9 NFL Veterans Who Could Lose Their Jobs to 2017 Rookies

Sammie Coates

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant is coming off a huge suspension, and is one strike away from a permanent NFL ban for substance abuse, so it’s not a huge stunner for me to be down on his chances of staying out of trouble. He might be on the outs.

Another Steeler who might not get much of a chance to do his thing? Fellow receiver Sammie Coates. After a season where Coates was targeted 49 times, catching just 21 of them, he had a 0.76 Reception NEP per target that would’ve been top-20 among receivers with at least 50 targets, but he also would’ve had the 12th-worst Reception Success Rate. Stone hands are hard to overcome.

Enter JuJu Smith-Schuster, second-round selection out of USC, just the kind of sure-handed, big-bodied target that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger loves. JJSS might have to play the slot if Martavis stays on the straight and narrow, but if Bryant and Coates both continue having problems on and off the field, look for the rookie to get plenty of opportunities.