The pittsburgh steelers have a well-earned reputation for acquiring top-end wide receiver talent. It began when the steelers selected lynn swann and john stallworth in a historic 1974 draft class, and they both made it to the nfl hall of fame. In the decades since swann and stallworth were added to pittsburgh’s pro bowl teams, the team has added multiple wide receivers. This includes super bowl xl mvp hines ward and one of the 21st century’s best receivers, antonio brown, who will presumably join them in canton, ohio in the future. The steelers’ tradition of stocking the position makes the current wide receiver room a particularly troubling problem.
George pickens has a lot of talent and on most nfl rosters, he would be the clear-cut number-one receiver. In his first two seasons, pittsburgh has underutilized the former georgia bulldogs star. Pickens did reach 1,000 yards receiving in 2023, despite missing for long stretches of his young career. Pickens hasn’t aided his cause with many incidents that have demonstrated his immaturity. Diontae johnson was a natural performer who could earn a second contract in pittsburgh. He has one year remaining on his current contract and has fought doubts about his time and attitude in 2023. Pittsburgh has two very talented wide receivers on contract in 2024, but they all carry baggage.
The rest of the depth chart has some interesting points. Allen robinson’s best part is about to end. Calvin austin iii hasn’t been anything but a gadget player, and miles boykin is a solid blocker, but not much of a threat in the passing game. At the position, omar khan has a lot to do, and there are three ways for the steelers to diversify their roster in 2024, including free agency and the nfl draft. Option 1: tee higgins toss the kitchen sink at tee higgins the cincinnati bengals have an impossible matchup between higgins and ja’marr chase.
Joe burrow will not be content with losing any of his best weapons, and tyler boyd, his third wide receiver, is also on his way out of town. Patrick mahomes had to spit tyreek hill to the salary cap, and burrow will have to deal with losing higgins unless something strange happens. To make this happen, the steelers will have to trade johnson.
