Steelers officially complete trade for WR Ryan Switzer from Raiders

The Pittsburgh Steelers officially confirmed the news Steelers Nation knew was coming late on Monday afternoon, announcing a trade for wide receiver Ryan Switzer from the Oakland Raiders via Twitter. The deal has cost Pittsburgh their fifth round draft choice in 2019 in return for Switzer and the Raiders sixth round selection next year.

Switzer is already well known to the Steelers coaching staff after they met with him at his pro day prior to the 2017 NFL draft and the former fourth round pick of the Dallas Cowboys is expected to compete for a role as a slot receiver and return specialist in Pittsburgh. His talents on special teams were likely one of the key attractions for the coaching staff.

This is the second time Switzer has been traded in five months after he was dealt to the Raiders during the third day of April’s draft, and he had been languishing on the Raiders depth chart behind Dwayne Harris and Griff Whalen in Oakland ever since. Switzer was first traded to the Raiders in exchange for defensive tackle Jihad Ward. Nevertheless, the young receiver is excited to now be in Pittsburgh.

Switzer will only cost Pittsburgh $555,000 against the cap in 2018 and has three years remaining on his contract. He is scheduled to cost $645,000 against the cap in 2019 and $735,000 in 2020.

Wide receiver Justin Thomas has been released to make room for Switzer on the 90-man roster.