek. One or two spots remain available, and based on camp reports, Taylor has been keeping up with other roster hopefuls such as Robert Woods and Scotty Miller.<\/p>\n Plus, Taylor\u2019s size immediately differentiates himself from names like Austin, Wilson, and Miller if the team is looking for different skill sets to fill out the room.<\/p>\n I still think the veterans Woods and Miller have a better shot at making the final roster \u2013 Taylor seems like prime practice squad material \u2013 but he\u2019s definitely in the mix for the final 53 if he puts together a strong preseason.<\/p>\n Concerns about his hands and route-running aside, the big play potential he\u2019s shown in training camp should translate to at least one notable preseason highlight. And sometimes, that\u2019s all it takes to jumpstart a Redman Award campaign.<\/p>\n But although Taylor is, in my mind, THE frontrunner entering the preseason, Ryan and I will each be highlighting a Redman hopeful to watch on defense as well. I\u2019ll give my pick on that side of the ball in just a bit.<\/p>\n RP: The unfortunate injury to rookie Will Howard robs the sixth-round quarterback of what I believe would have been a runaway fan vote if he had played even moderately well during preseason action. With him out of action and Ryland scooping up Taylor, may I instead interest you with a nomination of J.J. Galbreath?<\/p>\n The 6\u20193 and 231-pound tight end started for three seasons at South Dakota in the FCS. Over his career, Galbreath played in 45 games, totaling 93 receptions, 1,355 yards, and 12 touchdowns. Those numbers could have been even better had he not missed seven weeks during the 2024 season with a shoulder injury.<\/p>\n Whether it was due to the injury, wariness about FCS prospects translating to the NFL, or because he\u2019s slightly shorter and lighter than the average tight end, Galbreath went undrafted and signed with the Steelers shortly after.<\/p>\n Galbreath wasn\u2019t invited to the NFL Combine, but his Pro Day results line up with the athleticism you can see on tape. While you should always take Pro Day results with a pinch of skepticism, Galbreath\u2019s testing numbers stack up well against those posted by his peers in Indianapolis. His vertical jump (38\u201d) would have finished second among tight ends, third in the 40-yard Dash (4.67) and broad jump (10\u20193), and his 10-yard split (1.62) tied for 10th. Galbreath also would have topped all tight ends in the 3-cone drill (6.82) and short shuttle (4.20), though it should be noted that participation in these drills is often low.<\/p>\n At this stage in his development, Galbreath shines most with the ball in his hands, but he has to show more as a blocker, especially if he wants to stick on a team that has a crowded tight end room. With Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith on the roster, there aren\u2019t many targets left for the potential fourth tight end on the depth chart. Still, an inability to consistently identify and maintain blocks has kept Connor Heyward from sticking on the team, and Galbreath shows enough as a blocker on film to keep me optimistic that the Steelers might finally stop holding a spot for the younger Heyward<\/a>, who doesn\u2019t particularly excel in any areas of the game.<\/p>\n The Steelers are going to use a lot of heavy formations with multiple tight ends this year. This is partly due to the talent they have in the room, and partly due to the lack of playmakers at wide receiver. Add in that offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is a former collegiate tight end and we\u2019re bound to see things get weird this year with the tight ends.<\/p>\n I, for one, hope it\u2019s Galbreath filling the fourth tight end spot.<\/p>\n RB: My pick here is Sebastian Castro.<\/p>\n The former Iowa defensive back is another 2025 undrafted free agent who had a good argument to be drafted. He was seen by some as a potential first-rounder during 2024 summer scouting<\/a>, and the consensus still had him as a strong Day 3 prospect in the spring.<\/p>\n What killed Castro\u2019s draft stock was his athletic limitations, which appeared at times on tape and culminated in a rough 4.35 RAS<\/a> following his NFL Combine testing.<\/p>\n However, the hallmarks of Castro\u2019s game \u2013 football IQ, toughness, and versatility \u2013 helped him perform as a plus starter in the Big Ten as a safety\/nickel hybrid, and should help him compete for an NFL roster spot and gain some fans in the process. Castro doesn\u2019t have the athletic profile to play as a deep safety in the pros, but near the line of scrimmage he can do some damage.<\/p>\n And even though the Steelers signed veteran safety Chuck Clark following the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade, Castro\u2019s special teams willingness<\/a> should mean he\u2019ll stay in the competition for a roster spot up to cutdown day.<\/p>\n Like Taylor, Castro has the right mix of \u201c53-man roster potential\u201d and \u201cfan favorite underdog\u201d to make a run at the 2025 Redman Award. He\u2019s had an early start too: He\u2019s already chatted with BTSC<\/a>, and he provided one of the top defensive highlights of camp so far:<\/p>\n RP: Ryland really isn\u2019t making my job easy, as both Taylor and Castro would have been my top picks as well. I have several other options on defense, but very few that I have confidence in making the Steelers\u2019 final 53. Sure, making the roster isn\u2019t technically a qualification for the award, but it certainly helps.<\/p>\n By my count, here are the defenders eligible for the 2025 Redman award: Castro, cornerbacks Donte Kent, Daryl Porter Jr., and Beanie Bishop Jr., defensive linemen Logan Lee and Kyler Baugh, as well as linebackers Carson Bruener and Julius Welschof.