Pittsburgh Steelers sign Donte Moncrief: Grade, reaction and more
While he doesn’t fill the void left by the departure of Antonio Brown, wide receiver Donte Moncrief could be a solid addition for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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Replacing a talent that amassed an NFL-record six consecutive seasons with 100 or more catches doesn’t figure to be easy. And while it’s obvious that the Pittsburgh Steelers have a big hole to fill with the trade of wide receiver Antonio Brown to the Oakland Raiders, the franchise is once again going about its business by adding a veteran player that fits their needs in many ways.
A former third-round draft choice of the Indianapolis Colts in 2014, Donte Moncrief spent four seasons catching his share of passes from quarterback Andrew Luck. His career totals with the Colts read as 152 receptions for 1,875 yards (12.3 average) and 18 scores in 53 regular-season outings with the club. This past season, the former Ole Miss standout was with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He finished third on the team with 48 catches but was second with 668 receiving yards, to go along with three scores.
Moncrief joins a wide receiving corps that still includes Juju Smith-Schuster, Ryan Switzer, Eli Rogers and 2018 second-round pick James Washington.
Contract Details
While financial terms were not available at the moment, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the five-year pro has agreed to a two-year deal with the Steelers.
National Reaction
Donte Moncrief -- who's joining Steelers on a two-year deal, per @AdamSchefter -- won't adequately replace Antonio Brown (not many can) but gets chance to re-establish himself after struggles in Jacksonville. Moncrief has size, speed and 3 TDs in five career games vs. PIT.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 14, 2019
A classic Steelers' move. Moncrief gives them the ability to not force a WR in the draft. They can take one as they come in the draft. The only position now of glaring need is ILB. And a trade up might be required to handle that. But they have the draft capital. #Steelers #dkps
— Dale Lolley (@dlolley_pgh) March 14, 2019
Donte Moncrief really couldn't have dreamed up a much better landing spot than the #Steelers. Love this flier for the team and player. My snap-reaction thoughts: pic.twitter.com/cmpebLuTTd
— Nick Mensio (@NickMensio) March 14, 2019
Donte Moncrief is the classic Colbert signing. The "stop the leak" addition at position of need so you don't feel 100% obligated to draft one right away. That's how you reach.
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) March 14, 2019
Obviously though, team could - and likely will - draft a WR pretty high. This offers some flexibility.
B. . WR. Pittsburgh Steelers. DONTE MONCRIEF
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As usual, general manager Kevin Colbert and the organization doesn’t have a lot of cap room at their disposal. But Moncrief could prove to be a sneaky-good addition to a Pittsburgh offense that should strive for a little more balance in 2019. The five-year pro has reached the end zone 21 times amongst his 200 career regular-season receptions. While he doesn’t figure to be a high-volume pass-catcher, he gives quarterback Ben Roethlisberger a proven and reliable option.
It will be interesting to see if the team is finished when it comes to adding veterans receivers to their roster. The likes of Golden Tate, Randall Cobb and Michael Crabtree are all still available but may not come cheap. This could prove to be a very unspectacular but effective addition for Mike Tomlin’s team.
The Steelers have a lot to do when it comes to replacing a seven-time Pro Bowler like Antonio Brown. Moncrief is a step in the right direction and keep in mind the club has 10 selections in this year’s draft.