After the trade of George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, the Pittsburgh Steelers now have to answer a lot of questions in their receiver room. There is a non-zero chance that with their current roster, OC Arthur Smith constructs a scheme that is designed to avoid forward passes at all costs. However, if Mike Tomlin decides to veto this revolutionary idea, then the Steelers will have to field pass catchers on offensive downs. Assuming that this is the case, let’s analyze the wide receivers that Will Howard or Mason Rudolph (or Aaron Rodgers) have at their disposal in 2025.
DK Metcalf
2024 Stats: 15 Games, 66 Rec, 992 Yds, 15.0 YPC, 5 TD
DK Metcalf, after being traded and signing a 4 year, $132,000,000 contract (making him the 4th highest paid receiver per AAV), now has to carry a tremendous burden as the only proven option on the Steelers. Metcalf is a true home-run threat who can out-run or out-muscle almost any DB that is matched up against him. He also has experience as a no.1 option in an offense, as he has had over 100 targets in every season of his career. However, I would not call him the most reliable receiver I’ve ever seen. For one, Metcalf is a limited route runner who typically sticks to vertical routes. Due to this, he struggles to get separation and has to rely on contested catches. Metcalf is also a very emotional player who has cost his team with penalties.
Finally, the contract. For the next 4 years, Metcalf is in the same AAV tier as stars such as CeeDee Lamb and AJ Brown, while not having shown the same level of production. With no other proven options on the roster, Metcalf is now the priority for every defensive coordinator the Steelers face this year. Can he elevate mediocre quarterback play with no other options around him? That is the question that defines this current Pittsburgh passing attack.
Calvin Austin III
2024 Stats: 17 Games, 36 Rec, 548 Yds, 15.2 YPC, 4 TD
Calvin Austin III is a true burner who wins off the line of scrimmage with quick releases. He had a 4.32 40-yard dash, and his speed shows up on tape. Unfortunately, he was limited last year due to the Moonball Revolution of 2024. This limited his role and target share. Austin is also (maybe generously) listed at a very slender 162 lbs. Austin functions best out of the slot, where he can slip through open space at lightning speed. However, his slim frame leaves him open to injury concerns, and his size prevents him from being an effective blocker or deep threat. Austin profiles as a WR3, but with a WR2 target share out of necessity.
Robert Woods
2024 Stats (w/ Houston Texans): 15 Games, 20 Rec, 203 Yds, 10.2 YPC, 4 TD
Look, what I’m about to write is not a knock on Robert Woods. He is a proven veteran with multiple 1000 yard seasons on his resume. Woods is a leader in the locker room who players respect. He is also one of the best blocking wide receivers in the league. These are all AWESOME traits when discussing Robert Woods the player.
Here’s the problem- the Steelers are asking a 32 year old receiver who has dealt with injuries for much of his 12 year career to be their WR2 in the Arthur Smith scheme. As much as I love Robert Woods, he should not have that role in 2025. He’s best as a role player who can block on zone runs and provide depth and experience in the WR room.
Roman Wilson
2024 Stats: 1 Game
The 84th pick in the 2024 draft, Roman Wilson only played 5 snaps during the season due to an ankle and a hamstring injury. Coming out of Michigan, Wilson was billed as an explosive athlete with good hands who can separate from stickier coverages. His route running is very good as well. However, like Austin, he is a smaller receiver (5’10, 186 lbs) who profiles best out of the slot. He gets pushed off the line of scrimmage, and isn’t much of a factor as a blocker. It will be interesting to see how Wilson gets utilized after he was effectively redshirted in 2024.
Ben Skowronek
2024 Stats: 10 Games, 5 Rec, 69 Yds, 13.8 YPC, 0 TD
Ben Skowronek is a ball knower’s football player, known for his contributions blocking and playing special teams. Also, he flashed in spot duty in 2022, catching 39 receptions for 376 yards in limited playing time. However, none of the strengths in his game have been attributed to the receiving aspects of the wide receiver position. If there were ever a time in his career to break out, Skowronek has a chance to be a starter for the first time in his career this year.
Scotty Miller
2024 Stats: 13 Games, 5 Rec, 69 Yds, 13.8 YPC, 0 TD
Hey, that’s Super Bowl Champion Scotty Miller to you. Miller flashed in limited snaps at the beginning of his career, catching deep balls from Tom Brady. However, injuries and ineffectiveness post-Brady dropped his stock, and he has bounced around the league since. Miller is also technically competing for the starting role opposite Metcalf, but his skillset is very similar to Metcalf’s (running really fast in a straight line). More likely, he’ll be the backup to Metcalf in 2025.
Brandon Johnson
2024 Stats: 3 Games, 1 Rec, 9 Yds, 9 YPC, 0 TD
Stop me if you’re catching the trend of this article: Brandon Johnson is a young receiver who is most known for his willingness to be a blocker out wide. Johnson saw a little bit of playtime in 2024, notching 284 yards and 4 touchdowns. The former UDFA out of UCF is limited athletically (4.61 40 yard dash), but fights hard and should at least fit in the Steeler’s culture that defines the Tomlin regime. That should get him some playtime at the very least.
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Great Stuff!