Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers acquired their No. 2 receiver — Michael Pittman Jr. — in a trade this offseason, sticking him beside DK Metcalf to bolster their passing game. Mike McCarthy’s team drafted Germie Bernard in the second round, too, filling out a room that also includes Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek.
But Stefon Diggs, an 11-year veteran and the NFL’s sixth-leading active wideout, is still looking for his next opportunity.
“Presumably, every team — you’ve got 32 teams, right? — everybody’s got a (No. 1 receiver),” Diggs said earlier this month in a video. “Let’s just say everybody’s got a one. Opportunities aside, people might say it might be, like, what, seven (guys) that’s real ones. In my opinion, I can compete with anybody, but take those as your ones, right? You can’t name a No. 2 better than me. … Give people the credit to just say, ‘OK, you’re gonna take the No. 1 spot away.’ Name your No. 2 receiver right now, and tell me how much he makes.
“My last question is, ‘Is he better than me?'”
Diggs caught 85 balls for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns last season after tearing his ACL while with the Houston Texans the campaign before. Before getting hurt, he’d posted six straight 1,000-yard go-rounds, including a league-leading 1,535 in 2020.
He’s been embroiled in legal troubles as of late, but was found not guilty of assaulting his private chef in a pay dispute in May
“I’m thankful to be where I’m at, but here I am picking up the pieces,” Diggs said as he worked out. “I’ll be fine. I know I’ll be fine. … Just staying the course, keeping the circle as small as I can. I would say keeping the main thing the main thing, and that’s the only thing right now.
“Thinking clear, thinking rational and so, I’m focused. Not trying to get distracted by nothing. Anything that’s not for me, I’ve been cutting it off, so I don’t got time for the extra shit.”
According to Pro Football Reference, Diggs has 11,504 career receiving yards. The receivers still playing in front of him on that leaderboard are DeAndre Hopkins (13,295), Mike Evans (13,052), Davante Adams (12,633) and Keenan Allen (12,051).
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Worth Look for Steelers? Controversial Free Agent WR Lobbying For Shot
