Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver room is finally earning some respect around the league.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have had one of the worst-ranked wide receiver rooms for the past few years. However, former All-Pro wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. no longer believes that to be the case.
In fact, Smith thinks the Steelers’ wide receiver room emulates quarterback Aaron Rodgers‘ old group of weapons on the Green Bay Packers.
“DK Metcalf is their Davante Adams,” Smith said on his 89 – Steve Smith podcast. “Michael Pittman Jr., he’s their Jordy Nelson. He’s their guy that’s gonna get in there, tight windows. He can show you a little bit of speed, but at the end of the day, he’s gonna box you out. He’s gonna get on the third down. He’s gonna highpoint the football, and reliable safety valve for the quarterback.”
That is certainly some high praise, especially because the group has much to prove in 2026.
Metcalf is coming off arguably the worst season of his NFL career, during which he recorded a career-low 850 receiving yards on 59 receptions.
Pittman’s best football could also be behind him, coming off a bit of a down season with 80 catches for 784 yards and seven touchdowns.
However, Smith doesn’t think the Steelers’ comparison to the Packers stops there. He also sees shades of former Pro Bowl wide receiver Randall Cobb in second-round rookie Germie Bernard.
“He’s gonna do things, sudden movement, create a little bit of YAC,” Smith continued. “He’s quick, capture the line of scrimmage, take off. He’s gonna beat his guy immediately off the first couple of steps.”
Bernard is a very intriguing player, coming off a career-high 64 catches for 862 yards and seven touchdowns with Alabama in 2025. But just like his fellow wide receivers, he has much to prove in order to live up to the high expectations of those like Smith.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Former All-Pro Sees Shades of Another Team in Steelers WR Room
