The Pittsburgh Steelers will be one of the most drastically changed teams going into the 2025 season.
They’ve captured headlines all offseason long by making moves that include signing quarterback Aaron Rodgers, trading for wide receiver DK Metcalf, and now trading for cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
With the Buccaneers and Steelers scheduled to meet for joint practice before their preseason game in August, Tampa Bay will get a first glimpse at the new-look Steelers.
Pittsburgh has long been one of the most successful and well-run organizations in the NFL. Facing off against this experienced coaching staff and roster full of seasoned veterans will be a great test to help prepare the Buccaneers for the 2025 season.
3 storylines to watch when the Bucs meet the Steelers
Mike Evans vs. Jalen Ramsey
Mike Evans and Jalen Ramsey are no strangers to each other, as the two faced off several times in high-stakes Bucs-Rams matchups when Ramsey played for Los Angeles.
When they met in the 2021 NFC Divisional Round, Evans won the day, recording 88 yards and a touchdown against Ramsey in coverage.
Evans and Ramsey have both been among the league’s best at their positions throughout their prolific careers. Now, with both players over 30 and in the late stages of their careers, it will be intriguing to watch them go head to head for what could be the last time.
Bucs battle with Aaron Rodgers in joint practice, again
Getting deja vu, Bucs fans? When Aaron Rodgers joined the New York Jets ahead of the 2023 season, the Buccaneers travelled to New Jersey for a round of joint practices.
There was a ton of spectacle and attention surrounding the joint practices, as it was the first look at Rodgers in a new uniform, and the Jets had massive expectations surrounding them.
Of course, a torn achilles in his first game as a Jet derailed those expectations, and upon Rodgers’ return, the Jets finished just 5-12 last season.
Now, Rodgers is getting a fresh start yet again, and once again, the Buccaneers will be the first team he sees in a joint practice setting. Rodgers has confirmed that this will almost certainly be his final season, and it’ll be a great opportunity for Todd Bowles and his defense to try to slow down the veteran quarterback who will be leaving everything he has on the field.
Development of second-year centers Graham Barton and Zach Frazier
In the 2024 NFL Draft, the Buccaneers spent their first-round draft choice on center Graham Barton out of Duke. The need for an interior offensive lineman was apparent, and the Bucs could’ve gone in several directions in a strong center class headlined by Barton, Jackson Powers-Johnson, and Zach Frazier.
The Steelers ended up landing Frazier, out of West Virginia, in the second round at No. 51 overall and he proved to be arguably the steal of the draft. Pro Football Focus ranked him as not only the best rookie center last year, but one of the best centers in the NFL overall.
Frazier’s 76.8 PFF grade ranked No. 6 among all centers. For comparison’s sake, Barton graded at a 55.8, which ranked 45th out of 64 qualifying centers.
Based solely on their rookie seasons, it looks like the Steelers landed the best center in the draft, and a franchise cornerstone for the offensive line. But Barton still had a solid rookie season, and is expected to take a massive leap in his sophomore season.
While they won’t take the field at the same time or face off against each other directly in practice (Frazier will certainly have his work cut out for him dealing with Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey), it’ll be very interesting to see how each center fares as Barton looks to remind everyone why he was the first center off the board in last year’s draft.
The Buccaneers’ joint practice with the Steelers will provide a valuable early test packed full of intriguing storylines before the 2025 season kicks off. With Aaron Rodgers headlining Pittsburgh’s dramatic roster overhaul, Tampa Bay’s defense has a golden opportunity to make a statement and build early momentum against one of the game’s all-time greats. On the other side of the ball, it’ll be a chance for the offense to show it can hold its own against a dominant defense led by T.J. Watt and Jalen Ramsey.
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