How former Steelers fare after leaving Pittsburgh
With the dust settling from the offseason and NFL teams ready to get to work in various training camps, I thought it would be a fun exercise to go back and take a look at some former Steelers, and what they’ve done since leaving the Steel City.
The list below includes players ranging from those drafted by Pittsburgh to those who only had a cup of coffee with the team. Regardless of the amount of time spent in a Steelers uniform, I felt it those who had the most buzz around them would be best to talk about. (After all, who remembers Shaquille Richardson?)
I broke the entire list into three categories, as outlined below:
They did alright for themselves
Mike Wallace
Without a doubt, Mike Wallace headlines this list. The former Steelers receiver was a hot topic during his final season in Pittsburgh, where Wallace sat out the preseason and demanded a new contract (which never came).
Wallace parlayed his success in Pittsburgh to the tune of a five-year $60 million contract with the Miami Dolphins. He would play two seasons there before being traded to the Minnesota Vikings in 2015, and then spending his last two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.
Wallace is now on his fifth NFL team, joining the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles this offseason.
Emmanuel Sanders
Surprisingly, Sanders hasn’t gone anywhere since leaving, sticking with the Denver Broncos for the last four seasons. He’s arguably had the most success of any player the Steelers have let walk in recent memory, as Sanders has been twice named to the Pro Bowl and also won a Super Bowl with Denver in 2015.
Kelvin Beachum
Risking reward by not signing an extension in his final Steelers season, Beachum ended up on the injured reserve list while losing his starting gig to current left tackle Alejandro Villanueva.
Beachum would play one season in Jacksonville before landing with the New York Jets, where he is currently under contract, and projected to once again be the team’s starting left tackle in 2018.
Ziggy Hood
The Steelers first round draft pick in 2009 never quite panned out in Pittsburgh but has continued to carve out starting roles with each team he has joined since. He first went to Jacksonville for two seasons, before he waived by the Jaguars and claimed by the Chicago Bears.
In 2016 Hood joined the Washington Redskins and continues on as part of their starting defensive line rotation.
Jerricho Cotchery
A free agent acquisition by the Steelers in 2011, Cotchery had his best season in 2013, catching ten touchdowns and leaving Steelers Nation wondering how they’d replace the solid possession receiver.
Cotchery would join the Carolina Panthers in 2014 and play two seasons before assuming his current role as the team’s wide receiver coach.
Willie Colon & Kraig Urbik
Offensive linemen usually don’t get much attention, but both of these men deserve a nod in this category for carving out their own niche in the NFL.
Colon was one of Ben Roethlisberger’s biggest protectors early in the quarterback’s career before playing three final seasons with the New York Jets from 2013-2015.
He now spends his time with Barstool Sports as a radio host for the Barstool Breakfast show.
Urbik, a former third-round selection and the Steelers second pick after Ziggy Hood in 2009 never stuck with the team, but played six years in Buffalo and an additional season with the Miami Dolphins before calling it quits after the 2016 season.
Still giving it a go
Wide Receivers
A handful of former Steelers are “still at it” in the NFL. Headlining the list are a batch of former receivers: Markus Wheaton, Sammie Coates and Cobi Hamilton.
Hamilton, a journeyman receiver before joining the Steelers is back in limbo again. He signed with the Houston Texans in 2017 and was picked up by the Arizona Cardinals in March. However, the Cardinals released the receiver just a few weeks ago and he is currently a free agent.
Markus Wheaton joins Mike Wallace with the Philadelphia Eagles and is hoping to reclaim some of his glory days after failing to catch on with Chicago in 2017.
The Steelers traded Sammie Coates to the Cleveland Browns for a 2018 sixth-round pick, which was eventually then traded to Tampa Bay for safety J.J. Wilcox. Coates was released by the Browns in March and is currently a member of the Houston Texans.
Ross Cockrell
Part of a “two dogs, one bone” competition in last year’s training camp, former starting cornerback Ross Cockrell was shipped off to the New York Giants in a trade after Pittsburgh signed Joe Haden to replace him.
The Steelers used that conditional pick as a bargaining chip to move up a few spots ahead of the Cincinnati Bengals to select Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph in this year’s draft.
Meanwhile, Cockrell signed a two-year deal with the Carolina Panthers this offseason.
Colin Holba
A controversial special teams pick, Holba was the only 2017 Steelers draft pick who failed to make the final roster. Following an injury to their starting long snapper, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed Holba last November. He was penciled in to compete at camp in 2018, but is currently a free agent after being waived in June.
Weslye Johnson
Wesley Johnson was yet another “failed” pick from the 2014 draft class who made a nice career after the Steelers waived him during his rookie season. The offensive lineman would be picked up by the Jets, starting 24 games since 2014.
Johnson signed with the Detroit Lions this offseason.
Whatever happened to?
A lot of noise has been made in the past when the Steelers organization brings in or says goodbye to certain players. A number of those names, mentioned below, have all had their mixed successes and failures since leaving Pittsburgh.
Defensive Backs
Brandon Boykin may have been one of the biggest fireplugs in recent memory. He was brought in via a trade as a highly-touted nickel cornerback that was in then Eagles head coach Chip Kelly’s doghouse. Boykin’s addition was necessary as second round draft pick, a highly needed cornerback named Senquez Golson, was placed on injured reserve.
Boykin made more noise off of the field than on it and wasn’t retained the following season after barely playing in 2015. He was then signed and subsequently cut by the Carolina Panthers before training camp started. He bounced to the Chicago Bears, and was placed on IR himself during camp.
He would return to the injured reserve list again with the Ravens before the start of the 2017 season and is currently a free agent.
Golson stuck around through last season with the Steelers, and still couldn’t remain healthy enough to compete for a roster spot. Tampa Bay added him to their practice squad for a week before he was released in November. He’s currently a free agent, as a short stint with the Raiders this offseason didn’t pan out as planned.
Former starters Cortez Allen and Antwon Blake are also retired. (On a side note, Allen just completed his MBA from the University of Miami.)
Another former one-year starter, Brice McCain, played with the Dolphins in 2015 and then two seasons for the Titans. He is currently a free agent.
Draft Busts
Two of the more egregious draft picks in recent years are both out of the league.
Dri Archer, a third-round pick in 2014, was waived in late 2015. The Jets acquired him, but also let him go during the 2016 offseason. The Buffalo Bills showed interest in Archer but were forced to please him on the “did not report” list when Archer didn’t report to the team.
2013 first round draft pick Jarvis Jones signed with the Arizona Cardinals last season, but failed to make it to the regular season, released with an injury settlement. He is currently a free agent as well.
Lawrence Timmons
Mike Tomlin’s first-ever draft pick was another panic for Steelers Nation when the team didn’t attempt to re-sign him last offseason.
Timmons signed with the Miami Dolphins, then went MIA during the early part of the regular season and was subsequently suspended by the team. He would return to play, but was released this offseason and still doesn’t have a team to call home.
