Steelers Now
NFL insider Albert Breer explains why the Pittsburgh Steelers are not in a rush to add another wide receiver.
The Pittsburgh Steelers created yet another hole at wide receiver after trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys last week. But NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated doesn’t think they’re in a rush to add another playmaker.
While Breer doesn’t rule out the possibility that the Steelers will trade for a wide receiver at some point, he thinks they want to get another look at some of their younger players first.
“My sense is that they’d like to see the development of their young receivers,” Breer writes. “The Steelers are higher on Calvin Austin III than the general public realizes. He’s dynamite with the ball in his hands, and progressed steadily in his first year under OC Arthur Smith. There’s also 2024 third-rounder Roman Wilson, whose rookie year was beset by injury.”
Both are intriguing players. Austin is coming off having a career-high 36 catches for 548 yards and four touchdowns in 2024, and Pittsburgh is still believed to be high on Wilson, who had 48 catches for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns during his final year at Michigan.
However, Austin and Wilson are both slot receivers and the Steelers are losing a true X in Pickens. So if neither player can show the ability to play on the outside, it’s safe to assume general manager Omar Khan will be looking to make another deal.
Breer thinks there’s a perfect partner, too.
“If the Steelers want more after seeing those guys in OTAs, there is an interesting dynamic unfolding in Green Bay. The Packers drafted Matthew Golden in the first round and Savion Williams in the third. Both of those guys are going to make the team. They’re also bringing back Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks and Romeo Doubs, and Christian Watson is returning from injury,” Breer writes. “That’s six guys before you even get to others, such as Mecole Hardman. It feels like the Packers could move at least one before the season. And Doubs and Watson were around Aaron Rodgers as rookies. Rodgers spoke highly of Doubs back then. So if you put the pieces together, maybe there’s a match.”
Pittsburgh reportedly already checked in on the availability of Doubs and Wicks, so it may only be a matter of time until one ends up in the black and gold. That is, of course, if the Steeler are left wanting more from their wide receiver room this summer.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Insider Reveals Why Steelers Are Waiting to Acquire Another WR
