The Steelers could use another wide out, and likely will need to fill the role left once Mike Wallace bails out and takes the highest dollar in free agency.
With that said, there’s a name floating around that could interest the Steelers due to his connections locally to Pittsburgh, and that’s recently released WR Steve Breaston.
Mark Kaboly at the Tribune-Review wrote about Breston being open to coming to the Steelers, but also wrote that Breston wants to play, and wants to go to a team that is going to use him quite a bit.
Breaston is a grad from Woodland Hills, and knows all about Todd Haley’s system after joining the Chiefs from the Cardinals.
The wide out had a 5-year, $22.5 million contract with $9.5 million guaranteed, but was released by the Chiefs last week with new coach Andy Reid coming to KC.
Breaston was barely used in the last few weeks, playing just 10 snaps after week 11.
“Sure, signing with the Steelers is something to think about,” Breaston said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “But more important, I just want to have an opportunity to play and get on the field and get back to winning games and help contribute to that.”
According to the article, the agent for Breaston, Eric Metz, is expected to have talks with the Steelers this weekend during the combine.
“I know of the Pittsburgh tradition and the winning ways and it would be a great team to be involved with, but for me, it is all about using this process,” Breaston said. “I have to take everything in and see what would be a good fit for me and where I can come in and play.”
With all the cash the Steelers have to trim off the roster and the moves they will have to make just in order to get under the cap, it’s hard to think about adding players right now.
They have to think ahead though, and while Breaston might be a solid option, it’s not known if the Steelers are even going to be able to afford him.
His best season came in 2008 when he had 77 catches for 1006 yards and three touchdowns.
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Daniel
February 22, 2013 at 4:40 am
I thought Breaston would be a good fit for the Steelers as soon as I read he was being released. If the team can get under the cap enough to afford him then he’d probably be good value; I could definitely see him getting back to his ’08 form and maybe challenging Sanders for the #2 WR spot. Plus he’s very good friends with Woodley as well as being a Pittsburgh guy so you’d think he would settle into the team very quickly. It makes a lot of sense if the team can find the cap space for him.
Ben Dover
February 22, 2013 at 2:59 pm
Breaston for the one-trick-pony Mike Wallace, I’d take that trade-off any day.
The Steelers front office has really fallen apart and started to make stupid moves since the “Soundbyte” replaced Bill Cowher. They had no chance of winning Super Bowl XLVII, and should traded Wallace for draft picks. Very disappointing.
George H
February 22, 2013 at 5:01 pm
I would take Wallace and his production any day over breaston. Not that he’s a bad player, but Wallace can open up a game with his big play ability. That will definitely be missed this coming season
Jalen
February 22, 2013 at 7:57 pm
I’m tired of all this conjecture about short, speedy unaggressive wideouts…We already have three on the roster (wallace–will be gone but for now he’s still a Steeler, Sanders and Brown). We need to add a red zone weapon! Someone who’s a matchup issue for opposing safeties and linebackers! We do not have that man on the roster right now. Say what you want about Miller…He is awesome and serves a great purpose being sure-handed and a great blocker but he is slightly lacking in athletic ability and speed/agility to go up and get balls. I love Miller and believe he’s a great option but we ALSO need a 6′ 3″ or 6’4″ really athletic guy in the redone. Maybe Burress is a stop gap for one year until that player comes along. I don’t want to be misread and imply that speedy wideouts are not necessary. I believe the lack of them are why New England lost to Baltimore (that plus Gronk was injured). Welker is quick but no top off the coverage guy and doesn’t work well outside of the hashes. and Lloyd is just overrated. BUT they do have two huge red zone targets in Gronk and Hernandez. I believe the most successful teams need to have a healthy combination (ala not an imbalance) of speedy quick guys combined with big athletic guys at the wideout position. Baltimore’s Boldin and Smith were the perfect combination this past year and SF’s Crabtree really stepped up his game the last month of the season and in the postseason. We currently have an imbalance of short, speedy, nonphysical guys and not enough redone guys (i.e., Gronk, Tony Gonzalez, etc.). Wallace is good but if the ball isn’t dropped perfectly in his two palms while running in stride then he’s useless. He doesn’t fight for balls, runs hunched over across the middle and drops passes in crowds. Those negative attributes MIGHT be acceptable if there was a big physical guy opposite him but there’s not. I like Brown but he is not a number one nor is he very physical. Sanders is also very non physical. I’m not saying to do away with these types of receivers, they serve a purpose but need big aggressive physical complements. We need a RECEIVER who will work the middle of the field between the twenties and become a matchup issue in the red zone. Wallace, Sanders and Brown are not redzone weapons and anyone who thinks they are just simply doesn’t understand this game. I miss Ward and although it will be very difficult to replace him, we can go out and find a player like him to reinject that attitude1
Black&gold4life
February 22, 2013 at 10:22 pm
BINGO!! Tennessee has 2 Big WRs comming out in the draft. Maybe we can grab one.
George H
February 24, 2013 at 3:18 pm
I think the Tennessee wr is named Patterson. He ran a 4.3 40 at the combine today. He might jump into top ten territory