Steelers Are Satisfied Giving Calvin Austin III A Significant Role In 2025 During Contract Year

The Pittsburgh Steelers seem to have a serious wide receiver issue on their hands. Perhaps, it's only in the fans' eyes, however. In the same exact fashion as last year, the Steelers enter the summer with just one wide receiver on the roster that will surely put up numbers: DK Metcalf. Although, the Steelers don't seem to agree, nor believe they need to add another receiver. Steelers General Manager Omar Khan said after the deal that they wouldn't have traded George Pickens if they didn't have full confidence in the current group. 

Last season, Pittsburgh's top two wide receivers in yards and receptions were Pickens and Calvin Austin III. In both 2023 and 2022, it was Pickens and Diontae Johnson. The season before, with Ben Roethlisberger under center for one final season, Johnson and Chase Claypool were the team's top two receivers statistically. Johnson and Claypool also led the team in yards in 2020, along with JuJu Smith-Schuster catching the most passes. 

A pattern is occurring where none of Pittsburgh's best receivers ever pan out long-term. They have that now with Metcalf, after paying him a huge five-year deal, but no solidified number two behind him. The fan base is ready for the franchise to have two big-time play-makers on the outside once again, which is why it seems so blasphemous that they're willing to ride with Austin and Roman Wilson behind Metcalf this year. 

Insiders, since the deal sending Pickens to the NFC, have continually reported that the Steelers are banking on Wilson to step up this year. However, it could be entirely possible that Austin is the receiver in Pittsburgh that emerges. On Wednesday, NFL insider Albert Breer wrote about the Steelers' situation at wide receiver.

"My sense is that they'd like to see the development of their young receivers. The Steelers are higher on Calvin Austin III than the general public realizes," Breer wrote. "He's dynamite with the ball in his hands, and progressed steadily in his first year under OC Arthur Smith. There's also 2024 third-rounder Roman Wilson, whose rookie year was beset by injury."

Austin, drafted in 2022, missed his rookie campaign due to injury, much like Wilson. He was given a very limited role during his first season on the field in 2023, but his second year under a better offensive coordinator was promising. Austin caught four touchdown passes and also returned a punt for a touchdown last season. Those four receiving touchdowns wound up being the second most on the year for the Black and Gold, putting himself ahead of Pickens, who only caught three touchdowns. 

It would be very risky to roll the dice on Austin and Wilson developing into full-time starters behind Metcalf this season. However, it may be worth taking the risk, considering the Steelers need to begin finding team-first players that aren't so-called "diva wide receivers." Both Austin and Wilson have shown great attitudes to this point, and they could be the receivers that know the "Steeler way" best. 

Steelers' Calvin Austin On Final Year Of Rookie Contract

With Austin on the fourth and final year of his rookie contract, that could give him all of the motivation he needs to prove himself this season. As Breer mentioned, to the general public, Austin hasn't been able to make his name completely known yet, and this may just be the perfect opportunity for him. 

While the fans are advocating for another addition to the wide receivers room, the Steelers might just decide not to do so and see what they've got in Austin and Wilson. There's always the possibility of making an addition late in the year too, like when they traded for Mike Williams.

What do you personally think about giving Austin a much bigger role as the wide receiver two (WR2) in 2025? Does he have what it takes to be the next long-term option at receiver for the Steelers along with Metcalf? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

#SteelerNation