Steelers Now
George Pickens was a massive headache for the Pittsburgh Steelers on and off the field. While talented, the Steelers just had enough off of the antics. That’s why they traded Pickens and a 2027 sixth round pick to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2026 third round pick and a 2027 fifth round pick earlier this offseason.
It was an addition by subtraction case with Pickens. The Steelers got rid of a problem, but they also created another hole at the wide receiver position. The Steelers are still in desperate need of a No. 2 wide receiver. That could come to fruition later this offseason but the options are limited.
The Steelers are pretty much in the same position as they were last year at the wide receiver position, and that was reflected in Pro Football Focus’ annual rankings. PFF tabbed the Steelers with the 29th-best WR corps in the NFL. Last year, PFF had the Steelers’ wide receivers group ranked 26th.
“The Steelers traded for D.K. Metcalf in the offseason but then shipped off George Pickens. That profiles as only a slight upgrade for a team that finished 20th in PFF receiving grade in 2024,” Trevor Sikkema of PFF wrote. “Pittsburgh should get more out of second-year receiver Roman Wilson, who was largely injured last season, and the backfield combination of Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell brings some third-down, pass-catching ability.”
The Steelers acquired wide receiver DK Metcalf this offseason with the hopes he could bring some much-needed big-play ability to their offense. However, Metcalf thinks another player on the Steelers roster is going to do the same alongside him this season.
“[Calvin Austin III’s] a jitterbug out there. He’s explosive as heck,” Metcalf said. “So just looking forward to lining up with him for the rest of these last couple days of camp and then moving onto training camp, and then just starting to work off each other in different route concepts.”
Pittsburgh selected Austin in the fourth round (No. 138 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft, but he missed the entirety of his rookie season due to a foot injury.
The 26-year-old has steadily improved every year since, though. In 2023, he 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.
teelers wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni also foresees a much bigger role for Austin in Year 4.
“I think that No. 2 spot is all Calvin’s right now,” Azzanni said. “Really, him and DK 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.”
The Steelers are also hoping to see big things from second-year wide receiver Roman Wilson, who missed most of his rookie season due to injuries. Veteran Robert Woods is confident they’ll get just that from their second-year wide receiver.
“Coming to work ready to work,” Woods said of Wilson. “Coming...
