Two Talented Steelers Wide Receivers Waiting Patiently For An Opportunity
With the top three guys all but solidified in the Steelers wide receiver room, guys will be fighting for the jobs behind Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, and Allen Robinson in Latrobe come late July. Many are excited about speedster Calvin Austin III, who missed last season with a foot injury.
While he certainly will have a role in the offense, other guys will still be needed in some capacity. Two guys that couldn't be more physically different will be fighting for reps, Anthony Miller and Hakeem Butler.
Anthony Miller
Drafted in 2018, 28-year-old Anthony Miller hasn't found himself on the field much in his two years in Pittsburgh, but he was Mitch Trubisky's guy in Chicago for a brief second in time. Miller stands at five foot 11 and 199 pounds but stands taller and heavier in the heart. In his three seasons in Chicago, Miller appeared in 47 games and posted 134 receptions for 11 touchdowns and 1,564 yards, averaging 11.7 yards per reception. Miller also returned eight kicks for the Bears for a total of 183 yards.
The former Memphis Tiger saw his biggest share of offensive snaps in 2019 when he found himself on the field for 64% of offensive snaps. Aside from Trubisky, Miller also finds himself alongside former teammates in fellow receiver Allen Robinson and guard James Daniels—one big former Bears party in Pittsburgh this year.
Since his time in Chicago, Miller played two games for the Texans and one for the Steelers in 2021, where he made one catch for two yards before being hampered by injury last year. While it's been a while since he's seen game action, Miller could have an opportunity to come in and fill the void left by the departure of Steven Sims, who signed with the Texans this offseason. We'll always have the first down grab against Baltimore.
Hakeem Butler
Before being named to the All XFL Team last year, it's been a rocky road for the physically freakish receiver out of Iowa State, Hakeem Butler. The Cardinals waived Butler after selecting him in the fourth round in 2019.
Then he sat down for a cup of coffee with the Panthers and Eagles before heading north to the CFL, where he didn't catch on with the BC Lions or Edmonton Elks before making his mark on the XFL with the St. Louis Battlehawks.
Butler dominated the XFL last season at six foot five and 227 pounds. They are posting 599 yards on 51 receptions and eight touchdowns. Good enough to make the All XFL Team and land himself on the Steelers roster, the Baltimore native finds himself on technically his fourth NFL home.
Before going on his wild professional adventures, Butler was at Iowa State, where he appeared in 34 games. Butler caught 110 passes for 2,149 yards and 18 touchdowns, with 19.5 yards per catch in college.
Good enough to make Second Team All-Big 12 in 2018. Although it seems like he's been all over the place, Butler just turned 27 years old and still has good football in him. He ran a 4.48 40-yard dash at the 2019 NFL Combine, and while the speed has turned down a tad, his big athletic frame could prove reliable for Kenny Pickett when his number is called.
Odds And Ends
Other guys in the Steelers wide receiver room include second-year Steelers Gunner Olszewski and Miles Boykin, third-year Steeler Cody White, and newcomer Dez Fitzpatrick to go along with Johnson, Pickens, Robinson, and Austin III. Considering the Tight End room next door that includes Pat Freiermuth, Zach Gentry, Connor Heyward, and newcomer Darnell Washington, this offense is loaded with weapons for Kenny Pickett in year two.
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