In order to fix the Pittsburgh Steelers’ wide receiver problem, general manager Omar Khan needed to admit it actually existed. That’s something he was unwilling to do over the last two years.

At least trading for Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. acknowledges that.

According to a report from ESPN, the Steelers are getting Pittman for a late-round draft swap that is still to be determined. The NFL Network says that part of the trade will include a reworked three-year, $59 million contract for Pittman. He was previously owed $24 million for 2026 on an expiring deal.

Should Steelers fans have preferred getting Pittman’s teammate, Alec Pierce? Yes.

Unfortunately, the Colts preferred him as well. That’s why they were willing to part with Pittman for minimal return while they gave Pierce $60 million guaranteed as part of a $114 million, four-year contract to stay in town.

I’m not sure if Pierce (47 catches, 1,003 yards, six touchdowns) is a true No. 1, but he is being paid like one. I certainly know Pittman (80 catches, 784 yards, seven touchdowns) isn’t a No. 1. But I think he’s a capable No. 2.

And if the Steelers can select a stud WR of the future in the first or second round of next month’s draft, he’d be a very good — even if dramatically overpaid — No. 3 target.

That’s important because Mike McCarthy’s offense used three wide receivers a lot. In 2024 (McCarthy’s last year in Dallas), only three teams ran more plays out of 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end, three wide receivers) than the Cowboys. Prior to acquiring Pittman, the Steelers only had two other receivers besides Metcalf (Ben Skowronek and Roman Wilson) under contract for 2026. They combined for just 16 catches and 235 yards last year.

So the Steelers can’t be done at the position. But they are no longer in a spot where they have to feel obligated to panic pick at the position in the first round if there is an early run on wide receivers.

Khan can also be versatile when it comes to what type of receiver to draft. Normally, Pittman lined up outside the numbers in Indy (561 times in 919 snaps according to Rotowire). So if Khan wants to find a smaller, shifty slot receiver who can bounce outside when needed, Pittman can complement that kind of player and Metcalf.

But Pittman (6-foot-4, 223 pounds) also lined up as a big slot 216 times and was tight 77 times. So if the Steelers prefer to go with another outside-the-numbers player early in the draft (or via another trade or free agent signing), Pittman could probably work under those circumstances too.

Pittman isn’t great. He’s good. He’s not often dynamic. He’s more often steady and consistent. He’s only missed three games the last five years.

In 2025, the 28-year-old posted a career-high seven touchdowns, but just 9.8 yards per catch. That was nearly a career low (9.3) after being at 11.7 at 2024. Six years into his career, Pittman has never been an All-Pro, but he does have two seasons over 1,000 yards and a third over 900.

There’s no way to say it nicely. Metcalf didn’t live up to the hype in his first season with the Steelers. Too many drops. Just two games over 100 yards. Not enough big plays. Just three touchdowns after Week 4. His late-season suspension nearly cost the team a division title.

However, Metcalf’s woes weren’t entirely his doing. Mike McCarthy should have a more receiver-friendly offense than Arthur Smith did. Pittman and “Rookie WR X” will hopefully pull some defensive attention from him this year. No one did that in 2025.

Pierce and Rashid Shaheed stayed with their current teams. Mike Evans wasn’t going to pass up going to San Francisco to come to Pittsburgh without a clear answer at quarterback.

Pittman isn’t perfect. But he’s better than anything the Steelers had, and he may have been as good an option that Khan had to acquire.

Acquiring Pittman won’t erase the Steelers’ wide receiver depth issue. But he’s a good first step toward solving it.

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