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UNC Football alumni: Oakland Raiders trading Ryan Switzer

By Zack Pearson

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 05: Ryan Switzer #3 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after his team was called offsides on an onside kick during the final minutes of the Atlantic Coast Conference Football Championship against the Clemson Tigers at Bank of America Stadium on December 5, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Clemson won 45-37. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 05: Ryan Switzer #3 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after his team was called offsides on an onside kick during the final minutes of the Atlantic Coast Conference Football Championship against the Clemson Tigers at Bank of America Stadium on December 5, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Clemson won 45-37. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Wide receiver Ryan Switzer will have his third team in his second year in the NFL after being traded once again

Former University of North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Ryan Switzer is on the move, again.

After being traded from the Dallas Cowboys to the Oakland Raiders during the 2018 NFL Draft, Switzer thought he had a role in Jon Gruden’s offense on the West Coast. But four months later, he’s got a new home in the NFL.

According to Yahoo! Sports writer Jordan Schultz, the Raiders are finalizing a deal to send Switzer to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday. The report has been confirmed by NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport.

It’s unknown what the return is for the Raiders at this point.

After being traded for defensive lineman Jihad Ward during the draft, Switzer appeared to be on his way to winning the slot job in Oakland.

He has just one reception for seven yards during the preseason, coming on a touchdown pass from Connor Cook. But since then, he’s fallen behind both Griff Whalen and Seth Roberts in that slot competition.

Switzer now joins a Steelers team that is loaded with weapons at wide receiver. He will play on a unit featuring Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington to go along with runnin back Le’Veon Bell.

While Switzer will likely earn most of his reps in the slot, he could be a big contributor on kickoff and put returns. As a rookie, Switzer finished in the Top 10 in punt return yards and returned one 83 yards for a touchdown against Washington.

The wide receiver grew up in Charleston, West Virginia which is just over three hours from Pittsburgh.

Next. T.J. Logan finds end zone vs. Cowboys. dark

For more on Switzer and other former UNC players in the NFL, please check back with Keeping It Heel.

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