By Brandon J. Wallace
SteelerNation.com
Saturday, the Pittsburgh Steelers finally made the apparent "inevitable" choice to part ways with free agent pickup, WR Donte Moncrief. Moncrief (26) was on a two-year, $9 million contract, but was only able to haul in just four catches so far this year for 18 yards (along with five drops).
This move actually benefits the Steelers for the 2020 NFL Draft. With the way the NFL's compensatory pick format is setup, the Steelers will actually be rewarded an extra pick. Teams that lose free agent signings within the first 10 weeks of that season don't get penalized towards the compensatory pick allocation. The signing of Moncrief would have cost them a third-round compensatory pick for losing RB Le'Veon Bell, but because Moncrief 's release comes in Week 9, the third-round pick for Bell is expected to go back to Pittsburgh. Confusing, I know... but it's a good thing.
Steelers release WR Donte Moncrief. It now makes them eligible again for a potential third-round compensatory pick in April’s draft.
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) November 2, 2019
Along with this move, the Steelers also needed to address the injuries piling up in the backfield. James Conner is doubtful Sunday with a shoulder sprain and Benny Snell Jr. has been listed as OUT. A move was made today to activate RB Tony Brooks-James from the practice squad. An extra space was open due to the release of Moncrief.
Brooks-James (24) went undrafted out of Oregon, originally with the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad. He left his collegiate career with almost 1,900 rushing yards and almost 400 receiving yards.
We have promoted RB Tony Brooks-James to the 53-man roster and released WR Donte Moncrief.@BordasLaw TRANSACTION: https://t.co/geTCOD1VMM pic.twitter.com/N3SH41vHbW
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 2, 2019
Let us know what you think of these new roster moves in the comment section below!
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