As we’ve done in previous years, we’re taking a look at those Pittsburgh Steelers under futures contracts for the 2020 offseason. We’ll focus this on the future players who spent no or limited time on the team during 2019.
Starting with CB Alexander Myres.
Alexander Myres/CB Houston – 5’11 192
Myres is a name who should be semi-familiar to fans, especially those who were paying close attention right after the draft. He was signed as a UDFA last April. The team evidently held him in high regards, relatively speaking anyway, giving him the largest signing bonus of any of their undrafted players. He netted $20,000 to sign on the dotted line with Pittsburgh.
In May, our Tom Mead wrote up a scouting report on Myres’ time in Houston. He lauded his run defense and special teams value but questioned his limited ball skills. Sure sounds like a classic, 2007 Steelers’ corner. Tom concluded by writing:
“Based on what I saw, Myres looks like he would be more comfortable in a Zone coverage scheme where he could play off the LOS and close WR. When he was in Man coverage he kept distance between him and the WR limiting his chances to play the ball. Despite his size he is a physical tackler and is willing to help in the running game.”
But we never got a chance to see if he could live up to that billing. Myres was on the sidelines the first few days of training camp then waived with a Non-Football Illness designation on July 31st. He seemed destined to float into the football ether but evidently feeling better, the Steelers brought him back to the practice squad on September 24th after a workout that proved he was ready to go.
He spent the remainder of the year on the team’s taxi squad before being signed to a futures deal once the season ended.
Assuming he sticks into camp, he’ll – in a way – be a rookie, but have the advantage of going through an offseason process and spending most of the regular season in the building. There is little to note of his NFL ability simply because he’s yet to play a meaningful snap us outsiders have been able to view. But Artie Burns is gone, opening up a spot on the depth chart and there will be a chance for Myres to take it. Pittsburgh won’t draft a corner high, may not take one at all, meaning he may wind up competing with a fellow UDFA for an opportunity in Latrobe.
