Steelers News: Thankfully, the Steelers don’t need a tight end in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers 2019 season is officially over. After finishing the year 8-8, the Steelers, and their vast fan base, has another long offseason awaiting them. Just because the games are done doesn’t mean we stop providing you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over throughout the offseason!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how it is a good thing the Steelers don’t need a tight end in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Let’s get to the news:

• The Pittsburgh Steelers signing Eric Ebron means the team doesn’t need to focus on tight end in the upcoming draft, and that is a good thing.

Lack of need at TE comes during good year for Steelers

By: Joe Rutter, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Since selecting Heath Miller with the No. 30 overall pick in 2005, the Pittsburgh Steelers have drafted a tight end in the first three rounds on just one occasion.

In 2007, they used a third-round pick on Matt Spaeth. In the dozen drafts that followed, only Jesse James in 2015 and Zach Gentry last year merited even a fifth-round selection.

Thanks to the free-agent signing of Eric Ebron, that streak should live on for one more year.

With Steelers tight ends generating some of the worst numbers in the NFL last season, Ebron was signed to a two-year, $12 million contract with the anticipation the six-year veteran will return to his 2018 Pro Bowl form.

Ebron caught a career-high 66 passes for 750 yards and 13 touchdowns that season. Steelers starter Vance McDonald also had his best year that season: 50 receptions for 610 yards and four touchdowns.

In theory, the Steelers have a chance to use McDonald and Ebron in two tight-end formations, something they rarely could do last season with young quarterbacks Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges under center.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• From the thinnest draft class to one of the deepest. The wide receivers in 2020 are amazing.

NFL Draft WR breakdown: CeeDee Lamb, Alabama receivers highlight class

By: Joe Rutter, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The 2020 NFL Draft is April 23-25. Each day leading up to the first round, the Tribune-Review is compiling a positional preview of the top draft prospects.

1. CeeDee Lamb

Oklahoma, 6-2, 198

In his final season at Oklahoma, Lamb became the favorite receiver of Jalen Hurts, catching 62 passes for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns. His 21.4 yards per catch led all FBS receivers with at least 40 receptions. In his sophomore season, he had 1,158 yards and a team-high 11 touchdown catches. He also started in his first season and set the school freshman record with 804 receiving yards. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds at the NFL Combine.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• An update on Ulysees Gilbert III and his back rehabilitation.

Gilbert is rehabbing from home

By: Teresa Varley, Steelers.com

A rookie year is tough on its own, making all of the adjustments to life as a professional athlete for the first time. But a rookie year marred by an injury might be one of the toughest things for a young player.

And if you don’t believe me, just ask Ulysees Gilbert.

Now, add to that an offseason where you were on track with your rehab until all of a sudden, a pandemic brought that to a screeching halt.

It’s been quite the year for Gilbert. One of the Steelers sixth-round picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, Gilbert came into the season with a lot of promise, making the 53-man roster right out of the box. He made a quick impact on special teams, but a back injury interrupted that, forcing the team to place him on the reserve/injured list on Nov. 5.

”I felt like I was getting in my groove, getting way more comfortable when the injury occurred,” said Gilbert. “It was pretty tough. For this to be the first time you are so close to your dream, to be able to play and have it taken away by injury, it really does suck. It’s kind of like a mental thing. It messes you up a little bit. You are playing one day and then the next day you wake up and it’s all gone. Plus, it was the first time I have been away from football for that long.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• BTSC articles you may have missed...

Are we not giving Paxton Lynch a shot at a spot on the roster?

Replacing Mark Barron might not be as easy as you think

Who was the worst Steelers player in coverage in 2019?

Sports fans are hesitant to return to live sporting events

Mike Tomlin: This is chess, not checkers

• Social Media Madness