The Pittsburgh Steelers have a glaring need for a second wide receiver. George Pickens continued to emerge as a star in 2023 as led the league in yards per reception while posting his first season with over 1,000 receiving yards. Following the trade of Diontae Johnson, Pickens becomes entrenched as the team's number-one pass-catcher on the depth chart and will have bigger expectations to live up to. General Manager Omar Khan dabbled in the bargain bin of free agency at receiver, which means the position could be in play when the team makes their first-round selection at the 2024 NFL Draft.
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Steelers George Pickens waltzes into the endzone during Pittsburgh's 34-11 rout of the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16 of 2023.
Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo joined The Joe Starkey Show on Friday to provide insight into where the team might be leaning with its first-round pick. While many think the team will be leaning towards the offensive line with needs at center and tackle, Fittipaldo wouldn't rule out the team getting a wideout with their top draft choice in 2024.
"I think receiver is in play at number 20," he said. "I still think an offensive lineman is gonna be their first pick, but if not the first round, I think second round, third round at the latest. One of their first three picks, they're gonna get a receiver."
Van Jefferson and Quez Watkins are nice depth pieces at the position that Khan landed at prices that don't break the bank. Jefferson had a breakout second season in the league in 2021 for the Super Bowl-winning Los Angeles Rams when he posted 50 receptions for 802 yards and six touchdowns. He split the 2023 season between the Rams and the Atlanta Falcons, starting in nine of 17 games while catching 20 balls for 209 yards without a score. Jefferson comes in on a contract with a cap hit of $1.52 million, according to Over The Cap.
Watkins had a solid campaign for the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2021 season when he posted 647 receiving yards on 43 receptions. He had a 91-yard reception against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2, which led the league for longest reception. He showed how he can use his 4.35 combine speed to take the top off a defense. He'd fallen out of favor in Pennsylvania’s most populous city and has had trouble dropping the football in his career.
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Steelers receiver Calvin Austin III tries to escape a tackle against the Las Vegas Raiders during Week 3 in 2023.
Calvin Austin III is the only other contributing receiver returning to the team. After being forced to sit out his entire 2022 season with a foot injury, Austin got into the lineup in 2023. He had a modest season with 17 receptions for 180 yards, a 72-yard receiving touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders, and a rushing touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals. Austin added a touchdown reception from Mason Rudolph against the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs. He was the team's primary punt return man with 29 returns for 249 yards.
Steelers' Potential Receiver Targets At Pick 20
Pittsburgh will likely miss the premier receiver targets at the 2024 NFL Draft if they decide to stay at pick 20. LSU's Malik Nabers, Washington's Rome Odunze and Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. are all potential game-changers, and likely to go in the top 10. It's been floated that Pittsburgh might consider trading up to get Odunze, but it doesn't seem likely with the other holes on the roster Pittsburgh wants to fill.
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Santonio Holmes made a career of being shifty and finding ways to get open.
Pittsburgh has not selected a receiver in the first round of the NFL draft since 2006 when they picked Santonio Holmes. This is also the last time the Steelers moved up in the draft to select a receiver. Although Holmes only spent four years in Pittsburgh, his heroic catch at the back of the end zone in Super Bowl XLIII will forever remain etched in the memory of Steelers fans.
Adonai Mitchell and speedster Xavier Worthy of the University of Texas should fall into the Steelers range at 20. Brian Thomas Jr. of LSU could be within striking distance of pick 20 as well. Pittsburgh could wait until the second or third round and still find an attractive receiver in a deep class.
Do you think the team should take a receiver in the first round? Let us know in the comments below!
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