For Ryan Switzer, you have to wonder what he is thinking. After being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2017 NFL Draft, he put up mediocre numbers, but he was just a rookie getting acclimated to life in the NFL. As the former North Carolina product planned for big things in ‘Big D’ his second year, he was trade to the Oakland Raiders. Talk about a change of scenery, nonetheless, Switzer went and was ready to start fresh as a part of a pretty solid receiving corps featuring Amari Cooper, Martavis Bryant and Derek Carr throwing the football. With all NFL teams preparing for their 4th preseason game Thursday night, Switzer was told early Monday morning he was being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Do the math. 2 years, already on his 3rd team. Does this mean he is a problem? Or isn’t as good as advertised? Or does it mean he is a sought after commodity who most feel is replaceable? Either way, he is now a member of the black-and-gold, who will wear jersey No. 18, and when Jeremy Fowler of ESPN asked him what was next...you can imagine his head might be spinning after a red-eye flight across the country. Ryan Switzer spoke about his excitement to be a part of the Black & Gold. pic.twitter.com/xVsY2ptyYk — Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) August 29, 2018 Switzer hopes to at least return kickoffs and punts on Thursday night, but it is doubtful he sees any time on the offensive side of the ball, rather focusing on the team’s Week 1 game vs. the Cleveland Browns. Despite Switzer’s transient NFL career thus far, take a look at his production in each location, albeit different lengths of time in each: 2017 - DAL - 6 receptions on 7 targets, 41 yards receiving / 4 rushes for 5 yards / 29 punt returns for 256 yards and a touchdown / 24 kickoff returns for 600 yards 2018 - OAK - Week 1 Preseason - 1 rec, 7 yards, 1 TD / 0 return yards Week 2 Preseason - 0 receptions / 0 return yards, both kickoff and punt return Week 3 Preseason - 0 receiving yards / -1 return yards It doesn’t really look as if the Cowboys, or Raiders, utilized Switzer to the best of his ability, and hopefully the Steelers will give him that chance. There is no doubt he is an upgrade in the return game the team currently throws out there, and it also allows Antonio Brown to focus on playing wide receiver and not punt returner. Stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the meaningless games to stop, and the regular season to begin.<doc-sep>The Pittsburgh Steelers officially confirmed the news Steelers Nation knew was coming late on Monday afternoon, announcing a trade for wide receiver Ryan Switzer from the Oakland Raiders via Twitter. The deal has cost Pittsburgh their fifth round draft choice in 2019 in return for Switzer and the Raiders sixth round selection next year. We have acquired WR Ryan Switzer & a 2019 6th-round draft pick from the Raiders in exchange for our 2019 5th-round draft pick, and have released WR Justin Thomas. MORE: https://t.co/754jytV7nr pic.twitter.com/R0eFe5pM9q — Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) August 27, 2018 Switzer is already well known to the Steelers coaching staff after they met with him at his pro day prior to the 2017 NFL draft and the former fourth round pick of the Dallas Cowboys is expected to compete for a role as a slot receiver and return specialist in Pittsburgh. His talents on special teams were likely one of the key attractions for the coaching staff. Ryan Switzer's 83-yard punt return TD from last year #Steelers pic.twitter.com/VzNRCsXFaT — SteelVideos (@SteelVideos) August 27, 2018 This is the second time Switzer has been traded in five months after he was dealt to the Raiders during the third day of April’s draft, and he had been languishing on the Raiders depth chart behind Dwayne Harris and Griff Whalen in Oakland ever since. Switzer was first traded to the Raiders in exchange for defensive tackle Jihad Ward. Nevertheless, the young receiver is excited to now be in Pittsburgh. I’d rather everything go according to God’s plan than my own. One step closer to finding a home. Excited to be in Pittsburgh! — Ryan Switzer (@Switz) August 27, 2018 Switzer will only cost Pittsburgh $555,000 against the cap in 2018 and has three years remaining on his contract. He is scheduled to cost $645,000 against the cap in 2019 and $735,000 in 2020. Wide receiver Justin Thomas has been released to make room for Switzer on the 90-man roster.