Weslye

Saunders

Saunders’ resume was a red flag-filled mess coming out of South Carolina last year, and was ultimately the reason he went undrafted. He’s now in trouble again. An oft-used blocker after making the Steelers out of training camp, Saunders played about 15 snaps a game and held his own in pass protection. The 23-year-old only caught four passes for 29 yards and a touchdown.

Saunders was coming off a four-game suspension after violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing substances. The Steelers will stick with David Paulson and Leonard Pope behind starter Heath Miller. The 23-year-old Saunders is known more for his blocking.

LB Jerry Brown was waived in a corresponding roster move. Suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the league’s PED policy, Saunders was waived immediately upon being reinstated. Saunders’ release came as a surprise to the Pittsburgh media, so it’s possible he’ll stick in Indy. Primarily a blocker, Saunders notched just four catches in 16 games last season.

It’s Saunders’ second time being suspended for violating the league’s PED policy; he was suspended the first four games last season. The 24-year-old is used almost exclusively as a blocker. He has just six career catches in 27 games of action. Saunders will be eligible to return in Week 10. With two strikes to his name, he’s one violation away from being banned for a year.

Saunders was handed an eight-game suspension for violating the league’s PEDs policy last week, so this isn’t a shocker. The blocking tight end has just six career catches in two seasons, and he’ll be eligible to play in Week 9.

OT Andrew McDonald was signed in a corresponding roster move. Saunders’ release is a sign Dwayne Allen (ankle) will be back for Week 14.

Saunders caught two passes in 11 games last season. He got popped for PEDs for the second time in July, however, and was waived one week later. Week 9 was the first week he was eligible to return, though he spent his entire ban on the open market. A blocking tight end, Saunders should mostly contribute on special teams.

It’s big news for the mammoth tight end, who is ranked fifth among draft-eligibles at his position by both Mel Kiper and Todd McShay. Saunders’ agent previously botched paperwork that would’ve made him eligible for only the Supplemental Draft. However, PFW draft analyst Nolan Nawrocki predicts that Saunders’ off-field concerns will prevent him from being selected.

It sounds like something that might require surgery. Add health red flags to Saunders’ below-average college production and numerous character concerns, and he may struggle to be drafted in April. Pro Football Weekly’s Nolan Nawrocki was already of the belief that Saunders deserves a free agent grade.

He’s also ineligible for the Combine. Listed at 6'6/273 with outstanding athleticism, Saunders began the 2010 season as Mel Kiper’s No. 2 draft-eligible tight end before missing the season for violating team and NCAA rules. Unlike UNC DT Marvin Austin and DE Robert Quinn, Saunders’ agent didn’t file the right paperwork. He’ll try for the Supplemental Draft this summer.