Steelers' Mike Tomlin's Confirmed Early Worry About The WR Position Finally Put To Rest By These 2 Surprising Receivers

The Pittsburgh Steelers made many changes during the offseason and hopefully are entering their Week 1 game against the Atlanta Falcons as a much better team than the one that lost in the playoffs last season. However, there is one area that is of particular concern for many: the wide receiver room.

After trading Diontae Johnson away early in the offseason, most expected the team to find another strong receiver to take his place. Many names were thrown into the mix, most notably Brandon Aiyuk. When the news broke that Aiyuk was staying with the San Francisco 49ers however, the panic among the fan base really ramped up. This isn't entirely surprising given the unknown quality most of the depth possesses. 

They have George Pickens, who is entering his third season, in the top spot, but do not have a solid number two, at least not on paper. On the surface, it appears that the team has a whole lot of depth, players who would normally be considered third or fourth on the depth chart. However, Head Coach Mike Tomlin said during his pregame press conference that he is not as worried about the receiver room as he was at the start of training camp.  

"You know I'm comfortable with the performance of these guys," shared Tomlin. "I had some questions even dating back to the spring, and to be quite honest with you, I probably went into the receiver room about a couple of weeks into camp and told them that. I just believe in being really transparent. But the consistency in which those guys performed in Latrobe through team development has made me more comfortable. Specifically, I'm talking about Scotty Miller and Van Jefferson. I just can't say enough about the consistency in which they perform, their floor if you will, they behave like veteran NFL players and that's provided some comfort in the midst of the transition of dealing with new people and getting acclimated in that way."

There were reports out of training camp in Latrobe that both Scotty Miller and Van Jefferson have risen to the top of the group. Both Super Bowl winners, Miller with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jefferson with the Los Angeles Rams, and are both known for their speed. Miller is familiar with the new Offensive Coordinator, Arthur Smith, as he played for him in Atlanta in 2023. 

During Miller's five seasons in the NFL, he has 85 receptions for 1,085 yards and six touchdowns. Jefferson has been in the league for four years and has 113 receptions for 1,600 yards and 10 touchdowns. Both are hoping that this opportunity in Pittsburgh will give them a chance to show that they have what it takes to be a regular contributor to a team. They have certainly succeeded in impressing Tomlin thus far. 

Steelers' George Pickens Needs To Come Out On Top

Since joining the Steelers, Pickens has been a bit of a polarizing figure on the team. Often seen as a "diva" along with Johnson, Pickens earned himself a bad rap. Now, he is in the driver's seat and has a real shot at proving that he can be a top receiver in the league. 

There is no doubt that Pickens possesses the God-given talent needed to become an elite receiver. His ability to go up and rein in contested catches keeps him featured on the NFL highlight reels. But now, Pickens also needs to show that he can do those things consistently. He also has to prove that he is a good teammate and show that he is willing to block for the running backs and other receivers. If Pickens can up his game this season it greatly increases the chance that he is able to earn himself a large contract extension. His elite play will in turn likely provide more opportunities for players like Jefferson and Miller to dominate their one on one matchups with defenders.

What do you think about Miller and Jefferson? Click to comment below. 

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