Former AFC North rival could become a Steeler
Talk about upgrading your home.
Free agency can be a tricky time for NFL players. Guys on every team have weighed the benefits of their current organization, to the other 31 in the league.
You could write a separate article on the influence of money alone (since that's in essence what free agency is) but we're still humans, and there is a morality at play.
The cliche "hometown discount" is very real and applies to multiple facets of the franchise including draft position, team success, and plain admiration for the organization.
And when leaving one city for another, typically there's no love lost, but when you're leaving the Ravens to join the Steelers… well that's a little different.
But when you consider the needs of the Steelers offense, this player is sure to enhance a lack of depth at the tight end position.
Yes, I know that it may as well be sacrilegious to persuade Steelers fans about a Baltimore free agent with a clip of him mauling their former starting linebacker.
The truth is, most of you are like Alex here and want Spillane in a "reduced" role to put it mildly, so let's not be hypocritical here.
Fine, I will give you something less degrading here:
To make things abundantly clear, this signing would come at a low cost, along with the fact that Oliver could replace and potentially upgrade the back part of the tight end group.
When discussing Oliver's potential role on the Steelers, this is what The Athletic's Mike Kaboly said:
The Steelers liked the 6-foot-5 Oliver coming out of San Jose State, bringing him in for a pre-draft visit before he was drafted in the third round by Jacksonville in 2019. The soon-to-be 26-year-old was traded to Baltimore in 2020 and is coming off his best season, featuring improved blocking and a career-high 14 catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns.
Kaboly also added that the Steelers are likely to re-sign backup tight end, Zach Gentry, potentially making this all for not.
But the NFL is reverting in a way. More teams are deploying three tight end sets or what we call "13 personnel" meaning one back and three tight ends.
I know what your thinking, "who wants to watch that old-school ball when we have guys like Pickett and Pickens".
The truth is, when used correctly, 13 personnel allows for more explosive plays in the dropback pass game while getting guys like Najee Harris off and running on the ground.
One team that saw a dramatic shift in offensive philosophy and success when using more three tight end sets:
Oh just the reigning Super Bowl Champion, Kansas City Chiefs.
So if the price is right, why not take a flyer on Oliver and see what turns up?
If nothing else, maybe he gives the team some insight into those dreary birds in Baltimore.
