Steelers Host Three WRs for Tryouts, Including All-American Kick Returner
The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted three wide receivers for free agent tryouts at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Tuesday, including a former All-America return man.
The Steelers hosted receivers Ahmarean Brown, Lideatrick Griffin and Tre’Shaun Harrison for free agent tryouts on Monday.
Griffin, 23, was an All-American and All-SEC return man at Mississippi State, where he twice went over 1,000 all-purpose yards. As a junior in 2022, Griffin returned 19 kickoffs for 613 yards and a touchdown, leading all FBS kick returners with a 32.3 yards per return average. He also had a touchdown and led the SEC in kick return average as a sophomore in 2021.
His career 30.4 yards per kickoff return average stands as the second-best all time in the SEC and the fourth-best in NCAA history dating back to 1976.
The 5-foot-10, 181-pound Griffin was also a productive receiver for the Bulldogs. He caught 50 passes for 658 yards and four touchdowns in his senior season in 2023, and also carried the ball 17 times for 74 yards and another score.
In pre-draft testing, Griffin showed predictably solid straight-line speed, with a 4.43-second 40-yard dash, but below-average change-of-direction, with a 4.35-second shuttle and a 7-second cone drill. He finished with a 6.95 Relative Athletic Score out of 10.
Griffin signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent this spring and played in two preseason games. He returned three kickoffs for 90 yards and also worked on the Vegas kick cover unit.
Griffin was waived by the Raiders on Aug. 27 and landed on the Cleveland Browns practice squad, but was cut again on Sept. 10.
Cordarrelle Patterson has been the Steelers’ primary kickoff returner this season. His 21.8 yards per return is ranked the last in the NFL among players with at least 10 kick ff returns.
The other two wide receivers the Steelers hosted on Tuesday did not have extensive return backgrounds, but also profile best as slot receivers.
Brown is a 5-foot-9, 165-pound rookie receiver out of South Carolina. He initially signed with the Brown as an undrafted free agent and also spent time on the Buffalo Bills practice squad. While with Cleveland, Brown was targeted six times over three preseason games, catching two for 26 yards.
Harrison is in his second pro season. The 5-foot-11, 188-pound Oregon State alum joined the Tennessee Titans as a UDFA last season and spent his rookie season on the practice squad. He was waived with an injury designation this August. Harrison caught 52 passes for 604 yards and four touchdowns in his best collegiate season as a redshirt senior with the Beavers in 2022.
In addition to the three receivers, the Steelers also hosted four offensive linemen and quarterback Zack Annexstad for tryouts on Monday.
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