Steelers WR Corps Tabbed as One of Worst in NFL
Outside of George Pickens and tight end Pat Freiermuth, there’s a lot left to be desired with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ wide receiver corps. Perhaps rookie receiver Roman Wilson can step up and rise to the occasion, but the Steelers probably should have had a better plan for when they traded Diontae Johnson earlier this offseason.
Warren Sharp of Sharp Football ranked the Steelers’ wide receivers group as the third-worst in the NFL. Only the Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots receiving corps were lower.
“George Pickens has the talent to elevate the Steelers’ pass catchers if he fully lives up to his potential, but he needs to become more consistent,” Sharp wrote. “Pickens ranked 25th out of 46 qualified wide receivers in catch rate on catchable targets at 10 or more yards downfield last year.”
best receiving corps in 2024:
1. San Francisco 49ers
2. Philadelphia Eagles
3. Chicago Bears
4. Miami Dolphins
5. Houston Texans
6. Seattle Seahawks
7. Cincinnati Bengals
8. Minnesota Vikings
9. Los Angeles Rams
10. Detroit Lions
11. Green Bay Packers
11. Tennessee Titans
13.…— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) July 22, 2024
Former Steelers executive and Buffalo Bills general manager Doug Whaley is also concerned about Pickens’ consistency. He has major doubts that Pickens can be a bona fide No. 1 WR.
“He’s not consistent,” Whaley told The Fan Morning Show last Week. “Now, I hope he becomes consistent and I’m sure he’s working well. They are working with him to try to be consistent. But to me, I still have to see him being able to run that full route tree. He is really right now almost a one-trick pony, vertical cutting and vertical breaking routes. That’s it. When have you seen him come with a curl, a comeback, those type of things? That is not his game.”
In Pro Football Focus’ recent wide receiver unit rankings, the Steelers came in at No. 26.
“George Pickens came in at No. 30 on PFF’s pre-season wide receiver list and leads the pack in Pittsburgh with Diontae Johnson no longer there. Rookie receiver Roman Wilson should get a good amount of playing time this year, too. Tight end Pat Freiermuth is coming off a 68.8 PFF receiving grade, and running back Jaylen Warren posted a 72.9 mark in 2023. It’s a decent group with a lower ceiling after Johnson’s departure,” Trevor Sikkema of PFF wrote.
The Steelers don’t seem to be concerned about their wide receiver corps, however. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said every year players step up and rise to the occasion at wide receiver, while receivers coach Zach Azzanni claimed that labeling receivers in a number system is overrated. General manager Omar Khan is also encouraged by the trajectory of the wide receiver room.
NFL insider Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post still expects the Steelers to take a big swing at a star wide receiver. He thinks they’re financially set to make a run at either Brandon Aiyuk or Davante Adams.
“The Steelers are going to get another receiver. Whether it’s Brandon Aiyuk, whether it’s the Davante Adams scenario down the road. Whether it’s something else. I know they’ve budgeted in a way that they feel like they can execute one more big swing there,” La Canfora said during an appearance on The Jason Smith Show last week.
According to Warren Sharp of Sharp Football, the Steelers rank 31st in the NFL when it comes to spending at the wide receiver position. Aiyuk and Adams would both acquire significant compensation and draft capital. Adams not as much, but it would still be a hefty price.
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