Unless the Pittsburgh Steelers want the same limited offense we saw in 2025, they’re going to have to add to the WR position at some point this offseason. And this year’s draft class is a great opportunity to do so.
The first round has several big talents, including Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, Jordyn Tyson and Denzel Boston. However, at 21st overall, the Steelers won’t get to pick their favorite option of the four without having to trade up.
To CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson, the Steelers can still solve the position without one of those four players. If they elect to go elsewhere in the first round, he thinks Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. could still fill the need in the second round.
“Pittsburgh doesn’t know who their quarterback is, but they still need to have someone to throw the ball to outside of DK Metcalf. I would with Omar Cooper Jr. And if they can get him in the second round, that would be an absolute steal,” Wilson said Friday on CBS Sports HQ. “Fill some other needs with that 21st pick overall. Get Omar Cooper Jr. out there as your number two opposite of DK Metcalf. And now we can start moving the ball down the field, and feeling a little bit better about it.”
It makes some sense to pick a receiver in the first round. But it also wouldn’t be the end of the world if the Steelers didn’t. Those four names all could become true WR1s over the course of their careers. Which is obviously valuable to teams with massive needs at the position.
While the Steelers certainly do have a need there, they already have one proven commodity in DK Metcalf. There’s a chance the Steelers don’t like their options at the position at the 21st pick. If they don’t, they could take a cornerback, or maybe even a guard or quarterback. While Cooper isn’t the same caliber as those aforementioned four, he definitely could work as a WR2.
He runs good routes and changes pace effectively to beat man coverage. Cooper has the IQ to succeed against zone as well. He excels over the middle of the field and has tremendous body control. Steelers fans who also root for Penn State will remember Cooper’s massive touchdown grab late in Indiana’s win against the Nittany Lions.
That’s another thing Cooper brings to the table: a clutch gene. He’s fearless when it comes to making difficult catches and had plenty of big moments during Indiana’s magical run last year. He doesn’t have a lot of explosiveness and could expand his route tree a bit more. But there’s a lot for the Steelers to like.
With the Combine and most of the pre-draft process still ahead, a lot can change. But the Steelers shouldn’t feel pigeonholed to select a WR in the first round. That’s an approach they should consider, but someone like Cooper would make sense in the second round as well.
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