WR Help Tabbed as Steelers Biggest Remaining Offseason Priority
It’s no secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers are incredibly thin at the wide receiver position heading into the 2024 season. George Pickens is the bona fide No. 1 wide receiver and Roman Wilson has potential to breakout. But beyond that, there’s a lot of question marks and limited production. Tight end Pat Freiermuth could theoretically serve as the team’s No. 2 wide receiver in Arthur Smith’s offense.
To no surprise, Kevin Patra of NFL.com tabbed wide receiver help as the Steelers’ biggest remaining offseason priority.
Patra notes that the Steelers traded Diontae Johnson in March and have not added a veteran of consequence to make up for the loss in an already thin WR corps. Wilson could contribute immediately, but picking up Johnson’s production is a tall task.
Patra is also not high on Van Jefferson, stating that he has been a disappointment with the Los Angeles Rams and Atlanta Falcons and shouldn’t be counted on for a big role. He views Calvin Austin III and Quez Watkins as just gadget players than every-down weapons.
The Steelers poked around at several wide receivers in free agency and prior to the draft, but a big signing or trade never came to fruition. They hdd interest in Mike Williams and Tyler Boyd. The Steelers also kicked the tires on San Francisco star wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. They also called about Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton and Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf, according to Benjamin Allbright, a Broncos insider.
Allbright said the Steelers called about Aiyuk, Courtland Sutton, and DK Metcalf, but they have been rebuffed by the 49ers and Broncos, and a Metcalf deal will not be done until at least after June 1.
When speaking after the draft in April, Steelers general manager Omar Khan left the door open for a possible wide receiver trade. Nothing has materialized so far, but a move is certainly still on the table. A trade might occur during training camp or the preseason.
“Yeah, we’ll see,” Khan said. “I’ve said it before. If there’s ever an opportunity to improve the team, we’re going to look at it, and if makes sense, we’re gonna go after it. We restructured Alex [Highsmith’s] deal. It puts us in a position to be flexible with some things if there’s an opportunity to do something.”
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