The Pittsburgh Steelers have seen the heights that wide receiver Martavis Bryant can hit. He was a highly talented player that would make highlight-reel catch after highlight-reel catch, that acted as a perfect complement to Antonio Brown. They have also seen the lows that Bryant can hit as well. He broke the NFL policy on marijuana twice with the team, talked down about Sammie Coates when JuJu Smith-Schuster was drafted, then complained about Smith-Schuster taking over his role on the team -- which resulted in him getting benched and traded away. From there, things did not get any better.
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Former Steelers receivers (from left to right) JuJu Smith-Schuster, Martavis Bryant, and Antonio Brown.
Nowadays, Bryant is just looking for a job anywhere. He bounced around from league to league before signing with the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad in 2023, but was released back in May. He is still looking to sign with a team, and he believes that he still has what it takes to be an NFL-caliber receiver, as he said in an interview recently with Charlotte Sports Live.
"I got a lot of football left, still love the game, never stopped loving the game... I put in a lot of work, and there's still so much left I can do. I know I can contribute to some team, to someone that wants to give me the opportunity."
Once training camp hits, more opportunities should pop up for Bryant, as guys get either injured or released. That would be the perfect time for a team to bring him on and see exactly what he has left in the tank. However, even if he does get a veteran minimum contract to come back to the NFL and compete in training camp, there is still a very long road for him to making a 53-man roster and playing in a regular season game again.
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Martavis Bryant races to the end zone during the Steelers' Week 2 victory over Minnesota in 2017.
In his 2023 campaign with the Vegas Vipers of the former XFL, he only had 14 receptions for 154 yards. If you can't compete at the spring league level, it is almost impossible to be able to compete at the NFL level. While he may still have some talent, it's not a good sign when you're cut during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and are still looking for a team in July.
Of course, with training camp around the corner, not all hope is lost. Even if he does not make it to a 53-man roster, he could still land on a team's practice squad and eventually get elevated to the active roster for a game. If Bryant can prove himself, he could see his first in-game action with the NFL since he was on the then-Oakland Raiders in 2018.
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Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant lasted just eight games with the then-Oakland Raiders in 2018 before getting injured and suspended.
Bryant was placed on Injured Reserve in December of 2018 for a torn ligament, then he was indefinitely suspended for a third violation of the NFL's marijuana policy. He was officially re-instated in 2023 after a suspension that lasted almost five whole years. Now that the weed policy is no longer enforced by the NFL, Bryant won't have to worry about getting suspended anymore, whether he makes a team or not.
Would Steelers Consider A Reunion With Bryant?
All offseason long, media pundits have been talking about how the Steelers have little to no talent in the receiving core behind George Pickens. The team could at least bring Bryant in for a visit and/or sign him as a depth option. As long as the bridge between Bryant and the Steelers is not burned, that could be a low-risk option for the team.
What do you think about Bryant trying to sign back into the NFL and contribute? Do you think he has what it takes to get back into the game? Let us know in the comments.
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