Heading into the 2025 season, you’d be hard-pressed to discover a Pittsburgh Steelers fan who wouldn’t agree that the staff’s high present want is on the quarterback place. With simply Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and Skylar Thompson on the depth chart, the staff lacks a confirmed choice for the upcoming season and the longer term.
We beforehand highlighted the high quarterback prospects within the 2026 NFL Draft class heading into the summer time. Nevertheless, one other place that should have a highlight shined on it this coming offseason is at huge receiver. Positive, the staff went out and purchased DK Metcalf and gave him a profitable contract extension to lock him in to Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future. Nonetheless, after not too long ago buying and selling George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys in addition to having Calvin Austin III, Robert Woods, and Scotty Miller’s contracts all up after the 2025 season, reinforcements are going to be wanted for a staff in determined want of a high quality WR2 to play reverse Metcalf.
CARNELL TATE, WR, OHIO STATE
Once you flip to the 2026 Draft class because it stands at present, a number of names stick out that would fill that spot properly. At the moment, the top-ranked WR prospect on NFL Mock Draft Database is Ohio State’s Carnell Tate. Tate performed because the third receiver within the pecking order final season for the Buckeyes behind Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka, however that isn’t a knock on Tate’s caliber of play. The 6’3, 191-pound junior has good measurement and size to win down the sector and within the pink zone, but additionally shows smoothness as a route runner that you simply want for a participant of his measurement. He ought to see extra motion in 2025 with the departure of Egbuka, making him one of many high names to observe.
JORDYN TYSON, WR, ARIZONA STATE
One other title that loved a powerful 2024 marketing campaign is Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson. As the focus of the Solar Devils’ passing assault, Tyson caught 75 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns. The 6’1, 195-pound junior can play within the slot and out huge and has the mix of measurement and shake to be a well-rounded receiver who can function in all aspects of the passing recreation.
He’s a dependable goal beneath and might stretch the sector vertically, making him a super complement to Metcalf. He’s extra of a technician for the peak/weight/velocity specimen that Metcalf is on the surface. With RB Cam Skattebo now within the NFL, search for Tyson to be the highest weapon in Arizona State’s offense this season.
ANTONIO WILLIAMS, WR, CLEMSON
Clemson QB Cade Klubnik loved a stellar 2024 marketing campaign, and WR Antonio Williams was the highest goal for his quarterback and a high quality prospect in his personal proper. The 5’11, 190-pound junior had a powerful bounce-back season final 12 months after an injury-plagued 2023 marketing campaign, posting 75 receptions for 904 yards and 11 touchdowns, seven carries for 101 yards, and a rating on the bottom.
Williams is flexible inside-outside and a fluid route runner who shows nice burst and acceleration, shortly pulling away from defenders in protection and with the ball in his palms after the catch. He can run almost each route within the ebook and performs a lot larger than his listed measurement would recommend in the midst of the sector and the pink zone. Going again via his tape, Williams had the chance for a fair larger season final 12 months as Klubnik missed him on a number of wide-open performs, however the two ought to mix to be probably the greatest duos in school soccer in 2025.
EVAN STEWART, WR, OREGON
Oregon’s Evan Stewart had the chance to declare final 12 months however returned to high school to enhance his draft inventory. The previous Texas A&M Aggie had an honest season in his first 12 months in Eugene, catching 48 passes for 613 yards and 5 touchdowns whereas enjoying second-fiddle to Tez Johnson, who’s now within the NFL. Stewart is undersized at 6’0, 175 kilos, however he has the route operating prowess and the velocity to make him the technician that many groups are on the lookout for within the slot, who may also play on the surface.
Pittsburgh has its big-bodied receiver in Metcalf, nevertheless it wants a man who can uncover towards protection and transfer the chains. Stewart will be that man, offering related play to what Tyler Lockett did beside Metcalf for over a half-decade, giving the Steelers the well-rounded receiving corps it must problem opposing defenses constantly within the passing recreation.
