The Steelers are a very well-run organization, but here are three players who have long overstayed their welcome in Pittsburgh.
As long as there are sports there will be players and positions that you always feel should be upgraded. That is no different when it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Though Mike Tomlin and his crew are phenomenal at adding depth to certain positions on the team, there are others that leave you scratching your head.
There are certain players that, despite their lack of contributions to the team, they seem to stick around. Here are three players who have overstayed their welcome in Pittsburgh:
DL Dan McCullers
This one still blows my mind. Yes, Daniel McCullers entered the NFL with extremely rare size for the defensive tackle position at 6’7” and 352 pounds, but after doing next to nothing for his first six NFL seasons, he is about to enter his seventh as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Despite his size and length, McCullers tested as an undraftable athlete with a 20.5” vertical and 97” broad jump. His play backs this up on the field, as he is too slow to get upfield after the quarterback and lacks the agility to chase ball-carriers down laterally.
McCullers has now chipped in just 4 tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks in 73 games. He has long overstayed his welcome in Pittsburgh.
SS Jordan Dangerfield
Here’s a player who just won’t seem to go away no matter what the Steelers do. Jordan Dangerfield was a former undrafted free agent who didn’t end up actually making Pittsburgh’s roster until he was nearly 24 years old.
Though he’s only really ever been a special teams player for Pittsburgh, Dangerfield is entering his fifth season with the team. The problem is, what does he provide?
When called upon on defense, Dangerfield can be a liability in coverage and is restricted to playing in the box as an undersized linebacker. Without great athleticism and the ability to cover deep zones down the field, Dangerfield holds very little value on the defensive side of the ball and is a player that could have been replaced years ago. His days in Pittsburgh are likely numbered. The Steelers can do better for their primary backup at the safety position.
WR Ryan Switzer
Ryan Switzer hasn’t been around as long as McCullers or Dangerfield, but it’s a bit surprising to see him still on the team after the nightmare we witnessed in 2019. Though his 2018 season was less than stellar for Pittsburgh, last year was embarrassingly bad for Switzer.
In 9 games for the Steelers last season, Switzer earned just 27 receiving yards on a dismal 3.4 yards per reception. In addition, his 3.6 yards per punt return and 18.4 yards per kick return were some of the worst averages among return men in the league last year.
On offense, Switzer is a tiny target that offers very little after the catch and is restricted to playing in the slot. Without the ability to dominate on special teams, he’s a player that should be replaced soon by the Steelers.
There are other players who may have overstayed their welcome in Pittsburgh, but these three Steelers take the cake. Perhaps they can improve midway through their NFL careers, but it’s unlikely they end up becoming more than the players we have seen for years.