The Pittsburgh Steelers have had an awesome offseason in the minds of many pundits, but questions still remain about their wide receiver room. After the Steelers made a massive move to trade for DK Metcalf, fans were thrilled by the idea of pairing him with George Pickens. Unfortunately, that duo never materialized, as the Steelers traded Pickens shortly after acquiring Metcalf. With Pickens gone and the wide receiver depth chart still unsettled, many are wondering if General Manager Omar Khan has another move in mind.
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49ers WR Jauan Jennings walks off the field after Super Bowl loss.
A new report on Monday revealed that the San Francisco 49ers and wide receiver Jauan Jennings are having trouble agreeing on a contract extension. The 49ers believe they showed good faith by rewarding Jennings ahead of the 2024 season, but after a career-best year, the receiver is pushing for a new deal. The ongoing tension between both sides has created an opportunity for the Steelers to monitor the situation closely and consider making a move.
On Tuesday, a fresh rumor surfaced from a Steelers source claiming that the front office is very high on Jennings. His physical play style and ability to come through in big moments could make him an ideal fit in Arthur Smith’s offense. If the 49ers are unable to reach a deal, the Steelers may be ready to make an offer, especially with Khan’s reputation for bold and timely roster decisions.
"He's got a lot of Hines Ward in him," Steelers sources said.
This doesn't mean the Steelers are going to break the bank to make a trade happen. It does, however, open the door for fans to understand that there could be genuine interest in Jennings if the situation in San Francisco continues to stall. The 49ers dealt with multiple injuries in their wide receiver room last season, which gave Jennings an extended opportunity to prove himself on the field.
Jennings capitalized in a big way, emerging as the 49ers’ leading receiver in 2024. He hauled in a career-high 77 receptions for 975 yards and six touchdowns across 15 games, including 10 starts. Now, the 28-year-old wideout is looking to cash in on his breakout season. The 49ers believe they already did right by Jennings with previous contract adjustments, and that could lead to a contract standoff.
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Steelers Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, then with the Tennessee Titans, walks off the practice field with tight end Jonnu Smith.
If things reach that point, Khan could look to take advantage. He has shown a knack for making creative and strategic deals, as seen in how the Steelers landed Jonnu Smith. A similar approach with Jennings wouldn't be out of the question, especially if the 49ers decide not to meet his contract demands. Smith had a career year in 2024 with the Miami Dolphins, and he cashed in with a $12 million extension from the Steelers. Jennings could be in the same boat, but tons of questions remain.
Steelers' Passing Attack Could Use Some Help But It Isn't Awful
The Steelers’ wide receiver room isn’t in terrible shape, but there’s no question it could use a boost. The team clearly has a lot of faith in Metcalf as their top option, but they’re also counting on contributions from Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, and veteran Robert Woods to round out the group.
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Steelers' 2024 third round draft pick, wide receiver, Roman Wilson runs routes and drills during his first minicamp in the Steel City during the 2024 offseason.
Pittsburgh’s passing game will also benefit from a deep and versatile tight end unit featuring Pat Freiermuth, Smith, and Darnell Washington. All three are expected to play key roles in the offense and provide reliable targets for whoever is under center.
Of course, the potential impact of this group depends heavily on how well the Steelers utilize their weapons. If the coaching staff can find the right balance and put players in position to succeed, the 2025 passing attack could quietly become one of the more effective units in the league. Adding Jennings would clearly make them better as he is a gritty wide receiver who thrives in the trenches.
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