Tag: Artie Burns

2020 NFL Free Agency: Steelers options for the Saints

The New Orleans Saints should consider several pending free agents from the Pittsburgh Steelers, such as B.J. Finney and Bud Dupree.

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We continue to roll on with our team-by-team series that highlights all the possible free agents that could hit the market, and which ones could be potential fits for the New Orleans Saints.

Up next is the Pittsburgh Steelers, and with just 15 pending free agents, the pickings will be slim for the Saints. But there are a couple players who may fit well into the New Orleans culture in 2020 and beyond. Here are Pittsburgh’s free agents:

  • CB Artie Burns
  • CB Mike Hilton (RFA)
  • DE Lavon Hooks (ERFA)
  • DT Leterrius Walton (RFA)
  • DT Justin Hargrave
  • FS Sean Davis
  • FS Jordan Dangerfield (RFA)
  • LB Tyler Matakevich
  • LB Bud Dupree
  • LS Kameron Canaday
  • OG B.J. Finney
  • OT Matt Feiler (RFA)
  • OT Zach Banner (RFA)
  • TE Nick Vannett
  • TE Vance McDonald (Club Option)

Bud Dupree would fit well into the defensive scheme of the Saints, especially with a need at the linebacker position. However, there are reports of the Steelers potentially using the franchise tag on the pass-rushing linebacker.

B.J. Finney could potentially interest New Orleans, as he has proven he can stay healthy over the course of the season. However, he has never played more than 33% of the offensive snaps in a given season, and might only be a depth option for the club.

One intriguing name is tight end Vance McDonald. Over the course of the last three seasons, McDonald has only been able to produce 1,071 yards and eight touchdowns. However, he has always been surrounded by big hype due to his size, speed and athleticism. His injuries have kept him back, as he has missed 14 games over the last three seasons with Pittsburgh. McDonald is on a club option, one that very well may not get renewed if the Steelers want to create cap space and move on. If they do, McDonald may be an affordable option if not attractive option for New Orleans in order to help shore up some questions with the tight end corps.

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Steelers CB Artie Burns signs with Drew Rosenhaus

Artie Burns is planning for free agency if the Steelers release him.

Another Pittsburgh Steeler heading into the offseason is signing with powerhouse agent Drew Rosenhaus. First it was defensive tackle Javon Hargrave announced he was going to have Rosenhaus represent him in his upcoming negotiations and now Burns is doing the same.

While Hargrave is looking for a huge free-agent payday, Burns has something else in mind. Burns still has once more season left on his rookie contract but the writing is on the wall. The Steelers aren’t likely to keep Burns for his final season.

If Burns is released by the Steelers after a rather mediocre start to his career, he’s going to need a salesman like Rosenhaus to help get his career on track with a new team.

The drafting of Burns in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft broke a nearly two-decade drought of the Steelers using a first-round pick on a cornerback. Unfortunately he never really found a good fit in the Steelers scheme and once his confidence started to waiver there was no going back.

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Steelers CB Artie Burns packs his stuff in a trash bag, ready to move on

Artie Burns understands he’s not coming back to Pittsburgh and is ready for what’s next.

The carer of Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Artie Burns hasn’t gone according to plan. The Steelers broke a 19-year drought of selecting a cornerback in the first round when they drafted Burns, which put a great deal of pressure on him. He also came in when the team needed help at cornerback the most.

But unfortunately, a lack of good scheme fit and what seemed to be a lack of confidence ended up sinking any opportunity he might have had with Pittsburgh. Burns saw rock bottom in 2018 but Pittsburgh stuck by him, hoping he could turn things around this season.

Instead, we saw a guy who ended up a healthy scratch in multiple games in favor of rookie Justin Layne. The day after the team’s final game of the regular season, Burn was seen packing his belongings into a garbage bag and made it clear he was ready for a fresh start somewhere else.

Despite the fact things didn’t work out for Burns in Pittsburgh, we wish him all the best on his next team. Burns started 27 straight games for the Steelers at one point in his four-year career. Maybe on the right team he can get that back. But the Steelers have built an elite secondary and make Burns expendable.

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Steelers CB Artie Burns questionable to return with knee injury

The Steelers’ special teams takes another hit.

The hits keep coming for the Pittsburgh Steelers. First linebacker Ola Adeniyi goes out with a possible concussion and now cornerback Artie Burns is questionable to return with a knee injury.

If Burns cannot return the special teams will take a hit but it would also leave the Steelers with just four viable cornerbacks active.

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