The Pittsburgh Steelers had their fanbase in an uproar following the reported news that the Jaguars were releasing Christian Kirk. It seemed like Kirk was a trade deadline target for the team, and now a potential free agent, there was a wave of fans that clamored to see Kirk join the Black and Gold.
That excitement was shot once it was announced that he was getting traded to the Texans instead of being cut.
While fans are dismayed that Kirk won’t be heading to the Steelers this offseason, the Jaguars made another move that should be even more interesting to the team. Following the trade, Jacksonville announced that they were cutting Evan Engram, and Pittsburgh should be all over him.
Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram would be a great fit for the Pittsburgh Steelers offense
While the hope is still that a better second receiver will be added, one has to remember that an Arthur Smith offense tends to utilize tight ends more than receivers. A top-name second receiver sounds great, but what would their role look like to justify a big contract?
Instead, they could add a great third option at tight end in Engram. A hybrid receiver in a tight-ends body, Engram has carved out an impressive career since being a first-round pick. While never an elite player, he can provide a capable target for a quarterback to target.
He rejuvenated his career in Jacksonville and became a top target for Trevor Lawrence. Last year wasn’t the same story though, as he played through a lot of injuries and also suffered from the quarterback room dealing with injuries. In response, he had his worst season as a pro and has now been cut.
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Though he has entered the latter half of his career, Engram is still an explosive target and can be a great option in the passing game. While never his strength, he has proven to be a viable blocker in space even if it isn’t his best trait. In a tight-end heavy scheme that won’t require him to be the only guy, I think his fit in the Steelers offense is obvious.
While he wouldn’t put up career-best numbers, he can rotate in and keep this room deep and talented while also taking the pressure off the receiver room. Injuries are a concern, but not having to take on a traditional starter's workload should help with that issue.
There have been some rumors circulating that the Steelers aren’t going to land a top receiver on the open market. I’ve highlighted a name like Josh Palmer as a realistic cheap target. If that is the route you go down, Engram makes a lot of sense to help provide more targets for this offense.
Missing out on Kirk is frustrating, but there is a light at the end of this tunnel. The Steelers can still add a viable receiving option in the tight end room which can give this offense a lot of versatility. Pittsburgh should certainly be calling to see if they can sign him following his release.