Steelers WR coach Daryl Drake continues to be impressed by Donte Moncrief

Of all of the new additions the Pittsburgh Steelers have made this offseason, it would be fair to say that the signing of Donte Moncrief barely moved the needle for some fans . But from the perspective of his new coaches and teammates, the wide receiver could yet prove to be one of the team’s better free agent signings of recent times.

Offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner spoke of Moncrief’s ‘unbelievable professionalism’ during OTAs, and it would appear that wide receivers coach Daryl Drake is also a fan of the way the veteran wideout works.

When speaking to Jacob Klinger of Penn LIve during minicamp, his position coach was full of praise for the former Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver.

“There’s times where you get a guy, you bring him in and he’s been in two or three different systems, those systems start running together. But he’s been able to distinguish the differences and go out there and do things that makes my job a lot easier because he has a feel for the position.”

“One thing that he’s doing right now, he’s playing with a lot of confidence, and Ben has confidence in him. So we just got to continue for him to grow and continue for him to do the things that we ask him to do.”

With the team on a break until returning for training camp on July 25, Moncrief has been spending some of his time working out with backup quarterback Josh Dobbs.

Continuing to show a dedication to his craft that Ben Roethlisberger had noted when talking to Teresa Varley of Steelers.com earlier in the offseason.

“You see a desire and the want to be great. I’ve really enjoyed to opportunity to know him and to work with him so far. This is an awesome opportunity that he’s here and we’re getting to work together. He was with us when we went on our trip. It’s just, it’s been fun to get to know him as a person too.”

And while many fans and media observers are expecting a breakout year from James Washington in 2019, it might ultimately end up being Moncrief who has the career year in Pittsburgh this season.