Behind the Steel Curtain
One of the most notable camp battles this offseason is the final few roster spots at wide receiver, a position the Steelers, at the very least, will have two new faces with large roles.
The first is DK Metcalf, the highest-paid pass catcher in Steelers history. Pittsburgh traded a second-round pick to Seattle this offseason to acquire the 27-year-old. I’m also putting Roman Wilson in that bucket. Wilson only played a handful of snaps last season due to injury, but all indications are that he’ll be asked to play a considerable role in this offense. The other lock is Calvin Austin III. He had a breakthrough season in 2024, hauling in 34 passes for 538 yards and four scores.
That leaves three available spots for a handful of players. They include Ben Skowronek, Scotty Miller, Robert Woods, Brandon Johnson, and camp standouts Roc Taylor and Max Hurleman.
After a full month of training camp and two preseason games, that battle is taking shape.
In a 17-14 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, veteran Robert Woods was playing in the fourth quarter with the third team. This was a bit of a surprising development and is a clear indicator of where he stands in the pecking order.
At that time, Scotty Miller and Brandon Johnson were on the sidelines.
Miller has drawn rave reviews over the past few months, with some going as far as to say he’s been the Steelers’ most consistent target behind Metcalf. Last season, he played in 13 games with the Steelers and had just five catches. He was released in January prior to the Steelers’ wild card game against the Ravens. It appears he’s worked his way back into their good graces. In my opinion, he’ll make the 53-man roster.
Ben Skowronek likely won’t be asked to handle a large role on offense, but he’s a special team ace who provides size on the outside. I’m confident he’ll make the team.
Brandon Johnson has a leg up on Woods. He’s played well this preseason and has a key TD against the Buccaneers. His size gives him the advantage over Woods.
Taylor and Hurleman are both practice squad candidates, and I’d anticipate the team hoping they aren’t poached.
Speaking of poached, the Steelers could still be in the market to add an additional receiver after cut-down day. That would likely put Johnson’s spot in Jeopardy.
Amari Cooper and Gabe Davis are also free agent options who remain unsigned.
The situation is fluid, but if the season started today, in my opinion, the final spots would be occupied by Skowronek, Miller, and Johnson.
We’ll see if that holds up.
