The expectations of rookies entering the NFL has changed immensely over the past several decades. In the past, rookies were expected to sit behind veteran players for at least one to two years, slowly being brought along as they adjusted to the heightened competition level in the pros compared to college. However, those expectations have changed over the last 10 to 15 years with a majority of rookies drafted within the first three rounds being expected to contribute their first season, either becoming the outright starter or factoring in as a rotational player.
We’ve seen that model change for the Steelers specifically over the years with players like LB Lawrence Timmons sitting a lot his first two seasons in the league before becoming a full-fledged starter in the NFL.