The Pittsburgh Steelers were busy meeting with some of the draft’s top receivers at the NFL Combine, including Notre Dame WR Malachi Fields. During an interview with Kay Adams on Up & Adams, Fields confirmed he had a formal meeting with the Steelers.
He told Adams what was discussed during his meeting with Mike McCarthy and the Steelers’ brass in Indianapolis.
“We talked about more film, some good plays, some bad plays, stuff like that, but it was really about who I am as a person outside of football, just trying to get to know me and who I am,” Fields said.
Fields was a standout at the Senior Bowl after a strong final season at Notre Dame. The Virginia transfer caught 36 passes for 530 yards and five touchdowns with the Fighting Irish. In the two seasons preceding that, Fields had over 800 receiving yards with Virginia. While he’s not in the same tier as some of the projected first-round picks the Steelers met with, Fields is likely a Day 2 or early Day 3 selection.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Steelers double-up at receiver in the draft, given their need at the position, and Fields could certainly be an option for the Steelers beyond Day 1. While the Steelers had formal meetings with projected first-round picks such as Jordyn Tyson, Makai Lemon, Carnell Tate, Denzel Boston and others, the team also did its homework on other receivers. The Steelers held a formal meeting with Iowa’s Kaden Wetjen, Clemson’s Antonio Williams and Indiana’s Elijah Sarratt, as well as informal meetings with Oklahoma’s Deion Burks and Missouri’s Kevin Coleman Jr.
Even if the Steelers don’t take a receiver in the first round, they’ve done their homework on receivers who could go after Day 1. It’s clear that the team is valuing the position and looking at all avenues to upgrade through the draft. Fields’ formal marks the 12th formal meeting with a receiver we know about and the 16th meeting including informals.
It’s a talented class, and with the Steelers’ receiver production one of their biggest weaknesses over the past few seasons, Omar Khan, Mike McCarthy and company are putting in the work to improve it this offseason. The Steelers could also turn to free agency to add to the position, and McCarthy likes to use multiple receivers.
In Nate Kosko’s scouting report on Fields, he graded him as a long-time starter with an 8.0 grade.
“Malachi Fields is a big-ball winner with great hands and solid athletic ability. He lacks creative releases vs press and struggles to get separation but consistently makes contested catches down the field. He is a true X receiver who needs to align on the outside. He will consistently win as a blocker.”
With a formal meeting confirmed by Fields, he’s a name to keep a close eye on throughout the rest of the draft process.
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