ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 13: Jordan Berry #4 of the Pittsburgh Steelers punts against the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter in the game at Bills Stadium on December 13, 2020 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
The reigning AFC North champions were cap-strapped this offseason and relied on the draft to add talent. Here are five players who might not figure in 2021.
It has been an offseason of holding on for dear life, per say. There wasn’t a lot of player movement when it came to the Black and Gold unless you consider their free agent departures. The Pittsburgh Steelers were salary-cap strapped the last few months and are hoping that their nine draft picks can all come through this year.
Mike Tomlin’s club will look quite differently this year at several spots. That includes offensive coordinator, where Matt Canada takes over for Randy Fichtner. So what five players currently with the franchise won’t be around for the season opener at Buffalo?
5. P Jordan Berry
Talk about stating the obvious? The last of the Steelers’ nine draft choices this year was punter Pressley Harvin III, taken with the 254th overall selection. The former Georgia Tech standout was the 2020 Ray Guy Award winner, given to the best performer at his position in collegiate football.
The 5-foot-11, 263-pound prospect will challenge veteran Jordan Berry, who was pushed aside last season in favor of Dustin Colquitt. But the latter was released after five games in 2020 and the former returned for what would be his sixth season with the Steelers. Berry actually averaged a career-best 45.8 yards per kick this past season.