Steelers first notable roster cut couldn't be more obvious right now

The Steelers preseason is winding down, and that means that cutdown day is almost upon them. Every year the team has to make a slew of cuts to get down to 53 men, and this year will be no different. For the most part, these names are predictable, as most of the players on the roster right now are extra padding for training camp and hope to earn a spot on the practice squad.

The tough decisions come down to the bubble players. These are names that shocked everyone during the offseason and rose up the ranks or were veterans fighting for depth spots. Every team features numerous battles like this, and the tough decisions on the roster usually come down to these names.

The Steelers have been consistent with adding competition to all positions in the offseason since Omar Khan took over, and that was no exception with the receiver room this year. The team traded away Diontae Johnson and has built up the room to feature George Pickens. Assuming no notable receiver is brought in, it meant Pittsburgh wanted to give a lot of names the chance to earn the second receiver job.

We had some names step up to the plate. Van Jefferson looks locked in as the primary second outside receiver while Calvin Austin has gotten some long looks in the slot. We even saw veterans like Scotty Miller and Dez Fitzpatrick both make pushes for spots given their solid practices and preseason performances.

A name that never seemed to show up was Quez Watkins. The former sixth-round pick of the Eagles enjoyed a solid career there considering where he was drafted, and the Steelers welcomed him to the roster with an equal chance to earn a role. That hasn’t happened, and he should be among the first players cut when the team begins to trim their roster.

What went wrong for Watkins with the Steelers

The hope was for Watkins to recapture some of the magic he had in 2021 when he started 12 games and recorded almost 650 yards receiving as a role player with the Eagles. Instead, his inconsistent and inefficient self that has been around since then was what the Steelers got. That isn’t a big deal or a surprise considering he was signed to a veteran minimum contract.

While you would hear about the occasional good day at camp, he seemed like mostly a nonfactor on offense, running with the third team mostly and making little impact. He got a shot as a punt returner in the first preseason game, but a muffed punt quickly ended that opportunity. He has played 47 offensive snaps so far in the preseason, most of them coming in the slot, but has failed to nab a catch or show off his impressive athleticism.

At this point, it seems like a two-man race for the fifth receiver spot. Miller is the better offensive weapon as a whole while Fitzpatrick is the better special teams option. Watkins proved to be inefficient in both areas.

Why should he be the first cut? The practice squad doesn’t appear to be in his future, so moving on early is the right thing to do. It lets the 31 other teams in the NFL know that he is available if they have any interest. I would doubt that he will stick to an active roster, but teams are already planning their practice squads and may want to include him.

Even though Watkins failed to show up this offseason, it isn’t the end of the world. The team gave him a cheap deal with the hope that he would prove his worth. That didn’t happen, and unless he comes up big in the last preseason game, there is little reason to hold onto him. The Steelers should move on from him sooner rather than later at this point.