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While the 2019 NFL offseason isn’t officially over yet, it is coming to its close. With that, it is time to look back from the end of the 2018 season to the current day and see who could be labeled as a ‘Winner’ or ‘Loser’ throughout this time span.
Check out who falls into which category, and why...
Winners
Ben Roethlisberger
Big Ben was the beneficiary of a brand new contract this offseason, and when you hit a huge pay day like Roethlisberger did, you have to find yourself on a winner list. Some might argue Roethlisberger not giving the team any type of hometown discount might not have him on this list, but when you lock up your franchise quarterback it is never a bad thing.
Devin Bush
Getting drafted in the NFL is a tremendous feat. Getting drafted in the first round of the draft shows your athletic prowess. If there is one scenario which might trump the other two it would be when a team trades up to draft you. A team covets your skill set enough to trade any number of capital away just to get you on their team. This is exactly what happened with the Steelers and Bush, which puts Bush on the clear-cut winners list.
Donte Moncrief
Moncrief finds himself on the winner list just because of the quarterback now throwing him passes. Think about being drafted by the Colts and catching passes from Andrew Luck. Then, after Luck gets injured, you have to settle for Curtis Painter and Jacoby Brissett. Top it off with going to the Jaguars and having to catch passes from Blake Bortles. Needless to say, Moncrief getting to work with Big Ben has him on the winner list.
Offensive Line
While the offensive line did lose their coach, they kept continuity across the board. Signing both Ramon Foster and Maurkice Pouncey kept continuity across the line, albeit while losing Marcus Gilbert via trade to the Cardinals. This group should be one of the best in the league for another season.
Mike Tomlin
Tomlin had to deal with an incredible amount of drama the past few seasons, and while he is certainly to blame for some of that drama, having his locker room back has to be a huge plus for the long-tenured coach.
Steelers Fans
It isn’t the best for website traffic, but black-and-gold fans have to be excited about the fact this offseason went off without a hitch. Since Le’Veon Bell left via free agency, and Antonio Brown forced his way out of the organization, it has been a drama-free offseason. Such a weird, but great, change of pace.
Losers
Artie Burns
The former first round draft pick did not have his 5th year option picked up by the Steelers, meaning he is set to become a free agent after this upcoming season. On top of that, Burns doens’t seem like he is even a lock to make the team’s 53-man roster. From first round pick to having to fight for a roster spot is the epitome of a fall from grace.
Tyler Matakevich
Matakevich is in the final year of his rookie contract, and the future doesn’t look all too bright for ‘Dirty Red’. The Steelers brought in Mark Barron in free agency, drafted Devin Bush in the first round and added Ulysees Gilbert later in the 2019 NFL Draft. They are bolstering the position not only for this year, but possibly for the future. If that is the case, it might be the end of the road for Matakevich in Pittsburgh.
Chris Boswell
Boswell was due a hefty signing bonus before the start of the new league year, but the Steelers told Boswell the bonus won’t be coming until the end of the preseason. In other words, if you can’t make the necessary kicks in the preseason, you will be let go without the signing bonus. Talk about pressure for a kicker who struggled throughout the entire 2018 season.