Steelers Now
Former linebacker James Harrison has high expectations for one of the Pittsburgh Steelers newest additions.
The Pittsburgh Steelers finally acquired a No. 2 wide receiver this offseason, trading the Indianapolis Colts for veteran Michael Pittman Jr., and former linebacker James Harrison believes it will pay off big time.
In fact, Harrison thinks that Pittman could be in store for the best season of his NFL career.
“I think Pittman could have the best year that he’s had so far because he’s a great route runner,” Harrison said on his Deebo & Joe podcast. “He uses his body for positioning. He’s great in traffic. He can catch that ball with his hands, you know? And he can read defense because he can find soft spots in his zone.”
Harrison seems to be in the minority as many believe Pittman’s best football is behind him. The soon-to-be 29-year-old is coming off a bit of a down season, during which he recorded 80 catches for 784 yards and seven touchdowns.
However, it wasn’t long ago that Pittman had a pair of 1,000-yard seasons, and the Steelers deciding to go out and acquire him shows they think he is capable of doing it again.
Still, Pittman’s best season will be tough to beat. In 2023, he recorded a career-high 109 receptions for 1,152 yards.
Pittman is now the No. 2 option, at best, behind fellow wide receiver DK Metcalf, but he is more of a deep threat while Pittman can serve as a security blanket underneath for quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
There is certainly a lot more targets to go around, too, after running back Kenneth Gainwell, who led the team with 73 catches a year ago, left in free agency.
A second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Colts, Pittman has recorded 485 catches for 5,254 yards and 25 touchdowns in his professional career.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: James Harrison Predicts Career Year For New Steeler
