Roman Wilson
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Pittsburgh Steelers insider Brooke Pryor reported the team doesn't have plans to move on from wide receiver Roman Wilson this offseason.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have two wide receivers returning next season who had more than 70 receiving yards in 2025 — D.K. Metcalf and Roman Wilson.
The former is Pittsburgh’s No. 1 outside target. The Steelers had high hopes for the latter, but Wilson has yet to meet them.
He has just 12 catches for 166 receiving yards in two NFL seasons. At the end of 2025, Wilson was mostly a healthy scratch. He was unable to earn playing time ahead of over-the-hill veterans, some of which the Steelers signed off the street in December.
Those veterans are set to depart Pittsburgh this offseason. But pundits have speculated the Steelers plan to add multiple new receivers before 2026.
No matter who the team adds at wideout, though, ESPN’s Brooke Pryor reported Tuesday there will be a place on the roster for Wilson.
“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,” wrote Pryor.
How Will Roman Wilson Fit Into Mike McCarthy’s Steelers Offense
A change of scenery can sometimes help an NFL player.
According to Pryor, Wilson won’t get that in 2026. But he will get a change of scenery of sorts in Pittsburgh.
With head coach Mike McCarthy, the Steelers will have a much more wide receiver friendly offensive play-caller. The past two seasons, Arthur Smith’s offense in Pittsburgh centered around tight ends.
Getting on the field will be Wilson’s first priority to turning around his career. In 2025, he played just 33% of the team’s offensive snaps during the 13 games where he dressed. Wilson played that low number of snaps despite the Steelers not having many other receiver options.
At the end of the season, Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling made Wilson a healthy scratch.
Then, it will be about Wilson earning the starting quarterback’s trust and gaining more targets. There were only three games last season where Wilson had more than two targets.
In two of those contests, the 24-year-old receiver became a focal point in the offense only after the result was no longer in doubt.
What Will Steelers Do at WR During 2026 Offseason?
After Metcalf and Wilson, the next receiver on Pittsburgh’s depth chart is Ben Skowronek. Although a key member of the Steelers, Skowronek earns his worth more on special teams.
So clearly, receiver needs to be a priority for the Steelers this offseason. Insiders such as Mark Kaboly have argued that multiple additions are needed.
“I fully anticipate them acquiring some sort of a wide receiver that you’ve known or have heard of as that number two guy, either in trade, via free agency,” Kaboly said to Chris Mueller on 93.7 The Fan on Friday, via Steelers Depot’s Jeremy Pike. “I think they’re going to do that.
“That’s pretty much a slam dunk. They’re going to add that wide receiver two guy, then draft a guy.”
On Monday, Kaboly proposed Jacksonville Jaguars wideout Brian Thomas Jr. a potential target.
Multiple receiver additions will bury Wilson on the depth chart. But it’s still unsurprising the Steelers don’t plan to part ways with him altogether.
Wilson has two years left on his rookie contract, so he remains affordable. He was a third-rounder just two years ago and has yet to turn 25. There’s time for Wilson to turn around his career.
He’s just going to have to do that with new competition at receiver during 2026.