In the wake of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ impending trade of George Pickens, does that leave them right back at Square One in regard to their wide receivers corps?
The 2024 season, in part, was derailed by the lack of a quality No. 2 wide receiver. The March trade for DK Metcalf was to address that. But with Pickens headed to Dallas, on paper the Steelers of 2025 look a lot like the Steelers of 2024 at wide receiver: a talented, big-play threat at WR1 … and … not much else in proven talent in its prime.
If the season started tomorrow — and it doesn’t — the Steelers likely would roll with newly-signed veteran Robert Woods and fourth-year speedster Calvin Austin III as the starters alongside Metcalf.
Woods, 33, is a respected locker-room presence. He has 683 catches for 8,233 yards and 38 touchdowns in 171 games (145 starts) over 12 NFL seasons. He represents the third consecutive offseason the Steelers brought in a player with a similar career profile and reputation, joining Allen Robinson (2023) and Van Jefferson (2024).
But only 20 of Woods’ receptions, 203 of those yards and four of those starts came last season. And that despite playing for a Houston Texans team that saw its top three wide receivers (Nico Colins, Tank Dell, Stefon Diggs) miss time because of injury.
Last season, Woods had no games with more than three receptions or 44 yards. He had two catches that gained more than 17 yards all season.
In a combined 34 games the past two seasons serving as a Steelers de facto starter at WR, Robinson and Jefferson came as advertised in regards to their intangibles and leadership. But their combined production over two seasons — 58 catches, 556 yards, two touchdowns — would barely suffice in an ideal world for one season.
It’s likely Woods produces similarly.
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Though only 26 — he was in the same incoming draft class as Pickens — Austin is likewise a solid and well-liked teammate. But standing barely 5-foot-9, his bona fides as a legit WR2 are highly in question. In two NFL seasons (he missed his rookie season because of injury), Austin has 53 receptions for 728 yards and five touchdowns.
His speed has proven a viable weapon — 10 of Austin’s 53 receptions went for at least 20 yards, and only 19 players across the league had more catches of 40-plus yards. Austin brings some value on jet sweeps and gadget plays, too. But he’s probably best-suited as a WR4 on a contending team.
The rest of the current Steelers’ depth chart at wide receiver is a combination of special teamers, journeymen and unproven commodities.
Ben Skowronek shined as a “gunner” on punt coverage and was adequate as a bit piece of the offense after coming off the practice squad last season.
Like Skowronek and Woods, Scotty Miller possesses a Super Bowl ring. But after signing a one-year deal with the Steelers last season he totaled just five receptions. Another good locker-room presence, the 5-9 Miller was brought back in 2025. But, again, he’s ideally in for a depth role.
Roman Wilson arguably has the highest ceiling of any of the in-house options for the Steelers in their search for a viable starting receiver. A third-round pick last season, multiple injuries effectively zapped his rookie year.
But even in the one game he did play, Wilson was deployed for just five offensive snaps. He was a healthy scratch for others. Coaches weren’t comfortable Wilson was ready for NFL play. Can he take a significant step up this season? That’s probably the Steelers’ best hope, if so.
Other returnees from 2024 are practice-squaders Brandon Johnson (three games, one catch) and Lance McCutcheon (he spent 29 days with the organization in 2024). But each entered the NFL in 2022, and their combined career production is a mere 26 catches for 335 yards in 33 games. Johnson, at least, has five touchdowns.
The Steelers signed a pair of intriguing undrafted free-agent wide receivers in Roc Taylor and Ke’Shawn Williams. Taylor stands 6-2 and had 162 catches in a college career at Memphis. Williams broke out to a degree as a fifth-year senior after a transfer to Indiana in 2024.
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But there’s a reason neither was drafted. And it would be surprising if either ascended to a significant role in the Steelers offense as a rookie.
Of course, it is only early May. The Steelers have plenty of time to examine external options at wide receiver.
• The biggest name left on the free-agent market is Keenan Allen. Just 26 catches short of 1,000 for his career, Allen spent his career with the Chargers until playing 2024 for the Chicago Bears. At age 32 last year, Allen’s production didn’t drop off too much: 70 receptions, 744 yards, seven touchdowns. Versatile to play inside and out, if Allen is willing to play for significantly less than the four-year, $80.1 million contract of his that just expired, he could be a good fit.
• Amari Cooper (who turns 31 next month) and Nelson Agholor (32 this month) are high-pedigree 2015 first-round picks who have bounced around the league and are looking to join a fifth team each.
• Tyler Boyd was a star at Clairton High School and Pitt, but he bombed as a free agent signing in Tennessee in 2024. Now 30 years old, Boyd was a longtime fabulous No. 3 WR in Cincinnati but last season fell off to just 39 catches for 390 yards and no touchdowns.
• D.J. Chark and Jamison Crowder are probably the most recognizable other free agents available — unless the Steelers opt for a reunion with Robinson or Gunner Olszewski.
The Steelers probably felt as if they had to trade Pickens. But the result could end up a lot like a year ago, when they spent most of the year and well into the season searching for a quality running mate for their talented top wide receiver.