Steelers expected to decline 5th year option for Artie Burns

Tommy Jaggi

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 17: Artie Burns #25 of the Pittsburgh Steelers sits on the bench in the final moments of the New England Patriots 27-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 17, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

It’s been three years since the Steelers drafted cornerback Artie Burns in the 1st round of the NFL Draft, and they may be in the works of severing their short-lived relationship.

Jeremy Fowler announced in a tweet yesterday afternoon that Pittsburgh may be moving on from the young cornerback.

Steelers expected to decline CB Artie Burns’ fifth-year option, per sources. Burns was replaced in the starting lineup last year and is set to become a free agent in 2020 barring change before the May 3 deadline. Steelers are encouraged Burns can re-enter rotation this year.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 1, 2019

The Steelers invested a lot in Artie Burns (which may be the reason why he’s been given so much opportunity in Pittsburgh). However, things haven’t worked out the way coach Tomlin and the Steelers planned it when they drafted him in 2016.

Burns was benched last season in favor of 30-year-old journeyman CB, Coty Sensabaugh. Unless there is a miraculous change of events, we can expect Artie Burns to be rocking a different uniform in 2020. Perhaps he will have better luck elsewhere.

Tommy Jaggi

Tommy Jaggi is an Editor for FanSided, joining Minute Media in 2019 after covering the NFL and the Pittsburgh Steelers on various websites. Jaggi previously covered the Cincinnati Bengals for Sports Illustrated and managed With The First Pick. He hosts the Still Curtain Podcast and the Stacking The Box podcast. Jaggi has interviewed players like T.J. Watt, Jerome Bettis, Alan Faneca, Heath Miller, Ike Taylor, Merril Hoge, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Najee Harris. Jaggi also appeared as a guest on numerous podcasts and radio shows.