The Pittsburgh Steelers have desperately needed help at wide receiver for the past few years. They’ve tried to improve that group, but ultimately, they’ve lacked sufficient depth. DK Metcalf is a solid No. 1, but he can’t do everything on his own. However, the Steelers didn’t waste any time upgrading at that position this offseason, trading for Michael Pittman Jr. While some don’t love the Steelers’ addition of Pittman, former NFL receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh thinks Indianapolis’ loss is Pittsburgh’s gain.
“I don’t know why they got rid of Pittman,” Houshmandzadeh said recently of the Colts on the Speakeasy podcast. “They didn’t want to pay him, obviously. Pittman is a leader of the team, somebody you want on your team.
“Pittman brought Alec Pierce out here to train. He brought him out here and Pierce was like, ‘I’ve never done nothing like this ever in my life before.’ Pittman, he’s just a leader, he’s a good dude, he’s a guy you want on your team. He’s gonna go to Pittsburgh and he’s gonna be a leader.”
Houshmandzadeh has taken to working with young receivers in his post-playing career, and that includes Pittman.
The Pittman he raves about is exactly what the Steelers need in their locker room. Metcalf is talented, but he might not be a reliable leader. Take his outburst during the Detroit Lions game last season for example. Metcalf let his emotions get the better of him, and he got involved in an altercation with a fan. He was suspended for the final two games of the year, and that almost cost the Steelers dearly.
Pittman shouldn’t give Pittsburgh those same problems. He’s not the typical diva receiver who’s been prevalent in the NFL. Hopefully, he helps balance out Metcalf.
Also, Pittman’s addition shouldn’t stop the Steelers from continuing to add to their receiver room. They could still spend a high draft pick on a wideout. If that happens, Pittman should be a valuable resource, offering help like he did with Pierce.
While Pittman had a down 2025 season, he should still improve the Steelers’ offense. His fit in the locker room will be important, too. The Steelers have changed a lot this offseason, with Mike Tomlin no longer their head coach. They’ll need leaders, especially on offense, and Pittman should help with that. That might be just as important as what he provides on the field.
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