3 surprise cuts the Steelers could make this offseason

1. Eric Ebron

Mark the Steelers down as the latest franchise to become frustrated with Ebron’s inconsistencies as a pass-catcher. He made 56 catches for 558 yards and five touchdowns last season, but once again, his penchant for drops made him an unreliable player for his offense.

If Pittsburgh was flush with cap space they could afford to give Ebron another chance to develop into a real weapon for Roethlisberger. As it stands, the potential benefit of parting with him while only incurring a dead cap charge of $2 million will be too tempting for the front office to pass up.

Admittedly, cutting Ebron will force the Steelers to spend precious resources on securing a replacement. Gambling on a rookie to fill the void might be too risky for the franchise to handle. Signing a younger veteran like Gerald Everett could represent a middle-of-the-road solution for Pittsburgh.

Ebron will attract significant free agent interest if he is let go due to his above-average athleticism and penchant for big plays. Savvy teams will stay away because of his maddening inconsistencies. He isn’t out of chances in the NFL, but his career is heading squarely in that direction.