This one is going to be tough. We’ve been working through each of the positional units, taking a look back at the 2019 season and now we find ourselves at the tight ends. For whatever reason, the Steelers haven’t truly addressed the tight end position with any real effort since Heath Miller retired in 2015.
Every offseason we have this conversation but maybe 2020 will be the offseason where the Steelers finally take a real interest in improving the position.
Vance McDonald
The best tight end on the roster was McDonald. Unfortunately, with a bloated salary cap number for 2020, he’s likely going to end up a cap casualty. I really do think McDonald has the potential to be in the top half of NFL tight ends statistically but the Steelers’ coaches didn’t let that happen.
2019 statistics | 38 receptions | 273 receiving yards | 3 receiving touchdowns
Nick Vannett
The Steelers made a trade for Vannett, sending their 2020 fifth-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for the tight end. The move didn’t make much sense at the time and after watching how little he produced during the season, it makes even less sense now.
2019 statistics | 13 receptions | 128 receiving yards | 0 receiving touchdowns
Zach Gentry
Speaking of fifth-round picks, Pittsburgh spent their 2019 fifth-round pick on Gentry. His film was marginal at Michigan and despite all the problems at tight end spent the bulk of the season inactive. We’re all rooting for a big leap from him this offseason but we won’t hold our breath considering his limitations.
2019 statistics | 1 reception | 4 receiving yards | 0 receiving touchdowns
