Are the Steelers Interested in Danny Watkins?
October 7, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles guard Danny Watkins (63) and center Dallas Reynolds (66) in pass protection against Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Ziggy Hood (96) during the first quarter at Heinz Field. The Pittsburgh Steelers won 16-14. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
I for one would not be opposed to the Steelers being interested in the offensive guard, or any other offensive lineman for that matter. The only backups Pittsburgh on the team’s roster outside of Kelvin “Swiss army knife” Beachum are John Malecki and Guy Whimper. I certainly hate to be a “Negative Nancy,” but Pittsburgh will be royally screwed if they start turning to those under Beachum this fall.
Although Watkins was far from impressive during his stint in Philadelphia, he has 18 starts under his belt and is still only 28 years of age. While he might not be a starter elsewhere in the NFL, it might behoove teams around the league in need of depth along their offensive lines to give Watkins a workout.
Then again, people questioned the former first round pick’s toughness while he was with the Eagles, and he was continuously bumped down on Philadelphia’s depth chart during the most recent offseason. If it is actual “toughness” which the offensive lineman lacks, then I hope that the Steelers will look the other way when they scour the waiver wire. However, maybe the “change of scenery” Philadelphia’s general manager Howie Roseman alluded to is exactly what Watkins needs to get his professional career back on track.
I am definitely interested to see if the Steelers make a play for Watkins or any offensive lineman today. Moreover, I hope that Pittsburgh’s brass at least try to add some depth to their much maligned offensive line. Whether the answer is Watkins or somebody else has still yet to be determined, but it would be nice to see Kevin Colbert & Co. trying to make some insurance purchases at such an important unit.
Stats & Info. Provided By: ESPN.com, Steelers.com and Pro Football Reference
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