There’s been numerous dialogue about who will fill the Pittsburgh Steelers’ No. 2 broad receiver spot after the staff traded George Pickens. The Steelers have veteran Robert Woods, second-year receiver Roman Wilson and fourth-year receiver Calvin Austin III, who had a breakout 2024 marketing campaign all behind DK Metcalf, and in keeping with broad receivers coach Zach Azzanni, it’s Austin who has the No. 2 spot proper now.
“Everybody’s downplaying, underplaying our group proper now. I find it irresistible that means. I don’t need anybody taking a look at us anyway. It’ll be good. So I feel that two spot is all Calvin’s proper now. And actually, him and DK are such completely different gamers, there’s going to be performs the place he’s the one man, ’trigger that’s his route, and vice versa, as a result of they’re so completely different in stature,” Azzanni stated Wednesday by way of video posted to Twitter by TribLive’s Chris Adamski.
“I feel everybody overlooks Quantity 19. That man’s a legit NFL receiver…he simply will get separation everywhere in the subject, he’ll chew your face off within the run sport, nothing impacts him, an incredible chief. He can do numerous issues a two can do,” Azzanni stated about Austin by way of The Pat McAfee Present’s Mark Kaboly on Twitter.
Austin primarily performed within the slot final season, however he additionally lined up broad on 270 snaps, so it’s one thing he’s able to doing. After registering simply 180 yards in his first season wholesome in 2023, Austin took an enormous step final season, catching 36 passes for 548 yards and 4 touchdowns. His efficiency final season possible offers Azzanni loads of confidence that Austin can proceed to deal with an even bigger function, and if his numbers can proceed to enhance, he’ll be a strong secondary possibility for Pittsburgh.
Whereas Metcalf is an enormous, bodily receiver who can win together with his dimension, Austin is smaller and shiftier and the Steelers can use the 2 of them collectively to generate appears. Each are downfield threats and Austin additionally has the flexibility to work beneath after which make one thing occur with the ball in his fingers. Even together with his robust season final yr, it’s attention-grabbing that Azzanni so definitively declared him the No. 2 at this level within the offseason.
Whereas place coaches aren’t as guarded as head coaches and coordinators, a solution a few competitors all through the offseason could be anticipated, however it speaks to Azzanni’s confidence in Austin that he’s keen to declare him because the No. 2 throughout simply the second day of minicamp. Clearly, issues can change from now to the beginning of the season. But when Austin can proceed to play nicely, it appears as if that job shall be his, until the Steelers in the end herald a playmaker from exterior the group who can maintain that function.
This can be a large yr for Austin, who shall be a free agent following the season. He’ll have a chance to play an enormous function on a staff led by Aaron Rodgers and probably make himself some cash after the yr if he can proceed to enhance after his breakout final season. His coaches are assured in him, and with a quarterback in Rodgers who has unfold the ball round previously, Austin may very well be due for a pleasant bump in manufacturing.
