Player: CB Luq Barcoo
Stock Value: Sold
Reasoning: The Steelers announced the release of CB Luq Barcoo yesterday. Signed by the Steelers in May 2023, he spent last season on the practice squad. They waived him with an injury designation, however, which is significant. We don’t know the nature of the injury, but if it isn’t serious, he could work his way back to the team later in the offseason once he is healthy.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ thin, unproven cornerback room just got even thinner, though not much less unproven. The team announced yesterday it has waived CB Luq Barcoo. It did so with an injury designation, suggesting he got hurt in recent days.
Signed in May 2023, Barcoo spent virtually all of the 2023 season on the Steelers’ practice squad. They re-signed him to a Reserve/Future contract in January, and he remained with the team consistently until getting waived.
We do not as yet know the nature or extent of his injury, but injury waivers are common at this time. Teams need numbers to carry out practices as players suffer injuries or have other absences. You have to make up those numbers somehow. The Steelers signed a wide receiver when they released Barcoo, suggesting they have a need there.
The fact that they did waive him with an injury designation suggests that Barcoo could circle back. The Steelers deemed the injury significant enough that he would miss some time. If it’s not too serious, they’ll reach an injury settlement. After the required allotment of time, they could then re-sign him down the road.
It probably doesn’t move the needle much either way, however. If Barcoo made the 53-man roster, it would likely speak more to their lack of quality depth than anything. Right now, they have Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson as the only two established cornerbacks. They also have Cory Trice Jr. and Darius Rush looking to work their way up. Add in a mix of marginally experienced fringe veterans and some low-pedigreed rookies and you have your depth chart.
As the season progresses, Steelers players’ stocks rise and fall. The nature of the evaluation differs with the time of year, with in-season considerations being more often short-term. Considerations in the offseason often have broader implications, particularly when players lose their jobs, or the team signs someone. This time of year is full of transactions, whether minor or major.
A bad game, a new contract, an injury, a promotion—any number of things affect a player’s value. Think of it as a stock on the market, based on speculation. You’ll feel better about a player after a good game, or worse after a bad one. Some stock updates are minor, while others are likely to be quite drastic, so bear in mind the degree. I’ll do my best to explain the nature of that in the reasoning section of each column.
