Pittsburgh Steelers: Eli Rogers is Reliable But No Martavis Bryant

Former Pittsburgh Steelers wideout, Martavis Bryant, is hoping to be reinstated soon, and the Steelers should be looking to bring him back.

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After a whole season without Martavis Bryant, the Pittsburgh Steelers are now faced with the question of whether or not they want to keep him on the roster. Chris Wesseling reported that Bryant is looking to be reinstated sooner rather than later, Pittsburgh may be faced with the decision quicker than they imagined.

Eli Rogers had an excellent season in 2016, putting up 48 catches for 594 yards and three touchdowns. Maybe it isn’t Antonio Brown numbers, but for a rookie receiver who was a no name player, finishing as the second wideout in the fifth best passing offense in the NFL isn’t bad.

Rogers is a reliable receiver. Opposite of Antonio Brown, he’s a valuable option. But he’s definitely no Bryant. With a playmaking quarterback like Ben Roethlisberger leading the charge, having a deep threat like Bryant adds an aspect to this offense that makes it one of the best in the league.

During his 11 regular season games, Bryant caught 50 passes for 765 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 15.3 yards per catch. Bryant’s speed is exactly what Roethlisberger loves to throw to. With him and Brown on the outside, Pittsburgh passing game may be as dangerous as they come next season.

It makes the Steelers decision a difficult one. Giving Rogers a shot won’t upset anyone, but it could mean missing out on an explosive offense. Where they could see both players working out is the slot, which would give Bryant a chance on the outside while Rogers works from the inside.

Pittsburgh loved Bryant. He was a diamond in the rough they never expected to turn into the player he did. But now, he’s put himself on thin ice and the Steelers in a situation they never wanted to be in.

Chances are they give Bryant another shot and let Rogers develop as the slot. Rogers’ hands are some of the best on the roster. He’s the perfect fit for the slot, and with the questions surrounding Sammie Coates, he’d be a much better option as the third receiver.

Rogers may be the future, but as young and talented as Bryant is, there’s no point in getting rid of him. Pittsburgh’s past shows they usually don’t tolerate off the field issues, but when you have a shot at a Super Bowl like the Steelers do, adding as many superstars as possible is important. You can’t take chances when a championship is on the line.

There’s a way to work Rogers and Bryant into the lineup. People may believe they need to choose one or the other, but they don’t. Let Bryant use his speed on the outside and Rogers play the slot. For Roethlisberger, that’s a match made in heaven.

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Pittsburgh’s offense is set for an explosive year. But they don’t need to decide on one player to keep it a threat. Instead, they should work both in and stack the receiving core with options.