It’s rare that a seventh-round picks makes it all the way through the completion of his rookie contract. Some positions are more likely than others to have fewer opportunities to stick around for the long haul. But the best way to keep your foot in the door is by showing up on special teams, year after year.
That’s what Tyler Matakevich has done throughout his four-year career for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and why he is likely to be the only member of the 2016 NFL Draft class on the team’s roster in 2020, with Artie Burns, Sean Davis, and Javon Hargrave all anticipated to sign with other teams in free agency.