A list of backup tight end prospects for the Steelers
By Andrew Falce
After the disappointing year the Tight End position had, the Steelers have a lot of soul searching to do as to who will be their #2 this year and their future starter at the position.
For those of you that can think back to the days of playing NFL Head Coach 09. While the game was a dream come true for those that loved to sim through Madden seasons just to complete the offseason, that small crowd failed to turn the game into a huge success, causing it to be forgotten about by EA Sports. While the game itself is well in need of a reboot (a topic that should be reserved for an entirely different post), an aspect of said game has become a source of inspiration for the Steelers offseason.
During the offseason, the owner of your chosen team will list all of the team needs (QB1, RB2, etc.) as well as players they would like you to fill those spots with (free agents, draft prospects, and players on the team). While I usually was defiant, leading to the owner being constantly upset with me (what can I say, I knew more than him) I wanted to take this list idea and run with it.
Now, for each Steelers position of need, I want to run a list of potential fill-ins similar to how this game was constructed. So, position by position I want to break down the need and the best fit players who can fill them. This list will be realistic options only (TE won’t list a player like Austin Hooper since they will likely be too expensive).
After breaking down the need at NT1, this will attempt to break down TE2. Many will say “what about TE1, since Vance McDonald is oft-injured, had a horrible season, and has a hefty cap hit the next two years”. While true, the Steelers don’t have the cap space to replace McDonald. Rookie’s at the position tend to need a year before becoming the starter while the market is extremely inflated right now.
Players like Tyler Kroft, CJ Uzomah, and Nick Boyle all netted extensions north of 6 million AAV (average annual value), and none of these players posted good years (Boyle had the strongest with a stat line of 31 receptions, 321 yards, and 2 TD’s). The reality is, everyone is looking to find the next Gronkowski or Kelce, and teams are willing to spend big on average players to see if they can provide that element to their offense.
This position is honestly going to be hard to fill and will likely be felt like the team ignored it by most fans due to the overall weakness of the position this year. That said, some options make sense and could eventually turn into a TE1 down the road.