Bold predictions: 4 Steelers who leave and 4 who return in 2022

4 Steelers who won’t return in 2022

2. Steelers TE Eric Ebron

Eric Ebron’s exit from the Steelers was pretty much a foregone conclusion when they drafted Pat Freiermuth. Perhaps Freiermuth is not the most productive tight end in the NFL at the moment; however, he is solidifying himself as the heir to replacing what they lost when Heath Miller retired.

On the other hand, look at Ebron’s production this season. Ebron has not convincingly made an argument for the Steelers to possibly re-sign him. In 2020, had 56 receptions averaging 3.7 a game, and in 2021 he only has 7, a whopping 1.2 receptions per game.  He is on pace to finish with only 132.8 receiving yards, a significant drop from 558 yards a year ago.

Freiermuth, on the other, has 158 yards and is on pace for 447.3 and 51 receptions. Currently, he has a 90% catch percentage, and it’s fairly apparent the direction this is headed for Ebron.

With 11 games remaining, anything could happen, Ebron could step up and have some fantastic performances going down the stretch, giving Pittsburgh reason to keep him and Freiermuth for the next two or three seasons. That scenario would, for all intents and purposes, be a best-case scenario, and it’s hard, at this point, to see that play out. The short of it is that Eric Ebron will not return in 2022.