The Pittsburgh Steelers have at least figured out their quarterback situation, but huge holes on the team remain. They still do not have a starting center, slot cornerback, and even with Van Jefferson coming in, the team needs to add a receiver. And there are multiple candidates out there for where that help could come from, and while Tyler Boyd is the most talked about option, Josh Reynolds from the Lions is another excellent option.
If the Steelers were to sign him, what would he cost? According to PFF’s Brad Spielberger, Reynolds would likely cost the Steelers a 2-year, $10.5 million contract over those two seasons.
He was recently in a heavy run-blocking offense in Ben Johnson’s scheme and has the chops to get after it in the run game. If you can find players who can do and be a strong, physical body over the middle of the field, they are a fit for this offense. Reynolds has some sauce on his routes and can get open on those over routes and dig routes.
In fact, that was his main route tree throughout his time in the offense and Jared Goff hit him on those exact two routes more than I can count. He fits this offense like a glove, and his toughness and productivity of play action speak to his skill set in making tough hand catches in those tight windows over the middle of the field. He feels like one of the best options of this group that can give the team a high floor while adding physicality in the run game.
One of the things that makes Smith’s offense fit in with the Sean McVay tree, or at least parts of it, is that he has some of the shortest splits in the league. Wide receivers will sometimes be on the hip on tackles or tight ends. That’s the reality of it, but it’s an interesting philosophy when done right. Smith attacks defenses from the inside-out rather than outside-in like most spread formations will do. That does not mean that both philosophies can not work, but McVay and Kyle Shanahan are on this wave now. They run bunch sets, stacked looks, and work out of these condensed splits. No team ran more plays out of condensed sets than the 49ers, but the Rams and Falcons are right behind them. And Reynolds fits like a glove and would not break the bank. He makes a ton of sense as a target.
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