After an eventful offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers could also be carried out including to their roster. That doesn’t imply each place is full, although. One spot with an absence of confirmed expertise, and some younger faces, is extensive receiver. In accordance with Professional Soccer Focus’ Trevor Sikkema, that’s the place battle to observe throughout coaching camp in Pittsburgh. And Sikkema is very involved in Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson
“For the Pittsburgh Steelers, extensive receiver,” Sikkema stated on PFF’s NFL Present on Monday. “DK Metcalf is clearly the WR1 on this group, however he’s new. He’s new, on a brand new group and a brand new offense. You convey within the veteran Robert Woods as properly. However two youthful guys, considered one of them a bit of bit youthful than the opposite, Calvin Austin, I’m very curious to see how a lot of a goal load he has for this group. After which Roman Wilson as properly.”
One might argue the Steelers upgraded their WR1 spot, swapping George Pickens for DK Metcalf. Other than Metcalf, although, there are quite a lot of questions on the place.
For some, that’s a obtrusive pink flag, particularly after an analogous problem within the 2024 season. Pickens was the one actual playmaker on the place and he was held quiet too typically. For a couple of months, Pittsburgh had an important WR duo in Metcalf and Pickens. However with Pickens now gone, any person goes to should step up as WR2.
The early frontrunner appears to be Austin. After a quiet rookie season, he took a stable step ahead in 2024, and even had extra touchdowns than Pickens. He wasn’t constant sufficient to be a real WR2, however that’s a task the Steelers are in search of him to take over in 2025.
Nonetheless, he’s not the one receiver with an opportunity to seize that spot.
“Roman Wilson is the big-time X issue for me,” Sikkema stated. “I actually preferred Roman Wilson, his last yr at Michigan. I’m questioning if we’ll lean a bit of extra into Roman Wilson this upcoming season. I’m an enormous Roman Wilson man.”
With the Steelers by no means including vital receiving assist final yr, they clearly had quite a lot of religion in Wilson. Nonetheless, he’s but to show them proper. After struggling an ankle harm on the primary day of padded follow final summer time, Wilson noticed simply 5 snaps in his rookie yr, and by no means had a goal. He’s gotten good opinions this offseason, however once more, there could also be some rising pains.
There’s additionally an opportunity the Steelers’ WR2 isn’t even a receiver. After touchdown Jonnu Smith a pair weeks in the past as a part of a blockbuster commerce, he’s going to have a task on this offense as properly. Smith had almost 900 receiving yards and scored eight instances final yr. He was arguably extra productive than any receiver on Pittsburgh’s roster in 2024. That, plus his capacity to line up out extensive, makes him an apparent candidate for that function.
Past these gamers, Robert Woods, Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek will probably be preventing to make the roster. Undrafted free brokers Roc Taylor and Montana Lemonious-Craig might make a reputation for themselves as properly. But, the chance any of them make a serious affect is slim. If Pittsburgh will get quite a lot of manufacturing from this unit, it’s doubtless going to return from Roman Wilson or Calvin Austin.
