Roman Wilson wouldn’t be the first third-round pick to fizzle out before his rookie contract is even up, and his first two seasons suggest that’s a possibility. But according to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, the Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t ready to give up on the third-year player.
“Although Wilson was inactive for four of the five final regular-season games and the wild-card game, the Steelers don’t intend to part with the 2024 third-round pick, a source familiar with the team’s plans indicated to ESPN,” Pryor wrote.
Mike McCarthy’s offensive system calls for a larger emphasis on wide receiver play than Arthur Smith’s tight end-centric offense did. And right now, Roman Wilson is one of just three Steelers wide receivers under contract through at least next season along with DK Metcalf and Ben Skowronek. Moving on from him would be a pretty big indictment, but it doesn’t seem to be headed in that direction.
Steelers GM Omar Khan said “good question” last week when asked how Roman Wilson fits in the equation moving forward.
“You guys have heard me talk about my belief in Roman. I think Roman’s a talented player and I expect him to contribute. I know the coaching staff is excited to work with him…I think he’s got a good future,” Khan said at the NFL Combine. “I’m confident you guys will see some good things from him this year.”
He danced around the question of what’s been missing. Nobody has said it out loud to confirm, but newcomers like Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling quickly passed him on the depth chart while Aaron Rodgers was talking about things like knowing pre-snap hand signals and showing up to extra film sessions. At the very least, it’s safe to say the mental side of Wilson’s game wasn’t developed to Rodgers’ liking.
Third-round picks are expected to contribute. If not as a rookie, then certainly by Year 2. Wilson is already well behind schedule, but there is a clear example on the Steelers’ roster for what they could expect moving forward.
Calvin Austin III had the same injury-shortened rookie season and only caught 17 passes for 180 yards and a TD in Year 2. If Wilson follows on that path, he could experience a similar mini-breakout season like Austin did in 2024 with 36 receptions for 548 yards and four TDs.
Maybe that’s not what many hoped for when he was drafted, but as long as the Steelers keep him around—which this report indicates will be the case—then he has a chance to salvage the slow start to his career.
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