It’s been years since the Pittsburgh Steelers had a reliable WR2. A drought that now seems to be over, after the team acquired Michael Pittman Jr. for a late-round pick swap on Monday, and then signed him to a three-year contract.
Pittman is a tough, physical receiver, one who seems to be a good fit for the AFC North. And the Steelers in particular, according to former NFL defensive lineman Chris Long.
“Pittman, to me, is a stud. I just, I got so much respect for his game. He’s one of the most physical, just war-ready, wide receivers in the NFL. You know, you think about like what the Steelers need… This just solidifies their identity. Like, he’s a Steeler. This guy is a fucking Steeler,” Long said Tuesday on his Green Light podcast.
Pittman certainly is ready to go to war on the field. He hasn’t been afraid to put his body on the line, even while taking some massive hits in his past matchups against the Steelers.
But Pittman thrives through contact, both during his route and at the catch point. He’s also a nifty route runner who can get open underneath. If the Steelers bring Aaron Rodgers back or another aging veteran to take his place, Pittman’s ability to get open quickly will be badly needed. It will also force defenses to pay some extra attention to him, in turn taking some away from DK Metcalf on the other side.
There’s also the size element, which is hard to ignore at this point. Long certainly is noticing the size the Steelers are adding in their skill positions.
“They’ve got Darnell Washington, you talk about the size; DK Metcalf, the size of their guys,” Long said. “I like the Pittman move a lot.”
Size is certainly a factor, with a tough brand of football being a must in the AFC North. In Rico Dowdle, the Steelers got a strong running back who runs with physicality. In terms of pass catchers, Metcalf and Darnell Washington obviously bring a ton of size as well.
However, that doesn’t mean the offense is complete just yet. Pittsburgh has its fair share of physical pass catchers, but some more speed could be added to the offense. There’s plenty of it, especially at receiver, in the draft, so that’s something Pittsburgh may take a look at. It doesn’t have to be a huge name, but someone who can take the top off the defense would be an excellent complement to the current receiving corps.
However, it’s still a good start. The Steelers haven’t rolled into a season with two comfortable receivers for a while. That will change with Michael Pittman in the fold for 2026 and beyond.
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