The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2026 offseason has been more hectic than usual in the Steel City. The team is looking to make some acquisitions to bolster their roster ahead of the 2026 season under new head coach, Mike McCarthy. One position of desperate need is wide receiver. Pittsburgh has been linked to the likes of AJ Brown and DJ Moore already via trade. They have also been linked to Romeo Doubs as a potential free agent acquisition. One thing is clear however, DK Metcalf needs help to showcase his abilities by having someone else draw the opponent's attention.
Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press
Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf making a catch in 2025 season against the Cincinnati Bengals.
On Monday's edition of CBS Sports HQ, John Breech mentioned Jauan Jennings and why he could be an excellent fit for the Black and Gold in 2026 as well. The 28-year-old soon to be free agent has been a solid wide receiver option in the Kyle Shanahan-led San Francisco 49ers offense. In 2025, Jennings had 643 yards and nine touchdowns with a 11.7 yards per catch average. The 643 yards would have been good for second-best among all Pittsburgh wide receivers behind just Metcalf.
"If you're the Steelers, you have to make it a priority to go out and get someone who can be a strong number two guy behind Metcalf and Jennings can do [that]," Breech said. "He's kind of been the unsung hero of the 49ers offense this past season really when they were dealing with all of those injuries and it does seem like he is on his way out, and Pittsburgh would be a solid landing spot."
With the organization in desperate need of wide receiver help, they also have been linked to several NFL Draft prospects as the 2026 draft inches closer and closer. However, the team also has a reported $45 million in salary cap space entering the 2026 offseason. This gives them the flexibility to not look at just one wide receiver to come in and help out production, but multiple.
Carlos Avila Gonzalez / S.F. Chronicle
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings celebrates his touchdown catch in the first half of a home game in the 2024 season.
Jennings is just two years removed from a season in which he nearly reached 1,000 yards receiving. His 2024 campaign was his best in terms of receiving yards, as he had 975 yards and six touchdown catches. He also had 12.7 yards per catch. In fact, Jennings has had 11.7 yards per catch or more in each of his first five NFL seasons. Jennings also stands at 6'3", so he definitely can go up and get some 50/50 balls with his athletic size.
The Steelers Should Not Get Complacent At Wide Receiver
The team horribly lacked splash plays on offense in the 2025 season, something that is necessary to turn around ahead of the 2026 season. The Steelers were ranked well into the bottom half of the league in yards per game in 2025. The team needs to be proactive in fixing an issue that plagued them in the 2025 season. With the cap space available, as well as having three third-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, the focus needs to be on the wide receiver position. While the defense certainly has room to improve as well, the offensive focus needs to be at wide receiver to turn that awfully low production around from 2025.
Justin Guido / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf celebrating a first down with teammates in the 2025 season.
While the team has been linked to many NFL draft prospects as mentioned, especially at wide receiver, making just one move would not be enough. The organization has zero excuse to not explore every possible avenue to improve their wide receiver room. They do not only need one running mate for Metcalf, they likely need two. Their wide receiver room underperformed and underwhelmed way too much in 2025 to acquire one wide receiver and just pack it in. With the how deep the wide receiver class is in the draft, the Steelers would greatly benefit from getting a playmaker in Jennings via free agency, then adding a complementary piece or two on top of that to really make a big jump on offense in 2026.
#SteelerNation