Michael Pittman Deebo Samuel
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Steelers Now's Alan Saunders argued the Pittsburgh Steelers could still consider adding wideout Deebo Samuel in NFL free agency.
Regardless of who plays quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers next season, the team needed to add offensive playmakers before 2026. The Steelers have done that at wide receiver and running back this offseason, but Mike McCarthy’s first Pittsburgh offense could still use a new weapon to primarily play in the slot.
Steelers Now’s Alan Saunders argued Sunday former All-Pro Deebo Samuel could be an option.
“A powerful blocker and runner, Deebo Samuel has done a lot more than the average slot wide receiver over the course of his career, but he’s also slowing down now at 30 years old,” Saunders wrote. “Samuel had a bit of a bounce-back year in 2025 with the Washington Commanders, after struggling in his final season with the San Francisco 49ers in 2024. His catch percentage jumped from 63% to 73%, and while his average depth of target also dropped, that’s not necessarily a deal-breaker for a player that does his best work along the line of scrimmage.
“At 30 years old, Samuel is probably transitioning from bona fide star to bit-part player, but with DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. in the pecking order ahead of him, that’s all he’d have to be in Pittsburgh.”
As Saunders noted, Samuel experienced a successful campaign with the Washington Commanders in 2025. In 16 contests, he registered 72 catches for 727 yards with five touchdowns.
Before that, Samuel had an up-and-down six-year tenure with the San Francisco 49ers. The versatile wideout made first-team All-Pro in 2021 with 1,770 yards from scrimmage and a league-leading 18.2 yards per catch average.
How Deebo Samuel Could Fit With Steelers
When at his best, Samuel has also played running back in his NFL career. During his lone All-Pro and Pro Bowl season, Samuel ran for 365 yards and eight touchdowns.
In 2023, he gained 225 yards on the ground and five scores.
But as Saunders mentioned, Samuel is older now and not lining up in as many different places. Last season with the Commanders, he took 16 snaps in the backfield.
If the Steelers hadn’t traded for Michael Pittman Jr., Samuel probably wouldn’t fit in Pittsburgh as a WR2. As a versatile weapon to provide production behind Pittman and D.K. Metcalf, though, Samuel could be a great add to the Steelers offense.
Samuel could do a lot of things that Calvin Austin III and Connor Heyward did for Pittsburgh last season. Austin and Heyward both left in free agency on Friday.
In addition to being the Steelers primary slot receiver, Samuel can be Pittsburgh’s quarterback on “tush push” plays. And if needed, Samuel can still play outside and be a better weapon than most of the receivers the Steelers have featured in recent years.
Samuel has eclipsed 630 receiving yards in five consecutive seasons. Only Metcalf had that many receiving yards for the Steelers in 2025.
Steelers WR Depth After Michael Pittman Trade, Calvin Austin Departure
Samuel is a long shot to make the All-Pro team a second time. But again, he’s a potential upgrade over what the Steelers had in the slot last season.
As the depth chart stands entering the second week of free agency, Samuel would be a major upgrade. Third-year wideout Roman Wilson is Pittsburgh’s current WR3.
Wilson has only 12 catches for 166 receiving yards with two touchdowns in 14 NFL games. He was a healthy scratch for most of December last season.
On Monday, NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal ranked Samuel the third-best receiver remaining in NFL free agency. Before free agency began, Rosenthal and The Athletic’s Daniel Popper both rated Samuel a top 65 free agent this offseason.
Popper projected Samuel to be worth $12.5 million on a 1-year contract.
Samuel could provide the Steelers offense a lot in 2026 and for a short-term price. The main reason not to pursue the veteran wideout would be if the team desires to draft another receiver this spring.
That could give McCarthy a long-term playmaker to build around for years.
But as far as free agent receivers go, Samuel is one of the better options still on the market.