<\/p>\n I was initially leaning towards Kent, a sixth-round rookie out of Central Michigan, but he is currently missing practices while nursing a foot injury that has him in a walking boot<\/a>.<\/p>\n Daryl Porter Jr. is of a similar size and skillset, but he\u2019s still too new to project his popularity with the fanbase.<\/p>\n Likewise, Bishop Jr. was in the running for the Redman award last year and played adequately enough for an undrafted rookie. Still, the Steelers\u2019 efforts to reshape the cornerback room this offseason feel telling. And despite the secondary\u2019s struggles down the stretch last season, Bishop\u2019s reduced playing time towards the end of the season also has dimmed his candidacy in my eyes.<\/p>\n With those notes in mind, I\u2019m going to turn the R&R defensive selections into an all-Iowa affair by selecting Lee on the defensive line.<\/p>\n Lee didn\u2019t get to make much of an impact during his rookie season, as he was placed on the Injured Reserve list in early September. But as the Steelers have turned over the roster this offseason \u2014 and seen a few defensive linemen <\/a>go down to season-ending injuries<\/a> in camp \u2014 Lee has suddenly found himself very important at work.<\/p>\n The Steelers released their first official depth chart update<\/a> on Tuesday, and Lee has found himself on the second team. It\u2019s a bit confusing that they listed Lee at defensive end and fellow Hawkeye and rookie Yahya Black at nose tackle when they\u2019ve been predominantly taking reps in the inverse at according to camp reports, but maybe that\u2019s just the organization having some fun. Reminding people not to read too much into the Steelers\u2019 first depth chart release is an annual tradition, and perhaps Lee\u2019s current positioning is just another red herring.<\/p>\n But I think Lee\u2019s spot is more assured than many of the other players I listed above. Additionally, last year I saw several BTSC readers express disappointment that they wouldn\u2019t get to see Lee play after he was placed on injured reserve, so he appears to have some fan interest in his corner. If he can have a strong summer and secure a rotational role, whether at nose tackle or defensive end, that could earn him some Redman award votes.<\/p>\n What are you watching for in the Steelers\u2019 first preseason game?<\/p>\n PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 11: Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and DK Metcalf #4 of the Pittsburgh Steelers talk during Minicamp at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on June 11, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n RB: We\u2019ll be watching for everything, right?<\/p>\n But one thing I have especially circled \u2013 assuming the Steelers play their starters for a drive or two in the first preseason game like last year \u2013 is the connection between new quarterback Aaron Rodgers and new wide receiver D.K. Metcalf.<\/p>\n Look, we know the Steelers\u2019 offense in 2025 is going to be imperfect. But a strong quarterback-WR1 connection can make up for a lot of sins, especially considering that Metcalf is arguably the best player on the offense.<\/p>\n Plus, Rodgers\u2019 success as a quarterback at this stage in his career is largely tied to whether or not he can stay on schedule with his pass-catchers. His inability to do so in New York last year was one of the top reasons why a surprisingly talented Jets offense finished in the bottom half of the league.<\/p>\n In camp, the veteran passer reportedly got off to a slow start with his new top target, but the two seem to have gelled in the following practices. But in-game is when we\u2019ll start to get a good idea of what this connection might look like.<\/p>\n And remember, both Rodgers and Metcalf aren\u2019t strangers to airing out some frustrations on the sideline if things aren\u2019t going their way. Metcalf has never been the most precise route-runner or a high-percentage jump-ball winner; he\u2019s in many ways the opposite of what Rodgers generally looks for in a receiver, so it\u2019ll be interesting to see how the two styles mesh.<\/p>\n You could argue that Rodgers\u2019 connection with Roman Wilson, who\u2019s entering first full NFL season in a high-pressure role, or Calvin Austin III, who could be primed for a breakout year in the Rodgers offense, are bigger stories. But Metcalf is by far the most important wide receiver on the Pittsburgh roster. If he and Rodgers can show some chemistry, it\u2019ll be a great sign of things to come.<\/p>\n RP: Among the things I\u2019ll be watching for:<\/p>\n Will any of the receivers behind Metcalf begin to crystallize their place in the pecking order?How will the embattled young offensive tackles fare? And are there any players who could confidently replace them if they struggle or are lost to injury?How the offensive line is gelling in the run game, overall.Will we get any glimpses of the multi-tight end sets Arthur Smith is cooking up before the regular season?The nickel cornerback battle behind Jalen Ramsey, as well as the battle for the final few outside corner spots.The punter battle between Corliss Waitman and Cameron Johnston.All of the rookie class\u2019 performances.<\/p>\n Join in on Steelers R&R by sharing your takes on this week\u2019s topics. Who\u2019s on your Isaac Redman Award watchlist ahead of the preseason? And what will you be looking for in Pittsburgh\u2019s preseason opener against Jacksonville? Feel free to pitch future questions in the comment section or on Twitter\/X: tag @_Ryland_B<\/a> or @RyanParishMedia<\/a>, or email us at steelersreadnreact@gmail.com.<\/p>\n![\"Jul](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/imagn-26702625.jpg\"\/)
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