Steelers veteran noted as draft casualty following his release just days after Pittsburgh selected his replacement
While the NFL Draft is a new beginning for teams and rookies, it can also force change among veterans. Sometimes, teams draft and aim to develop players to replace their depth. The Steelers just proved that following the release of Montravius Adams… Steelers Release Montravius Adams Steelers are releasing defensive tackle Montravius Adams.– Adam Schefter, […]
While the NFL Draft is a new beginning for teams and rookies, it can also force change among veterans.
Sometimes, teams draft and aim to develop players to replace their depth.
The Steelers just proved that following the release of Montravius Adams…
Steelers Release Montravius Adams
Steelers are releasing defensive tackle Montravius Adams.
– Adam Schefter, ESPN
Adams has long served as the backup, if not starting, nose tackle for the Steelers. But when the team used a first and fifth-round pick on the defensive line, the writing was on the wall for Adams.
I had him as a bubble player on my way-too-early roster projection. The Steelers may opt to keep an extra defensive lineman on their team should they only carry two quarterbacks on the active roster, but that seems unlikely given the direction of the Aaron Rodgers saga.
So Derrick Harmon will likely start, and fifth-round pick Yahya Black is likely to be Adams' replacement. An 'F-350," as Mike Tomlin called him, Black is a massive human who will be utilized not primarily, but exclusively as a two-down run stuffer for the defense.
"Really excited about Yahya," said defensive line coach Karl Dunbar. "Watched a lot of his tape. Big, physical young man. I like the things he brings to the table in the fifth round, so you've got to love that…
"..We need to be more dominant up front. I think the way you get dominant up front is to get youth. I think he is going to be a great addition to the group. It's about competition, and that's why we're sitting in this room. It's competition. So, if you want to eat, go take your food. So that's what it's all about."
One thing is certain: the Steelers went all in on being a more physical team in the draft. A DT, RB, EDGE, and DT marked their first four picks.
They watched their defense get bludgeoned against the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs and said, "not again."
It made for some polarization among the media, as many believed they reached on Sawyer, questioned them not addressing the CB-WR position and believe their decision not to draft a QB until round five will come back to bite them.
Time will tell.
