Steelers Now
One former NFL playmaker doesn’t think the Pittsburgh Steelers need to go shopping for another wide receiver.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been looking to add No. 2 wide receiver since trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys in May. However, former NFL wide receiver Andrew Hawkins believes they already have the answer on their roster.
“For Steelers offense, I think Calvin Austin will take a big leap this year,” Hawkins posted on X. “I think they still need to add a WR (Keenan Allen? Amari cooper?). And Calvin doesn’t become the #3 option, rather I think he stays the #2 but kicks to the slot in 3 wr sets.”
Austin, 26, has steadily improved every year since being selected in the fourth round (No. 138 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. He missed the entirety of his rookie season due to a foot injury but has quickly made up for lost time.
In 2023, Austin had 17 catches for 180 yards and one touchdown. And then last season, he had a career-high 36 catches for 548 yards and four touchdowns.
Those aren’t No. 2 wide receiver numbers by any means, but if he continues to take another step forward in Year 4, he could certainly get there.
That’s exactly what Steelers wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni thinks is going to happen.
“I think that No. 2 spot is all Calvin’s right now,” Azzanni said. “Really, him and DK [Metcalf] are such different players that there’s going to be plays that he is the one guy because that’s his route, and vice versa, because they’re so different.”
Only time will tell if that will happen and if Pittsburgh opts to add to its thin wide receiver room. But Austin is clearly focused on putting together the best season of his NFL career in 2025, which just so happens to also be a contract year.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Former NFL WR Believes Steelers Already Have Answer For WR2
