Now that the 2021 season is over, bringing one more 12 months of disappointment, a fifth consecutive season with no postseason victories, it’s time to take inventory of the place the Pittsburgh Steelers stand. Particularly, the place Steelers gamers stand individually primarily based on what we have now seen and are seeing over the course of the season and into the offseason because it performs out. We may even be reviewing gamers primarily based on their earlier season and their prospects for the long run. A inventory analysis can take a few totally different approaches and I’ll attempt to clarify my reasoning. In some circumstances, it will likely be primarily based on extra long-term developments. In different situations, it will likely be a direct response to one thing that simply occurred. Due to this, we will and can see a participant greater than as soon as over the course of the season as we transfer ahead.
Participant: WR Ray-Ray McCloud
Inventory Worth: Bought
Reasoning: It was reported final night time that the San Francisco 49ers agreed to a two-year, (as much as) $10.5 million contract with Ray-Ray McCloud the now-former Steelers vast receiver and return specialist, ending his tenure with the crew after two seasons.
The Steelers first signed Ray-Ray McCloud throughout coaching camp in 2020, the 12 months of the pandemic, with no preseason. Whereas he had frolicked within the league the previous two seasons, he was already a journeyman, and with out strong alternatives to showcase himself, he was not anticipated to make the 53-man roster over others like Deon Cain and, dare I say it, Ryan Switzer.
The previous Clemson product earned his roster spot by showcasing his return means, and he entered the 2020 season as their kick returner, finally taking up punt return duties as properly after Diontae Johnson, blossoming into a bigger offensive position, suffered an damage doing it.
He continued in his position as return specialist in 2021, main the NFL in punt returns and punt return yardage, and totaling greater than 1000 complete return yards between punts and kicks, which is turning into a little bit of a rarity.
However he additionally had the chance to tackle a bigger offensive position within the absence of JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Steelers’ main slot receiver, following his shoulder damage in week 5. The overwhelming majority of his 538 offensive snaps performed on the season adopted that damage.
He completed the 12 months with 39 receptions, albeit for simply 277 yards, and he has but to attain a landing of any variety throughout his NFL profession on 225 profession offensive and particular groups touches. However he can do a number of issues for a crew with the ball in his fingers, together with on sweeps and end-arounds.
Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers crew could properly be capable to higher make the most of his talent units than the Steelers have been capable of, discovering extra inventive methods to get the ball in his fingers in house, and with the ability to put blockers out in entrance of him permitting him to do injury.
Stories point out that the Steelers did present curiosity in retaining him, however clearly they weren’t keen to return very near matching the 49ers’ provide. For one factor, they very hardly ever do incentives, and I believe that the incentives are doing a very good quantity of the heavy lifting in that cited $10.5 million quantity.
