Get To Know The Steelers’ Bizarre Receiver Room
Everybody who has two eyes and a functioning brain could tell you that the Steelers need to add a wide receiver. It’s known that they have been trying to pry Brandon Aiyuk away from the 49ers, but to no success yet. If they aren’t going to add anyone to the room, you better get to know these guys.
WR1: George Pickens
If you don’t know about George Pickens by now, you’ve been living under a rock. With Diontae Johnson out of town, Pickens is officially the top dog in the Steelers offense and we know he’s up to the task. It’s the pieces around him that have raised concerns.
Last season, Pickens was able to put up 1,140 yards and five touchdowns on 63 receptions with an NFL-leading 18.1 yards per catch. He did all that with the rag-tag team of Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph throwing him the ball. This summer he worked with RouteGod, looking to take his route running to the next level to become a complete receiver.
WR2: Van Jefferson
As of right now, Van Jefferson finds himself in the Steelers WR2 spot heading into his sixth NFL season. He won a Super Bowl with the Rams in 2021 before spending most of last season with Arthur Smith in Atlanta. Over his five-year career, Jefferson has caught 207 passes for 1,600 yards and ten touchdowns.
He only played 12 games with the Falcons last season, catching just 12 passes for 101 yards. He couldn’t crack it down in Atlanta, but now he finds himself in a position to get a heavy target share in the Pittsburgh offense.
WR3: Calvin Austin III
Speedy receiver Calvin Austin III is coming into his third NFL season and just his second season on the field after missing his entire rookie season with an injury. Things didn’t go as planned for Austin among many in the Steelers offense last season, but he’s looking to turn it around in 2024. Coming into the season, he finds himself as the Steelers WR3 and could be an explosive piece of this offense.
Last season he caught just 17 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown to go with 11 rush attempts for 57 yards and a touchdown. His lone receiving touchdown was a long bomb against Las Vegas, a play that they didn’t try again the rest of the season. Russell Wilson will look to unlock the inner Tyler Lockett in him.
WR4: Roman Wilson
Although he missed most of training camp, the Steelers fans can’t wait to see what Roman Wilson can do in his rookie season. With a size profile similar to Austin, Wilson isn’t quite as fast but could be an even better option in the slot. Last season at Michigan, he helped win the National Championship as one of JJ McCarthy’s favorite targets. He caught 48 passes for 78 yards and 12 touchdowns and had three catches for 54 yards in the Championship.
WR5: Quez Watkins
Quez Watkins may have had a shaky first preseason with the Steelers, but he could be a valuable depth piece for the Steelers. Watkins also might have one of the best nicknames in the league according to Pro Football Reference, they call him Fast Batman. The 26-year-old has spent the last four seasons on the other side of Pennsylvania with the Eagles.
At the 2020 NFL Combine, Watkins ran a 4.35 40-yard dash. Much like the guys he’ll be fighting for playing time, he’s a speedster. Last season he played just nine games and caught 15 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown. In 2021, he had the NFL’s longest reception when he caught a pass and took it for 91 yards.
WR6: Scotty Miller
Much like Jefferson, Scotty Miller is a Super Bowl champion. Miller won it with Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in 2020. It is tough to imagine a world where he gets playing time outside of special teams.
Another small and speedy guy in the Steelers’ arsenal, Miller stands at five foot nine and 174 pounds. Through two preseason games, Miller has caught six passes for 67 yards. He won’t get a ton of looks in Pittsburgh but is a good guy to have on special teams.
WR7: Dez Fitzpatrick
Dez Fitzpatrick has struggled to stick on an NFL Roster, spending two of his three NFL seasons on a practice squad. The Titans drafted him in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft and his rookie year was the only time he’s seen action at the pro level. He appeared in four games that season and caught five passes for 49 yards and a touchdown. Four of his five catches were for first downs.
Through two games this preseason, Fitzpatrick has caught three passes for 66 yards for an average of 22 yards per reception. He won’t likely see the field much, potentially even heading back to the practice squad if an acquisition does happen for Pittsburgh.
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