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For Ryan Switzer, you have to wonder what he is thinking. After being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2017 NFL Draft, he put up mediocre numbers, but he was just a rookie getting acclimated to life in the NFL.
As the former North Carolina product planned for big things in ‘Big D’ his second year, he was trade to the Oakland Raiders. Talk about a change of scenery, nonetheless, Switzer went and was ready to start fresh as a part of a pretty solid receiving corps featuring Amari Cooper, Martavis Bryant and Derek Carr throwing the football.
With all NFL teams preparing for their 4th preseason game Thursday night, Switzer was told early Monday morning he was being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Do the math. 2 years, already on his 3rd team. Does this mean he is a problem? Or isn’t as good as advertised? Or does it mean he is a sought after commodity who most feel is replaceable?
Either way, he is now a member of the black-and-gold, who will wear jersey No. 18, and when Jeremy Fowler of ESPN asked him what was next...you can imagine his head might be spinning after a red-eye flight across the country.
Ryan Switzer spoke about his excitement to be a part of the Black & Gold. pic.twitter.com/xVsY2ptyYk
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) August 29, 2018
Switzer hopes to at least return kickoffs and punts on Thursday night, but it is doubtful he sees any time on the offensive side of the ball, rather focusing on the team’s Week 1 game vs. the Cleveland Browns.
Despite Switzer’s transient NFL career thus far, take a look at his production in each location, albeit different lengths of time in each:
2017 - DAL - 6 receptions on 7 targets, 41 yards receiving / 4 rushes for 5 yards / 29 punt returns for 256 yards and a touchdown / 24 kickoff returns for 600 yards
2018 - OAK -
Week 1 Preseason - 1 rec, 7 yards, 1 TD / 0 return yards
Week 2 Preseason - 0 receptions / 0 return yards, both kickoff and punt return
Week 3 Preseason - 0 receiving yards / -1 return yards
It doesn’t really look as if the Cowboys, or Raiders, utilized Switzer to the best of his ability, and hopefully the Steelers will give him that chance. There is no doubt he is an upgrade in the return game the team currently throws out there, and it also allows Antonio Brown to focus on playing wide receiver and not punt returner.
Stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the meaningless games to stop, and the regular season to begin.