Ex-Steelers LB Is Thrilled For Roman Wilson To Finally Get What He Deserves

When the Pittsburgh Steelers used their third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to select Roman Wilson, the wide receiver prospect out of Michigan, it was widely lauded as a steal. Countless pundits spent long segments breaking down just how NFL-ready Wilson was, and many assumed that in a receiver-needy room, he could step in as a rookie and produce.

Unfortunately for Wilson, things couldn’t have gone further from that expectation. He has been working incredibly hard during his time in the NFL to try to prove he deserves a spot in the Steelers’ wide receiver rotation. Despite the Steelers’ WR room being relatively thin and in need of a rising playmaker over the last two seasons, Wilson wasn’t able to earn the trust of the previous coaching staff and quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Now in 2026, under a new regime led by Head Coach Mike McCarthy and with Rodgers back for one final ride in the NFL, there is optimism that Wilson can earn more opportunities. However, the depth chart has only gotten more crowded with second-round rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard, the trade for Michael Pittman Jr., and DK Metcalf leading the star receiver role.

Former Steelers veteran and brief assistant coach Vince Williams spoke out on Wilson’s impact heading into 2026 via Steelers Standard on Monday.

"Yeah, I mean it is great for him, man, I am excited for him [Roman Wilson]," Williams said. "When I was coaching with the Steelers, I used to watch him in practice every day and was like, 'Man, we gotta find a way to use this guy.' He is so explosive and he is so quick."

It’s pivotal to quickly highlight that Williams never held a full-time, permanent position on the Steelers coaching staff. He was only briefly helping out during training camp ahead of the 2024 season. 

Even though it was a short-term internship-like role, Williams still got a close-up look at Wilson’s potential.

"He is another one of those [like Michael Pittman Jr.] team-first guys," Williams said. "Even back to his tape when he was at Michigan. He is a willing blocker. He is a guy who will put his hand in the pile and really do anything you need him to do. I just hope he stays healthy and we get a nice little battle. I am a big fan of competition. I think those two dudes [Germie Bernard and Wilson] are wired right and no matter what we are going to get a really good competition that is going to make both of those wide receivers a whole lot better."

Even in a crowded receiver room and under shifting coaching philosophies, Wilson’s situation heading into 2026 is less about talent and more about timing and opportunity. The tools that made him a third-round target in 2024 haven’t disappeared, but the path to meaningful snaps has only become more complicated.

Steelers' Roman Wilson Enters Make-Or-Break 2026 Season

With Metcalf entrenched as the primary weapon and the additions of Pittman and Bernard reshaping the depth chart, Wilson enters training camp needing to stand out in every rep. In a system now led by McCarthy and a veteran quarterback in Rodgers, trust and consistency will matter just as much as explosiveness.

Still, the door isn’t closed. As Williams suggested, competition has a way of sharpening everyone involved, and Wilson’s ability to push for a role could ultimately raise the ceiling of the entire unit. Whether he breaks through or not, his 2026 camp will be one of the more closely watched storylines in Pittsburgh’s receiver room.

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