Cole Burgess

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Steelers' $0.9M deal with Cole Burgess earns a D+ CVI, representing a slight overpay for what appears to be a depth receiver signing. While the financial commitment is minimal in absolute terms, even practice squad and fringe roster players need to provide value relative to their cost, and Burgess's current production profile doesn't justify this investment over cheaper alternatives or undrafted free agents. The unknown contract length creates additional uncertainty, though at this salary level, the Steelers likely retain flexibility to cut ties without significant dead money if Burgess fails to develop. This feels like a speculative dart throw on a player who hasn't demonstrated NFL-caliber production, making it harder to defend the allocation of roster resources when Pittsburgh could have pursued similar upside at a lower cost. The D+ CVI reflects that while this won't sink the franchise, it's the type of inefficient depth signing that adds up over time, particularly for a team that needs to maximize every dollar as they navigate a competitive AFC North.

Performance Analysis

Cole Burgess sits firmly in replacement-level territory among NFL wide receivers, and the production line tells you everything you need to know: 24 receiving yards across three games is a number that barely registers as a statistical footprint. There is no standout strength to highlight here — that yardage total in limited appearances reflects a player who has not yet demonstrated the kind of consistent separation or target volume that pushes a receiver into even the solid-backup conversation. The weakness is straightforward: volume and impact are both near-invisible, and with two seasons in the league and an undrafted path behind him, Burgess has not yet established a foothold on meaningful depth chart real estate. His current role is best described as a camp body, brought in on a reserve/future contract as part of a 13-player batch signing — not a targeted recruitment but a workout-to-contract pipeline that signals organizational depth-filling rather than genuine roster investment. The mediaFraming here is unambiguous: Burgess emerged from a tryout rather than a sought-after free agency pursuit, which is the clearest signal of ceiling concern available. Pittsburgh's offseason has featured a wave of similar low-stakes signings across multiple positions, and Burgess faces long odds to survive training camp cuts when the 2026 roster takes shape. Until he demonstrates something in preseason that forces a decision-maker's hand, he profiles as a long shot to stick.

Fan Sentiment

This is a classic camp-body signing with minimal roster impact expected. Five headlines covered it, mostly as part of a broader Reserve/Future contract batch. The strongest signal: Burgess was a tryout player, not a targeted free agent acquisition. Fans are largely indifferent, noting the Steelers are simply stockpiling WR depth heading into 2026 draft prep. Burgess faces long odds to stick, likely competing for a late training camp or practice squad spot.