The Steelers got an unexpected offensive spark in their win against the Baltimore Ravens from rookie wide receiver Demarcus Ayers. Ayers, a seventh-round draft pick, was on the practice squad for the first 14 weeks of the season. He was inactive in week 15 before finally getting a helmet in week 16. Needless to say, Ayers took advantage.
Demarcus Ayers Impact Moving Forward
Ayers contributed as a blocker and had two solid blocks to open up lanes for Le Veon Bell. In the fourth quarter, a 35-yard pass interference was called on Tavon Young after Ayers absolutely smoked him. Ayers even contributed on the game-winning drive, catching a nine-yard pass. His knowledge showed in getting out of bounds on the catch and with the Steelers scoring the game-winning touchdown with nine seconds on the clock, every second mattered.
2016 Contributions
This would not be the first time that the Steelers have found late round success with a wide receiver. Ayers profiles a bit like former sixth-round pick Antonio Brown. Both are about 5’10”, and from a small school. Both have return and big play abilities, but Ayers, like Brown as a rookie, is raw in his receiving abilities.
Brown, like Ayers, did not contribute much, with 16 catches in nine actives as a rookie. However, Brown showed up in a big spot, catching a 58-yard pass from Roethlisberger to change the game against the Baltimore Ravens in 2010 Divisional Round. While that was a playoff game, that week 16 matchup was the definition of a playoff game as well. The Steelers will have more big opportunities to come for Ayers, and with the big question mark behind Antonio Brown, they may come in the 2017 playoffs.
This is not say that Ayers will turn into Antonio Brown, but that the Steelers have proven to give these young, unproven players the chance to shine in these big spots. The Steelers have been looking for options to step up behind Brown, and the pickings have been slim recently. The door is wide open and Ayers will certainly have the opportunity to prove himself again this season.
2017 Roster Impact
The Steelers will hope to get their true number two wide receiver and a major game changer in the offense, Martavis Bryant back from suspension in 2017. That is a big if, but would obviously shake up the depth chart. The Steelers have only carried five wide receivers in the past two seasons on the initial 53-man roster. However, in 2014 they carried six wide receivers. It is looking like they will probably do the same in 2017. If Brown and Bryant are eligible, they are locks to make the roster. Ayers, Eli Rogers, Sammie Coates, Cobi Hamilton, Darrius Heyward-Bey will all likely be signed to the team and will be competing for four roster spots.
So Which One Goes
Rogers is the most likely to make the team. He is the only true slot option of the bunch, with Ayers so raw in the slot. While Cobi Hamilton has been starting on the outside in the absence of Coates, Rogers is currently the Steelers second most dangerous wide receiver on the team as well. Heyward-Bey is likely to make it on special teams value alone. He is also owed the most money of the bunch in 2017.
Between Ayers, Coates, and Hamilton, Ayers should get the chances moving forward. Hamilton has been starting and has made a few splash plays, but he is an Exclusive-Rights Free Agent this off-season. It means that the Steelers will likely have to decide whether to sign him to a three-year veteran minimum contract this off-season or not. Sammie Coates is tied to the roster, but he has been the biggest disappointment of the three to date. He has the lowest catch rate on the highest amount of targets. He caught just six of eleven targets in one of the most uninspiring 139 yard receiving games in recent history and of the three of them he is also the worst blocker to date. With Ayers signed on for a year longer than Coates, the competition between these three for those two spots should be on starting now, and Ayers should have a slight advantage.
It should be expected to see Ayers a lot in the Steelers week 17 game against the Cleveland Browns. If he can take advantage, he may get the chance to set himself up with a great oppurtunity to pencil himself on the 2017 roster with another big play or two in the 2017 playoffs.
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