Steelers agree to terms with WR Moncrief
Don鈥檛 go to sleep on the Pittsburgh Steelers.
That could become a mantra for their new underdog status this season, but for now it鈥檚 their fans鈥� mantra in free agency.
Once again, the Steelers made late-night news by agreeing late Tuesday night to a two-year deal with big, young and fast wide receiver Donte Moncrief.
A five-year veteran, and still only 25, Moncrief came out of Ole Miss as a 6-2, 221-pounder with 4.40 speed and an 11-foot broad jump.
The two-time state long jump champ and former quarterback at Raleigh HS (Mississippi) attended Ole Miss as an acclaimed four-star recruit. In three seasons there, Moncrief caught 156 passes at 15.2 yards per catch.
In spite of interest from the Steelers, Moncrief was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts with the 90th pick in 2014. That was the draft in which the Steelers selected Ryan Shazier and Stephon Tuitt, but had traded their third-round pick (83) to draft Shamarko Thomas the previous year.
Moncrief made an immediate impact as a rookie with the Colts, and in fact caught his first touchdown pass against the Steelers.
Moncrief has played in five games against the Steelers. Following are his receiving breakdowns (touchdown play in parentheses):
2014 鈥� 7-113-1 (31 yards).
2015 鈥� 1-33-0.
2016 鈥� 6-45-1 (5 yards).
2017 鈥� 1-60-1 (60 yards).
2018 鈥� 1-11-0.
Moncrief played with five different quarterbacks in those games, and of course played that first game with the best of the group, Andrew Luck. The other quarterbacks were Matt Hasselbeck, Scott Tolzien, Jacoby Brissett and Blake Bortles.
In five seasons with the Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars, Moncrief compiled 200 receptions for 2,543 yards (12.7 ypc.) and 21 touchdowns. He missed only seven games in that time, those with shoulder and hamstring injuries in 2016-17.
Here are pre-game quotes made by Mike Tomlin concerning Moncrief during that period:
n 2015: 鈥淒onte Moncrief is a young and talented guy out of Ole Miss. He is big. He can win the one-on-one matchups on the backside of three-by-one. He is a man-beating route runner type of guy. He has strong hands. He can get big at the catch point. He, too, is capable of stretching you vertically.鈥�
n 2016: 鈥溾�� T.Y. Hilton, being the main one. He is complemented by some very talented, top-round draft picks, Donte Moncrief from Ole Miss and Phillip Dorsett from Miami. All of those guys are distinguishing themselves. Moncrief and Dorsett are providing some splash of late.鈥�
n 2017: 鈥淒onte Moncrief is a high pedigree-round draft pick from Ole Miss. He鈥檚 big play-capable. I think he鈥檚 around 15 yards a catch. That pales in comparison to T.Y. and 20 but globally speaking 15 yards a catch is dangerous ball. So, they are a vertical passing group.鈥�
Moncrief had signed a one-year deal with Jacksonville last season and caught 48 passes for 668 yards (13.9 ypc.) and three touchdowns.
His statistics in below-average passing offenses make him an under-the-radar playmaker who can step into the starting lineup opposite JuJu Smith-Schuster, or at the least as the No. 3 behind James Washington. Moncrief is the type of big deep threat Ben Roethlisberger has appreciated since teaming up so famously with Plaxico Burress in 2004.
Moncrief is an ideal signing for the Steelers as they prepare for a receiver-rich draft.
The Steelers also announced the official signings of cornerback Steven Nelson to a three-year deal, slot receiver Eli Rogers to a two-year deal, and punter Jordan Berry to a two-year deal.