3 best (and 2 worst) moves the Steelers made on cutdown day

Steelers worst move #1: Gunner Olszewski

To be fair, I predicted that Gunner Olszewski would ultimately make the final roster for the Steelers after a decent training camp. He played like he did last year, aggressive for his size and with a chip on his shoulder. The issue isn’t his attitude, it is his limitations.

Initially brought in as a return man first and foremost, Olszewski couldn’t hang onto the role. He proved inefficient on both kick and punt returns, and he struggled to not cough up the ball specifically during punts. This was costly in a few games and it ultimately led to him being benched for Steven Sims.

The Steelers still tried to use him as a receiver, but the results were lackluster. He gives his all as a blocker, but he wasn’t dynamic with the ball in his hands and poised no threat to defenses. Heading into this offseason with a cuttable salary, I firmly expected Olszewski to be an eventual cut candidate.

Instead, the team appears set to hang onto Olszewski as the sixth receiver and likely inactive roster member this year. Had he been on a minimum contract, that would have been fine, but I would have taken the cap savings, however slim, over him hanging around this season.

If Pittsburgh was set on keeping six receivers, they could have added a handful of other names that were cut instead. From other return-capable players to young names the Steelers had interest in at one point, to even Sims, who failed to make the Texans roster, there were a plethora of better options than keeping Olszewski around this year.