Ryan Switzer takes a shot at the Oakland Raiders

Ryan Switzer has carved out a nice little niche with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2018, this after a whirlwind offseason following an exit from Dallas.

It almost went horribly wrong. At least from his perspective. Things began with a shock for him when the Dallas Cowboys, the team who drafted him in the 4th round in 2017, sent him off to the Oakland Raiders in a trade. It was a puzzling move by Dallas given the promise he showed as a rookie. At least from a return man perspective.

It looked like a wise move by Oakland who needed help at wide receiver and on special team. Just four months later the Raiders delivered a second shock to him when they traded him again, this time to the Steelers. At last, he found a place where he could settle in. So far in 2018, he has 669 all-purpose yards with a touchdown between receiving and returning.

When a fan declared Pittsburgh was lucky to have him for this impact, he responded how grateful he was to have been spared the misery of playing in Oakland.

It’s not hard to see why Ryan Switzer is so grateful

Based on a comment like that, it’s apparent that Switzer may have seen the nose dive coming. He spent four months under Jon Gruden with the Raiders and apparently that was more than he would’ve cared for. More than anything, it’s about perspective. Oakland is 1-7 this season and locked in for the #1 pick in the draft next year. Pittsburgh is 6-2-1 and winners of five straight games. Which team would you rather be on?

Players often love to say that everything happens for a reason. No doubt Switzer will look back on the 2018 offseason as one of the most tumultuous but also rewarding in his entire football life. To go from an okay team to a bad team, to a great team in the space of 120 days, all by trade is something to tell the children if and when he has them. Either way, he’s grateful he didn’t have to go through what others are.