<doc-sep>ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 30: Ryan Switzer #10 of the Dallas Cowboys carries the ball for an 83-yard punt return touchdown in the second quarter against the Washington Redskins at AT&T Stadium on November 30, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) The Pittsburgh Steelers got a solid return man and slot receiver in Ryan Switzer. But what are they going to do with the remainder of their receivers? The preseason was coming to a close and it appeared the only thing Pittsburgh Steelers’ fans were focusing on was their inside linebacker concern. Then, Monday afternoon came around, and Pittsburgh showed us they’re ready to turn their entire team into stars. Sending a fifth-round pick to the Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh received second-year wideout, Ryan Switzer, and a sixth-round pick. This improves the Steelers’ roster in two ways. For one, this is the first time in years they have a playmaker in the return game. Switzer can return both kicks and punts. In his rookie campaign, the former Cowboy accumulated 256 punt return yards and a touchdown, and 600 kick return yards. Switzer basically walks into the return role in Pittsburgh. This removes Antonio Brown from the punt coverage and allows the team to stop looking for a reliable kick returner. Where the decisions now need to be made are in the receiving core. Before Monday, the Steelers were debating over Justin Hunter, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Damoun Patterson. Eli Rogers was expected to claim the fourth receiver spot. Today, that’s all out the window. Switzer will presumably be the backup to JuJu Smith-Schuster in the slot. While Eli Rogers may be the next best receiver on the roster, his strengths are on the inside, which could leave him in a tight situation. Pittsburgh still needs to find someone who can fill in on the outside behind Antonio Brown and James Washington. Rogers may be the most talented remaining wideout, but Justin Hunter and Darrius Heyward-Bey are the stronger competitors on the outside. Leaving the decision in the hands of the coaches – who’s in and who’s out? Eli Rogers’ suspension doesn’t help his case. The fact that he likely won’t be ready also isn’t helping. HIs talent and chemistry with Ben Roethlisberger does. Hunter has finally done something this preseason, but for the second straight season he appears to be flashier in the training camp than during in-game situations. At this point, there is a huge decision to be made over the next week. It comes down to who they believe provides the best impact if need-be. None of these receivers will play a significant role in 2018, but they will be called upon at points. Something only the Steelers can decide who they want to take on that responsibility.<doc-sep>
Wide receiver Ryan Switzer has found a new home in the NFL – again. Drafted last year in the fourth round by the Dallas Cowboys, he was sent to the Oakland Raiders last April in exchange for Jihad Ward. Four months later, he got traded again, this time to the Pittsburgh Steelers together with a 2016 sixth-round pick for a fifth-round pick next year. Speaking in front of reporters for the first time since he became a member of the Steelers, Switzer seemed to have accepted this turn in his career like a true professional, saying that he is looking forward to helping his new team succeed, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. “What’s next? I don’t know. Get ready for this game on Thursday then set myself up going into Cleveland and trying to have as big an impact on this team as I can. Really fortunate to be on this situation, with the talent that’s on this team, the roster, and the potential these guys have. I’m excited and looking forward to be part of that.” New Steelers receiver Ryan Switzer hopped on a red-eye flight from Oakland to get prepared for Pittsburgh’s preseason finale, expecting to return kicks and punts. pic.twitter.com/JVfo2MjLO3 — Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 28, 2018 In Pittsburgh, Ryan Switzer is expected to be one of the team’s slot receivers, but he’s going find himself in stiff competition for exposure on the field with Eli Rogers, Quadree Henderson, and Justin Thomas also part of the team’s depth chart. Rogers, however, is currently recovering from an ACL tear and will have to serve a two-game suspension to begin the season, so Switzer can use that window to improve his value on the team. Last season, Switzer served mostly as the Dallas’ kick and punt returner, recording 256 yards and a touchdown on punt returns and 600 yards on kick returns.