Steelers trade 5th-round pick for Switzer
PITTSBURGH — The Steelers hope Ryan Switzer can light it up as their new return specialist the way he lit up the eyes of a former college teammate now with the Steelers.
The Steelers traded a fifth-round draft pick to the Oakland Raiders for a sixth-round pick and Switzer, a 5-8½ slot receiver/return specialist. He was expected to arrive in Pittsburgh on Monday night.
“Switz, he’s very dynamic,” said R.J. Prince, a rookie lineman with the Steelers who played with Switzer at the University of North Carolina.
“Spectacular, fast, and keen on detail.”
A fourth-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2017, Switzer holds UNC records with 96 catches in 2016, 243 career receptions, and 2,903 career receiving yards.
He also led the nation with a 20.9 punt-return average as a freshman in 2013 and finished his college career with a 10.9 punt-return average. He also returned two kickoffs at 12.5 per return.
Prince was asked what Switzer does best: catch passes, return punts, or return kickoffs.
“All of that,” Prince said. “All of it. He’s fast, quick as lightning. Yeah, great dude.”
Switzer entered UNC the same day Prince did. Switzer was the running back and point guard for West Virginia 4A 2011 state champion George Washington High in Charleston.
He arrived at UNC as a return specialist, but became the primary receiver for second overall draft pick Mitch Trubisky by the time both left college.
At the NFL Combine, Switzer weighed in at 181 pounds and ran a 4.51 40. He posted impressive agility times of 4.0 in the short shuttle and 6.77 in the 3-cone.
The Cowboys drafted Switzer two picks before the Steelers drafted Joshua Dobbs (which was two picks before the Indianapolis Colts drafted current Steelers OT Zach Banner.)
With the Cowboys, Switzer caught only 6 passes for 41 yards and rushed 4 times for 5 yards, but averaged 8.8 per punt return and 25.0 per kickoff return, which ranked third among NFL qualifiers.
The Cowboys traded Switzer to the Raiders for Jihad Ward last April, but Switzer became expendable this preseason after catching only 1 pass for 7 yards and returning 2 punts for (-1) yard in three games.
With the Steelers, Switzer is expected to compete with undrafted rookie Quadree Henderson in the final preseason game for the job of return specialist.
Henderson has returned 2 punts for 14 yards and 2 kickoffs for 44 yards this summer. Henderson has 3 fair-catches and 3 touchbacks this preseason, to go along with a 12-yard jet-sweep reception he made on Saturday.
NOTES: OLB T.J. Watt returned to practice full-time and LG Ramon Foster returned to do individual drills. Foster expects to ready for the opener. … Slot CB Mike Hilton was labeled as “week-to-week” by Mike Tomlin last week because of a leg injury, but Hilton insists the Steelers are only being precautious and that he will be ready for the opener.