It’s no secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers have to address a major need at wide receiver either in free agency or the 2026 NFL Draft, but preferably through both avenues.
What type of receiver the Steelers need remains up for debate, though.
For NFL.com’s Gennaro Filice, it’s clear just what Pittsburgh needs at the position: a quick-twitch, fast receiver who can do damage after the catch.
That’s why Filice paired the Steelers with Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion at No. 21 overall in his latest mock draft.
“New Steelers coach Mike McCarthy wants his old quarterback back in Pittsburgh, and NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero recently reported ‘the odds are increasing’ that Aaron Rodgers returns for a 22nd season. If that is indeed the plan, the Steelers must supply the 42-year-old with more catch-and-run playmakers,” Filice writes of the Steelers’ selection. “Rodgers doesn’t threaten defenses downfield anymore. The man just averaged a measly 5.9 air yards per attempt, per Next Gen Stats, easily the lowest figure among qualified quarterbacks.
“Concepcion’s a quick-twitch separator, but he needs to clean up the drops — especially if he’s going to be playing with a notoriously demanding quadragenarian.”
For the most part, signs are pointing to Aaron Rodgers returning to Pittsburgh for a second season, though head coach Mike McCarthy stated Friday morning on ESPN Radio that the team is preparing for both scenarios with Rodgers at this point.
But the Steelers can’t go into the draft looking for a receiver who just fits Rodgers. They have to land the best one available. Maybe Concepcion is that guy. He’s a good route runner and creates easy separation. He’s dynamic after the catch and brings an explosive element as a punt returner, too.
Concentration drops are a concern, though. In our Concepcion scouting report, Ross McCorkle compared him to Ladd McConkey, which makes a great deal of sense considering their similar builds and athleticism. He can play inside and outside, which is what head coach Mike McCarthy is looking for in his wide receivers.
Throughout the pre-draft process, Washington’s Denzel Boston has been the popular name for the Steelers, especially from NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, who has mocked him to the Steelers in back-to-back exercises. But Concepcion is gaining steam. We’ll see if the Steelers have a formal meeting with him at the Combine to strengthen the ties to the former A&M star.
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