The extensive receiver place has been an fascinating one to look at for the Steelers over the past couple of seasons. Final 12 months, Pittsburgh had George Pickens, an occasional huge play from Calvin Austin III, and actually nothing else on the place. With just one playmaker on the skin, the Steelers actually struggled to get the passing sport going towards the tip of the 12 months.
Issues appeared to have improved this offseason after the Steelers despatched a second-round decide to Seattle for DK Metcalf. Having each of Metcalf and Pickens on the sector on the identical time certainly would have opened up the offense. Sadly, we gained’t get an opportunity to see it. Pittsburgh traded Pickens on Wednesday, a transfer that shocked Steelers insider Gerry Dulac for the reason that group didn’t prioritize the place within the draft.
“They’re virtually mainly again to the place they had been earlier than they received Metcalf,” Dulac stated Wednesday on 102.5 WDVE. “One extensive receiver, and let’s see how the opposite guys do. They actually like Roman Wilson. However they haven’t seen him on the sector. And you understand, Calvin Austin is okay. However this is the reason I used to be slightly shocked they didn’t draft a large receiver, realizing of their thoughts that they had been gonna do away with George Pickens earlier than the season started.”
Whereas the timing of the commerce is odd, it’s not as if it got here out of the blue. The Steelers reportedly had conversations about buying and selling Pickens in the course of the draft. Since they might have gotten draft capital in return, it might have made extra sense to commerce him then and use the picks on gamers who could make an influence in 2025.
Nevertheless, the Steelers clearly produce other issues in thoughts. For one, they appear to be concentrating on the 2026 draft, which is in Pittsburgh, to land their quarterback of the long run. Buying draft capital for 2026 as an alternative of 2025 permits them extra ammunition to commerce up, if mandatory. Additionally, the Cowboys reportedly upped their supply after the draft, which might have additional enticed Pittsburgh to make the commerce.
Even with all of that thought of why not draft a receiver? You may clarify away the bizarre timing of the commerce. Not drafting a receiver is way tougher to justify.
The Steelers made good use of their draft picks. They took two defensive linemen and an out of doors linebacker with their first 4 choices and added working again Kaleb Johnson as nicely. Nevertheless, in the event that they knew they had been going to commerce George Pickens, why not contemplate that place a necessity?
Assuming Aaron Rodgers indicators with the Steelers, the receiver place is now the most important gap on the roster. The Steelers additionally discover themselves in the very same state of affairs this 12 months as final. They’ve one confirmed extensive receiver in Metcalf. Then, there’s loads of WR3s and WR4s, however no WR2.
The principle distinction is that Roman Wilson is wholesome this 12 months. Pittsburgh goes to want him to have an enormous season, assuming it doesn’t make any extra additions. Nevertheless, asking a participant who hasn’t had a move thrown his manner on the NFL degree to step into the WR2 position is a tall ask. The Steelers have now put themselves in a state of affairs the place they might not have another selection.
