The buzz around the Pittsburgh Steelers right now is on their offensive line. Debates are struck on if first-round pick Broderick Jones will even start as well as, who will play right tackle, Dan Moore Jr. or Chukwuma Okorafor? But there is another position that should be getting a lot more of the media's attention.
Photo Credit: Karl Roser/ Steelers.com
Steelers offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor could have competition for his starting job at right tackle for the 2023 NFL season.
Steelers Have A Ton Of Talent At The Wide Receiver Position
The Steelers have a ton of talent at the wide receiver position and trying to narrow it down to about six for the 53-man roster will be a real challenge. When you look at the current depth chart, only four receivers stand out as locks to make the roster, which are Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, Allen Robinson II, and Calvin Austin III. Looking at the ability of these four, it would be stupid of the Steelers to cut any of them.
Robinson has been struggling with injuries over the last several years and hasn't been great since 2020. During 2020, he played extremely well and with this, you have to look at the circumstances that he faced. He had Matt Nagy as a head coach and Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles sharing reps as the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears. This situation is not ideal for any player, but Robinson was able to put up 1,250 receiving yards and six touchdowns. So, with his last few seasons fluttered with injuries and other struggles, if he can get back to the 2020 version of himself, he could be a top guy on the Steelers depth chart.
Austin is another guy to watch during camp. The Steelers were able to steal him in the fourth-round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but due to injury, he didn't get the chance to prove himself during the season. He is an extremely speedy receiver and will most likely take over the special teams for the Steelers. He's one of the Steelers that has the most to prove this year and will be a guy to watch when going into training camp.
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Calvin Austin III makes an impressive catch during the Steelers OTA's in 2022.
After you get passed those four receivers, it will leave most likely two spots open for the 53-man roster. The first guy that I believe will make the roster is Hakeem Butler. He was a fourth-round pick in 2019 by the Arizona Cardinals and was never given a chance to prove himself to their organization. Much like Austin, he suffered an injury that caused him to miss the entirety of his rookie campaign. He would then get bounced around from practice squad to practice squad and never was given a true opportunity.
Then at the start of 2023, he was finally given a chance. The XFL's St. Louis BattleHawks took Butler with their fifth-round pick in the league's Supplemental Draft. He took this opportunity and ran with it gaining 599 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. This was the most impressive performance out of anyone in the XFL and the Steelers saw this and decided to give him a go.
Butler is 6'5" and is a unit playing his position, he honestly could play tight end if he wanted to. The Steelers getting a taller receiver is something that they needed. They once had Chase Claypool as their big-body guy, but he has since left the team. With this, I believe that we will see Butler make the final roster.
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Arizona Cardinals and now Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hakeem Butler (17) walks off the field before the NFL preseason football game between the then-Oakland Raiders and the Arizona Cardinals on August 15, 2019 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Finding the last receiver will be the real problem. The first real possibility will be Miles Boykin. He hasn't been able to do a ton with his time in the NFL, but if given the chance, he can be a decent rotational piece for the team. He at the very least brings a phenomenal special teams presence. The other guy that I see potentially making the roster is Anthony Miller. During his time with the Bears, he was solid recording over 400 yards in his three seasons there, but over the last two years, he hasn't been able to do much of anything due mostly to injury.
The guy that I believe they don't bring back is Gunner Olszewski. He didn't do much of anything last year and was disappointing in special teams. Unless the Steelers are seeing something in him that I am failing to realize, it should be a no-brainer that he is off the roster for the 2023 season.
Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (@JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
Steelers wide receiver, Gunner Olszewski (#89) warms up prior to a 2022 preseason game.
The final six that I see making the Steelers roster are Pickens, Robinson, Austin, Johnson, Butler, and most likely Miller. Something else that the Steelers may think about is keeping an extra tight end and only having five receivers on the roster.
So, what do you think, Steeler Nation? Who will make the final cut for the Steelers? Let me know in the comments below!
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