On the off-chance you're mentally assembling a 2016 draft board, go ahead and move Markus Wheaton up it. Perhaps second-year receiver Sammie Coates will have a breakout year, or new tight end Ladarius Green will be a big part of the offense.
Martavis Bryant reportedly is facing a year-long suspension for another violation of the league's substance abuse policy. Bryant was suspended the first four games of the 2015 season. Now, it sounds like he'll miss all of 2016.
Bryant actually missed the first five games a year ago (the fifth due to injury). Wheaton started three of those and was a little disappointing. He caught only 9 passes and 1 TD in those contests. But he hit on a number of big plays, with the result that those 9 receptions went for 228 yards; an average of 56 yards per game.
Wheaton also played his best ball late in the year, with a 201-yard game at Seattle and 4 TDs in his last six games. In those contests he went for 201, 50, 65, 62, 41 and 57 yards. Don't underestimate Wheaton's potential; perhaps, entering his fourth season, he'll truly break out in 2016.
Pittsburgh will no doubt bring in another receiver or two via the draft and perhaps free agency, but they tend to bring wide receivers along slowly. They did it with Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders, neither of whom did much of anything in their rookie seasons.
For that reason, don't rule out Sammie Coates having a big impact. Coates, the team's third-round pick out of Auburn, did nothing at all in his rookie season. Just one reception all season.
But with Brown sidelined at Denver in the playoffs, Coates caught 2 passes for 61 yards. Pittsburgh's track record of finding talented wideouts works in Coates' favor. The measurables (6-1, 212 and a 4.43 at the combine) are there.
Nothing is official on Bryant, but seldom do these reports come out of nowhere, and appeals typically fail. Don't count on Bryant playing this season.
--Andy Richardson
