Pittsburgh Steelers: 5 Veterans who won’t survive 2018 training camp

WR Darrius Heyward-Bey

For the last four years, Darrius Heyward-Bey has done a great job of keeping his NFL career alive. Despite being a former first-round bust for the Oakland Raiders, he’s managed to stay somewhat relevant on one of the NFL’s most consistent contenders.

However, after a solid 2015 campaign, Heyward-Bey has faded into the background in Pittsburgh. Over the last two seasons, he’s hauled in only eight passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns. With so many young options now on the roster, it’s going to be very difficult for the 31-year-old Heyward-Bey to convince this coaching staff he belongs.

Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s going to happen. Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster sit firmly atop the wide receiver depth chart. Then, rookie James Washington figures to step into Martavis Bryant’s role as the No. 3 pass catcher. From there, it’s anyone’s guess.

The Steelers currently have a slew of young receivers to pick from. Justin Hunter still offers some semblance of upside, and Marcus Tucker carries enough versatility to earn a roster spot. There’s also a decent chance Eli Rogers is re-signed once his ACL tear has healed.

No matter which angle you choose to look at it from, Heyward-Bey’s time in Pittsburgh seems to be ending. He kept it going for longer than I expected, so let’s call it a win.