By: Jordan DeFigio, @fidgenewton
SteelerNation.com
The Pittsburgh Steelers cut one tight end to make room for another.
The team signed Dax Raymond on July 21st, bringing their tight end total to five going into training camp. Needless to say, he's happy to be here.
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Raymond has yet to play a regular season game, being waived by the Chicago Bears this past spring. He was drafted out of Utah State where he totaled 72 receptions for 873 yards and 3 touchdowns over the course of 27 games.
The Steelers have sorely lacked at tight end and the absence of a consistent presence has no doubt played a part in the team's offensive struggles. They've made it clear it is a position they need to address and have tried to do so this off-season snagging Eric Ebron from the Indianapolis Colts and making a handful of other signings (and releases).
Between Ebron and Vance McDonald, the Steelers look poised to have their best tight end tandem in years. So where does that leave Raymond?
Since we don't have any regular stats to measure his play by, let's go with what we do know - the basics.
At 6'5 and 255 pounds, Raymond brings another sizable presence to the field. And despite his size, he ran a 4.73 40-yard dash in the 2019 NFL Combine. He utilizes his speed to create separation from defenders, and he does a pretty darn good job of racking up yards after catches.
Just check out some of his highlights from Utah State:
I don't know if any of this means he will crack the roster and be dressed in black and gold on game day, but it is a promising signing to say the least. McDonald has struggled to stay healthy in the past, and if that is the case this year, Raymond could have a real chance to get the call. And if he does, it will be interesting to see how he responds.
What do you think of this signing? What are your predictions for the tight end position this upcoming season? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
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