Steelers 2-a-days: Jordan Dangerfield’s staying power, David DeCastro’s Hall of Fame potential
Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent College, the Trib will be running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2019 season. The breakdown will go through the roster in mostly-alphabetical order, (at least) two per day, between June 14 and July 26.
S JORDAN DANGERFIELD
Experience: Entered NFL in 2013, has played in 30 games over two regular seasons
Contract status: $645,000 cap hit in 2019, restricted free agent after the season
2019 outlook: Perhaps the best way to encapsulate Dangerfield’s precarious longevity with the Steelers is this: he surely has played more preseason snaps for them over the past five years than any other player. Just six current Steelers were with the organization when Dangerfield first joined it in 2014. By the end of last season, Dangerfield was carving out a role on defense, but it’s special teams where he most earns his pay. This season, there’s an opening at safety, meaning Dangerfield has another opportunity to show his stuff.
Persistence payoffs for Steelers safety Dangerfield, writes @RalphPaulk_Trib > https://t.co/Jq22lLMHwR pic.twitter.com/CWa9z9HySD
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) October 7, 2016
G DAVID DECASTRO
Experience: 8th season
Contract status: $11.96 million cap hit in 2019, two additional seasons remaining on contract
2019 outlook: DeCastro is building a Hall of Fame résumé, with three All Pro and four Pro Bowl designations over the past four seasons. He’s living up to – and probably exceeded – the five-year, $50 million contract the Steelers gave him in 2016. He’s also been durable, save for a broken hand early last season – and a sage locker-room leader. The only question at this point seems to be just how big DeCastro’s next contract will be when he’s up for an extension at age 31 in 2021.
Thursday's cover features the #Steelers' David DeCastro, who is nearing a new deal. Story >> https://t.co/HSruxYbuKX pic.twitter.com/hTpKmAcEtw
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) September 8, 2016
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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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