Steelers might be wise to skip the NFL draft for a new wide receiver

There was a time when the Pittsburgh Steelers had built a reputation for their ability to draft wide receivers and turn them into stars. That always felt a little hyperbolic and recent history has told a very different story.

Here are the last seven wide receivers selected by the Steelers in the NFL draft.

2024 – Roman Wilson

2022 – George Pickens

2022 – Calvin Austin III

2020 – Chase Claypool

2019 – Diontae Johnson

2018 – James Washington

2017 – JuJu Smith-Schuster

That list isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement of the front office’s ability to scout and select receivers who can be productive, not cause problems and actually stick with the team.

Wide receiver is the team’s top roster need going into the offseason if you exclude the quarterback position that is still up in the air. The first instinct is for the Steelers to look to the draft once again for help.

But it might be wise if the Steelers look for a player who is more established, even if it means opening up their checkbook and paying big money to a guy like Tee Higgins or Chris Godwin.