In a surprising move, the Steelers released veteran guard David DeCastro on Thursday and have reportedly signed Trai Turner to take his place.
Like DeCastro, Turner is a multi-year Pro Bowl selection but also like DeCastro, missed a number of games due to injury last season.
While Turner claims he is now “100 percent”, Pro Football Focus’ Sam Monson says the move isn’t an upgrade or even a lateral move.
“Trai Turner is a player whose decline has been steeper and even more precipitous than David DeCastro’s, so if that’s the reason for getting rid of David DeCastro, it doesn’t tally with replacing him with Trai Turner,” said Monson.
Monson adds that he isn’t the same player he was early in his career and that his play began to decline while in Carolina and that it didn’t get getting when he went to the Los Angeles Chargers and he missed a good portion of the season last year with a groin injury.
“It’s a very big leap and a stretch to envision him getting back to that best play in 2021 in Pittsburgh,” said Monson.
Turner has also pass blocked for nearly 200 fewer snaps than DeCastro but has given up “more pressure at a higher rate and more of them have been sacks and the PFF grade has been worse.”
Only time will tell, but with basically a completely different offensive line, it could be a difficult season for Ben Roethlisberger and his weapons.
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