The Steelers 2020 NFL Draft is in the books, but here are four Pittsburgh players whose jobs may be in jeopardy for the upcoming NFL season.
Though the Steelers lost Javon Hargrave and Ramon Foster among other reserve players this offseason, they may have helped themselves with their return. Despite not having a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Steelers may have landed a few players who could help them out early.
Chase Claypool stands to be in the mix on offense potentially from week one, while Anthony McFarland could give the Steelers a much-needed spark on the ground. In addition, offseason acquisitions like Eric Ebron, Stefen Wisniewski, and Chris Wormley could prove to play key roles for Pittsburgh this year.
The NFL draft is a time for teams to add talent, but as it always does, others are forced off the roster as a result. Here are four players whose jobs are in jeopardy after the 2020 NFL Draft:
RB Jaylen Samuels
If the Steelers went running back in the 2020 draft, most were expecting them to do so early. Instead, they went with Maryland’s Anthony McFarland with the first of their fourth-round selections.
McFarland offers an element of speed Pittsburgh didn’t otherwise have in their backfield. Though Jaylen Samuels is arguably Pittburgh’s top pass-catching back, he could end up being a roster casualty. James Conner isn’t going anywhere, and Benny Snell is a 2019 draft choice entering his second season.
The Steelers could break the trend and make an exception for Samuels as their fourth running back. But if they don’t, he will likely be the one gone.
Dan McCullers
If the Steelers would have taken a defensive tackle early in the draft, I would have been sure that Dan McCullers had played his last season in Pittsburgh. Now, I’m second-guessing myself, as they ignored the position until the 7th round of the draft.
Still, McCullers is a player that has been on the roster bubble nearly every season since entering the league as a 6th round pick back in 2014. However, he provides nothing in terms of pressure on the quarterback, and his defensive snaps are typically reserved for goal-line formations.
McCullers played 12 percent of snaps or less over the past two seasons, and he is hardly an essential asset to the team. If a young player like Carlos Davis or XFL stud Cavon Walker proves to be beneficial, McCullers could finally be gone this year.
Tuzar Skipper
Tuzar Skipper was a camp favorite and a preseason stud from 2019. He wowed during exhibition action with his ability to get after the quarterback consistently and make plays. Many fans were upset when he didn’t make Pittsburgh’s final 53-man roster, and the undrafted rookie later signed with the New York Giants.
After being let go from the Giants after just 6 games, Steelers fans were ecstatic when they signed him back. But the former undrafted outside linebacker may have already seen his time in the spotlight.
Pittsburgh used their 3rd round selection on Charlotte edge defender, Alex Highsmith, and the Steelers rarely keep more than four edge defenders on the roster. Ola Adeniyi is a younger player than Skipper and he has the inside track at making the team. I think there’s a good chance Skipper is let go once again.
Ryan Switzer
The Steelers were desperate for any offensive player they thought could give them a boost in 2019. Unfortunately, Ryan Switzer did not prove to be that man.
Switzer was incredibly inefficient as both a receiver and a return man before landing on IR after nine games. He averaged just 3.4 yards per catch, 3.6 yards per punt return, and 18.4 yards per kick return – some of the most lackluster numbers in the league.
With young athletes like Diontae Johnson and Anthony McFarland, the Steelers may look elsewhere on the roster for their return man in 2020. And with Chase Claypool and Eric Ebron added this offseason, there won’t be enough targets to go around for Switzer on offense this year.
There is a chance that several of these players are able to keep their jobs with a good showing this preseason. However, these four players could ultimately become roster casualties after the Steelers bolstered their roster this offseason.