The 2026 NFL Draft takes place April 23-25, in Pittsburgh. “Breakfast with Benz” is previewing the Steelers’ potential selections at each position group with Matt Williamson, a former pro and college scout who has worked at Pitt and with the Cleveland Browns. Williamson is an on-air host at WDVE, Fox Sports Pittsburgh 970, and the Steelers Radio Network.
Tuesday’s podcast looks at the wide receivers and tight ends.
Despite adding Michael Pittman Jr. and trying yet again to speak Roman Wilson’s worth into reality, we all know the Steelers still need to address wide receiver in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Given that new coach Mike McCarthy likes to use three wide receivers quite a bit, I’d argue that it’s still the position group that needs the most attention between now and the start of the regular season.
Not just in terms of talent, but raw numbers as well. Right now, DK Metcalf, Wilson and Ben Skowronek are all the Steelers have back among wide receivers who caught passes in black and gold a year ago.
It’s my belief that the Steelers would be doing themselves a complete disservice if they didn’t take at least one receiver with one of their first two picks, and at least two with the 12 they currently have.
In Tuesday’s “Breakfast With Benz” pre-draft podcast, former pro and college scout Matt Williamson agrees with me.
“I’ll be blown away if either the first or second round is not a wide receiver. I wouldn’t even stop there. I’m really warming up to this wide receiver draft,” Williamson said. “If I took one in the first round for the Steelers, I might look for a return-type in the fifth or sixth. If I go o-line or another direction in Round 1 — and I am kind of leaning towards o-line — I would love to get two Day 2 receivers, because I think it’s a really wealthy area, and you’ve got four picks on Day 2, and you could take two different styles that way.”
Williamson says the addition of Pittman frees up the style of receiver the Steelers select.
“I love the Pittman addition, because I think Pittman can align anywhere,” Williamson continued. “Adding him doesn’t mean I have to take a speedy slot guy, or an outside guy. I think you take any flavor of wide receiver you want early in this draft.”
Along those lines, there are quite a few potential picks in the Jaxon Smith-Njigba mold of being just about 6-foot tall, and roughly 200 pounds that can do a little bit of everything — maybe not as well as Smith-Njigba, especially so early in their careers, but in that mold of being able to run any pattern in the route tree, and being impactful from any alignment on the field.
Makai Lemon (USC), Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana) and K.C. Concepcion (Texas A&M) are three of the seven receivers that NFL.com has tabbed as top 40 prospects in this year’s draft. They all fit that description. Carnell Tate (Ohio State, 6-2, 192) and perhaps Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State, 6-1, 203) are both a little bigger and may be gone by the time the Steelers pick at No. 21. But they are also of the same ilk.
“Tate is the only one I am convinced will be gone by 21,” Williamson predicted. “There will be others. But he’s the one I’m convinced they have no chance at.”
Carnell Tate as your new alpha iso receiver.
No need to overthink it. pic.twitter.com/mBnvr9ul2L
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) March 19, 2026
Among those remaining players, for a long time, Tyson — whose position coach at ASU was Steelers legend Hines Ward — was my favorite. But his frequent college injuries have me second-guessing that. Cooper is my new favorite at the position, if the Steelers pick a receiver in Round 1.
THE MOST INSANE TOE TAP YOU'LL SEE ALL SEASON
Omar Cooper Jr. take a bow ????@IndianaFootballpic.twitter.com/07MncUCK4d
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 8, 2025
“He could easily go in the early 20s. I think he’ll be a first-round pick when it’s all said and done. The Indiana guys across the board won’t get over-drafted, but might go a little earlier than people think because they’re so well-coached and the mentality of these guys is great,” Williamson said. “Cooper and his buddy (Elijiah) Sarrat both fit that to no end. They go over the middle, they do the little things, they block. Their coaches are going to love these guys.”
Williamson, though, has his eyes on Concepcion.
“He’s the best separator. He’s the most explosive. I think he’s the best out of his breaks. I think he’s the best punt returner type — make the first guy miss and then ‘Whoa, look out!’ He’s a real student of the game. He’s bigger than people might give him credit for (6-0, 196). He’s not just a ‘slot-only’ type.”
One word to describe KC Concepcion's NFL Combine? SMOOTH ???????? @AggieFootballpic.twitter.com/10WicahLxi
— NFL (@NFL) March 3, 2026
That said, Williamson admits Concepcion isn’t perfect.
“The only knock I can really come up with (for) him is that he definitely has too many drops that he absolutely should catch,” Williamson acknowledged. “They are concentration drops because he catches the football quite well, and his highlight-level catches are phenomenal. So he does need to concentrate on that a little bit better, but, boy, he would be a really dynamic option (who is) a lot different than (Metcalf and Pittman).”
Also, during the podcast, Williamson talks about why Lemon should also be considered for the Steelers. He gives us a number of Day 2 pass-catching options if the Steelers go another direction at No. 21. Plus, he tells us why the Steelers need to keep the door open at tight end.
On Wednesday, we will examine the offensive line prospects.