Could Sammie Coates be trade bait?
As the offseason steams ahead, many teams are looking to bolster their rosters to compete for a Super Bowl title down the path ahead.
Speculation over trades and acquisitions started over the weekend in regard to several wide receivers, including the Jets’ plans to release WR Brandon Marshall, and the New England Patriots interest in not only Marshall, but working out a deal with the New Orleans Saints for WR Brandin Cooks.
We also saw the San Francisco 49ers come to terms with Jeremy Kerley, who had a few decent seasons in New York (also with the Jets) but nothing to write home about; which shows a growing demand for receivers this offseason (especially if the Niners weren’t allowed Kerley to hit the open market).
The Cleveland Browns are also having their issues signing Terrelle Pryor, Baltimore is all but certain to let Kamar Aiken test the market, and several other teams could use depth at the position.
Needless to say, the wide receiver position is in demand.
And guess who has a lot of receivers to offer in exchange for a draft pick? None other than the Pittsburgh Steelers.
I’m going to preface what I’m about to write by stating this is pure, 100% speculation. Nothing more. But, it’s plausible based on the number of receivers the Steelers already have on a crowded depth chart that can only carry X amount. That “X” last season was six, due to a myriad of injuries and setbacks.
Obviously, Antonio Brown is locked in as the top receiver on the team, following his huge contract extension to make him a Steeler for life. Outside of AB, the rest of the roster pans out as follows:
That’s six receivers on a team which typically carries five. Keep in mind, Hamilton and Ayers both started the season on the Steelers practice squad, and moved into their roles following injuries to Markus Wheaton, DHB and Coates.
Wheaton is set to become a free agent within days, and there’s an idea that he could return if the situation (money, opportunity) is right for him. That’d increase the number of receivers to seven, before a potential reinstatement of Martavis Bryant (which would increase the group to eight).
There’s no way the Steelers could keep eight receivers. It’s doubtful that they even keep six or seven, and on top of that, the uncertainty which followed injuries and suspensions last year leads many to believe the Steelers will also take a receiver in this year’s NFL Draft.
Now, I mentioned this is all speculation, but wouldn’t one speculate that’s a lot of receivers to keep in-house? I believe because of the stable of pass catchers the Steelers stashed, they might be able to dangle one of them to another team for a potential trade. The question then becomes: which receiver is the one the Steelers can afford to let go?
If Bryant is reinstated, that immediately takes any potential offensive playing time away from Coates, DHB, Hamilton and possibly Ayers. I’m going out on a limb here, but I think if another team wanted Hey-Bey before, they would’ve taken him. Since being a first round pick of the Raiders, DHB bounced from the Colts to the Steelers, and eventually stuck with Pittsburgh though it appeared that several times he could be let go. (We’re even speculating that he could be let go as a cap casualty.)
No team is going to trade for a player they feel they can otherwise claim off waivers or as a street free agent. So say “ditto” to that situation for Hamilton and Ayers as well. Hamilton was a journeyman practice squad player, and Ayers was barely drafted (taken in the seventh round last season). If teams valued either player enough, they would’ve made a go at them over the Steelers.
They did not, and therefore (and this is no slight at their talents or abilities) those teams won’t find enough value in those receivers to give up a draft pick for them. Unless it’s a team with multiple lower round picks, which usually churn out players of the roster bubble variety: cut, released, or signed to the practice squad.
Some might think that if Bryant were reinstated, Pittsburgh could wheel and deal him to another franchise, as the receiver still has two years remaining on his rookie contract. That’s pretty much the reason the Steelers haven’t cut him yet, because it has cost them little-to-nothing to keep him in their wings, whereas a release would see him gobbled up by any of the other 31 league members.
However, as far as being traded, Bryant’s suspension history spells too much risk for another team to give up any type of equal compensation for him.
That leaves one name left on the list, who could be traded: Sammie Coates.
Once again to clarify: I’m not saying they should, but I am saying the Steelers could, trade a receiver. If they do, Coates is the likely candidate which would net them the most value.
Sammie started the 2016 season with a bang. As Bryant’s replacement, he had five straight games with a catch of 40 or more yards. In Week 5 against the Jets, Coates caught 6 passes for 139 yards and 2 touchdowns with broken fingers, that coincidentally, spelled the end of his ability to catch a pass for nearly the rest of the season. (Sammie had only 2 more receptions since that game.)
Some are saying Coates’ fingers are mangled and have yet to be repaired. If this is the case, he’s not going to be of much value to anyone, including the Steelers. But, and this is a big but, if Coates can return to form, there’s little doubt his speed and potential could make a potential suitor salivate.
That includes the Steelers, who could use Coates in a case of emergency, but may have more than enough suitors to entertain a trade. Consider if Bryant and/or Wheaton were to come back, and in addition, Pittsburgh picks a pass catchers in the draft, the numbers game could make the Steelers bend an ear to a trade during the three-day draft extravaganza.
