{"id":3885,"date":"2016-10-12T21:34:14","date_gmt":"2016-10-13T01:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=3885"},"modified":"2016-10-14T12:27:15","modified_gmt":"2016-10-14T16:27:15","slug":"sammie-coates-solidifying-starting-wide-receiver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2016\/10\/12\/sammie-coates-solidifying-starting-wide-receiver\/","title":{"rendered":"Sammie Coates Solidifying Himself as a Starting Wide Receiver"},"content":{"rendered":"

Second-year wide receiver Sammie Coates<\/a><\/strong> has made an impact for the Pittsburgh Steelers<\/strong> this year as a deep-ball threat. In the team\u2019s first five games, Coates has a reception of at least 40 yards in each game. With Martavis Bryant<\/a><\/strong> serving a year-long suspension for violating the league\u2019s substance abuse policy, Coates has stepped up and filled Bryant\u2019s cleats nicely. Bryant\u2019s issues off of the field, coupled with fellow wide receiver Markus Wheaton<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s lack of production and expiring contract, pave the way for Coates becoming a crucial part of the Steelers offense for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n

Sammie Coates Solidifying Himself as a Starting Wide Receiver<\/h2>\n

Along with having a reception of at least 40 yards in each game this year, Coates has six receptions in each of the Steelers last two games. In fact, Coates trails Antonio Brown<\/a><\/strong> for the team\u2019s lead in receiving yards by just 26 yards. Brown has 447 receiving yards and five touchdowns compared to Coates\u2019 421 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Coates\u2019 big play ability is what sets him apart from Brown though. So far this season, Coates is averaging 22 yards per reception compared to only 12 yards per reception for Brown. Brown\u2019s dependability, paired with Coates\u2019 ability to break open a game at any moment with a long reception from Ben Roethlisberger<\/a>, <\/strong>will be a deadly combination for the Steelers offense.<\/p>\n

Martavis Bryant’s Off-The-Field Issues<\/h3>\n

Martavis Bryant has been the Steelers big play threat in recent years, but his off-the-field issues have limited his playing time. Bryant totaled 765 receiving yards and six touchdowns last season, with 15 yards per reception. So far this season, Coates is on pace for 1,347 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Bryant is set to make $690,000 in 2017 when he returns to the team. Bryant\u2019s contract expires after the 2017 season. He\u2019ll need to produce big numbers next year, not to mention stay out of trouble, in order to warrant an extension from the Steelers.<\/p>\n

Steelers Wide Receivers’ Contracts<\/h3>\n

Coates\u2019 rookie contract is through 2018, with him making an average of $660,000 over the next two seasons. He\u2019ll make $700,000 in 2018. Wheaton is in the final year of his contract, making roughly $1.7 million this season. Over the past two seasons, Wheaton has averaged 696.5 receiving yards and 3.5 touchdowns. After starting 2016 with an injury, Wheaton has only four receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown this season. It\u2019s hard to see how the Steelers could justify resigning Wheaton after this year with his lack of production over the past few seasons. Add in the facts that Bryant has another year left on his contract and Coates has seemingly taken over the number two receiver spot, and it\u2019s pretty clear that Wheaton won\u2019t be wearing a Steelers jersey next year.<\/p>\n

Star wide receiver Antonio Brown is under contract through 2017 before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2018. Brown restructured his contract before the 2016 season and is now making roughly $8.9 million a year over the next two years. It\u2019s highly unlikely that the Steelers will let their best player leave, so that makes it hard to keep Bryant as well. Even though he\u2019s made mistakes, Bryant\u2019s talent will generate plenty of interest from other NFL teams, and likely much more money than the Steelers would be willing to pay.<\/p>\n

Coates is Next in Line for Success as a Steelers Wide Receiver<\/h3>\n

Expect Markus Wheaton and Martavis Bryant to be gone in the next two years, but there\u2019s no need for Steelers fans to worry. Sammie Coates has made his presence felt and has solidified himself as a weapon in the Steelers offense for years to come\u2026or at least until his contract expires. As impressive as Coates has been so far this season, the Steelers have an excellent track record of drafting talented wide receivers. Before Santonio Holmes<\/a><\/strong>, there was Plaxico Burress<\/a>.<\/strong> After Holmes, there was Mike Wallace<\/a><\/strong>. After Wallace, there was Emmanuel Sanders<\/a><\/strong>. After Sanders, there was Antonio Brown, followed by Wheaton and Bryant. Coates is the next talented wide receiver in line to succeed in the Steelers offense, and he\u2019ll likely pass the torch on to another younger, cheaper wide receiver in the future.<\/p>\n

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