Behind the Steel Curtain
A new name could be added to the Steelers’ radar
It’s no secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers lack a true WR2 on their depth chart opposite DK Metcalf. This is the second consecutive season the Steelers have found themselves in this spot. Last offseason, the Steelers traded Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, leaving George Pickens as the only proven talent at the position. Now, Metcalf is the lone star after Pickens was dealt to the Dallas Cowboys.
With that in mind, the Steelers have been one of the top names discussed in regards to any receivers who are potentially on the move or set to be released. A new name has been thrown into that mix, as the New England Patriots are suspected to be moving on from veteran Kendrick Bourne, per Alex Kay of Bleacher Report.
“While the Patriots are in the enviable position to cut proven receivers this offseason, many other clubs are not,” Kay writes. “If Bourne is ultimately released, he’ll certainly have several suitors amongst the various teams in the market for pass-catching help. Bourne’s best days may be behind him, but it shouldn’t be difficult for him to improve on his underwhelming 2024 marks if he lands with a team that can leverage his schematic versatility and route-running skills.”
A potential late training camp/end of pre-season cut of Bourne could see the Steelers sprint to add him to the receiving corps. Plus, as Chris Carter of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette pointed out to me on The Pump Fake, the Steelers may not need to make a huge splash at the position if Calvin Austin or Roman Wilson show them enough in camp and exhibition play. That said, depth is still an issue, regardless, meaning Bourne could be that perfect addition to the room, something Read & React suggested last October.
Bourne is entering his ninth year in the NFL. His best season came in 2021 when he caught 55 passes for 800 yards and five touchdowns. He is coming off a year in which he caught 28 passes in 12 games.
