Despite the Steelers being on a winning streak, these four potential players should be looking forward to finding a new team to use them in the offseason.
The Steelers are in the process of turning their season around their season as we speak. Despite the improved play, there are some players that have been relatively putrid this season. No matter if it is due to their own struggle or a different player playing over them, these players aren’t reaching the max potential that they have.
Here are four Steelers that need a new team and a fresh start in 2021.
Steelers Eric Ebron
Eric Ebron was a relatively surprise signing for the team two offseasons ago. Despite a bad cap situation, the team brought in the athletic tight end and got a decent first year of production out of him. That has all changed so far in 2021, as Ebron has been almost nonexistent in the offense. Much of that is due to Pat Freiermuth playing well enough to start, but the team also wants more well-rounded starters that can block. Ebron isn’t that.
Quite frankly, it was surprising that Ebron wasn’t moved before the trade deadline. He has essentially become an afterthought in a mediocre passing attack, and he is offering very little to the Steelers right now. That said, on the right team with the right players around him, Ebron can still be a mismatch weapon. Expect him to still produce on whatever team adds him to their roster next, even though his tenure with the Steelers has really disappointed as of late.
Steelers James Washington
While Ebron has watched as his role with the team shrank, James Washington has been forced to sit back in an injured receiving room and still struggle to earn playing time. It is maddening that the Steelers are so content to not give Washington a lot of playing time and instead let Ray-Ray McCloud see the field before him. Washington deserves better, and it is clear that he will need to prove himself on a new team.
Despite being a more than capable starter, the team opts to keep Washington on the sideline for usually around half the offensive snaps. This led to his name being heavily mentioned in trade talks before the deadline, but ultimately nothing materialized. The team is hurting his value by keeping him benched and come next offseason, Washington should finally have a chance to prove himself on a team that actually wants to get him involved.
I recently wrote about how Washington may just end up becoming the new Emmanuel Sanders: a receiver that is never utilized to his best with the Steelers and goes on to have a better career elsewhere. While Sanders is a cut ahead of Washington, it won’t be surprising to see him regularly do well on a new team. With the Steelers refusing to use him, a new organization and chance are exactly what Washington needs.
Steelers JuJu Smith-Schuster
It was mildly surprising to see JuJu Smith-Schuster return to the Steelers this past offseason. The former second-round pick was coming off a disappointing season, but a lot of that was due to his usage by the team. Most expected him to take a decent offer from a team with some money. Instead, the receiving market was pretty cool, so Smith-Schuster decided to stay with the Steelers instead of going to a new team.
His beginning of 2021 was similar to that of his 2020 and 2019 seasons though. He was a great safety valve, but the team wasn’t going to rely on him as a top receiving talent. Quite frankly, he has been exposed for what he is. While a supremely talented receiver, Smith-Schuster has proven to be far more effective when a legitimate top threat is lined up across from him. When he is that top name, he doesn’t produce as he should.
All of this to say, Smith-Schuster likely looks for another one-year deal to join a team that has someone to attract attention away from him. Even if he isn’t an elite number one receiver, Smith-Schuster is still supremely talented. A new team that features him more down the field and has some other legitimate receiving options should help get Smith-Schuster back to where he needs to be.
Steelers Terrell Edmunds
Easily the Steelers player most in need of a new start, Terrell Edmunds has been a severely critiqued player ever since the team surprisingly drafted him in the first round. While a perceived reach, Edmunds has done everything you want out of a rookie. He has consistently developed each year and is now an average starter in the league. By all accounts, he has had a fine career to this point.
The problem is, for a first-round pick you wanted him to become more than a fine starter (and rightfully so). Some fans still claim Edmunds is a bust because of this (he isn’t, by the way), so a new team could be just what he needs. There, he isn’t trying to live up to a draft selection and would instead be focused on giving his all as a player with a fanbase that has less bias toward him.
The team is also at fault for his difficulties to an extent. Despite his mediocre coverage skills, the Steelers are insistent on moving Minkah Fitzpatrick around and dropping in Edmunds further and further into coverage. This is likely them expecting Edumds to hold up since he was a first-round pick. Next year, a new team will give Edmunds a home. With the lack of bias from the team that drafted him, don’t be surprised when a team gets a solid run-stopping safety from the Steelers next offseason.
While the Steelers have turned their season around over the past few weeks, there are still players that are struggling. At this point, a change in scenery is likely what they need to succeed long-term in the league. These four players need to find a change of scenery after the 2021 season.