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SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - OCTOBER 4: Malachi Fields #0 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates after a touchdown during the second half of the NCAA game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Boise State Broncos at Notre Dame Stadium on October 4, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
One position that the Pittsburgh Steelers have addressed this offseason has been wide receiver. While the organization did lose veteran pass-catcher Calvin Austin III to the New York Giants, it ended up making a key trade in the early window of free agency. Steelers GM Omar Khan made the move to trade for two-time 1,000-yard receiver Michael Pittman Jr.
While this was a needed move, the Steelers could still use some more help at the position. With six draft picks inside the first four rounds of the NFL Draft, they could be a team to watch as they look to be interested in drafting another pass-catcher. However, one wide receiver prospect that may not be the best fit for Pittsburgh is Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields.
The Pittsburgh Steelers Need More Speed
Malachi Fields
GettyMalachi Fields was an All-ACC performer at Virginia before transferring to Notre Dame in 2025.
While Fields is a big-play threat, he may not be the best wide receiver prospect for Khan and new head coach Mike McCarthy. Here is what Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox wrote on Sunday about Fields potentially not being the right fit for the Steelers:
“Speed isn’t his strongest trait – he ran a 4.61-second 40 at the combine. With two very similar possession receivers in DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr., Pittsburgh needs a more explosive threat.”
Fields is a big-bodied receiver as he stands at 6’4″ and weighs 223 pounds. He used that size to create a window of opportunity to make big plays down the field. After all, he did average 17.5 yards per catch for the Fighting Irish last season. However, the Steelers already have multiple big-bodied receivers in Metcalf and Pittman. This offense needs more speed, not size.
Potential Wide Receiver Fits for Steelers
Omar Khan
GettySteelers GM Omar Khan is now in his 26th season overall with the organization.
After hiring an offensive-focused head coach in McCarthy, Khan is looking to help him out by identifying new offensive weapons out wide and in the slot. While the offense may not need size, speed is a necessity. Luckily for the organization, there were 11 wide receivers at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine to run a sub-4.4 40-yard dash. Some of those names include Mississippi State’s Brenen Thompson (4.26) and LSU’s Zavion Thomas (4.28).
If the Steelers could potentially draft a player or two with that kind of speed, it could help balance out the offense’s size-to-speed ratio. At this point, the Pittsburgh offense has the look of a physically-imposing unit. With Metcalf and Pittman as the team’s starting receivers, along with tall tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, as well as a pair of tough running backs in Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle, McCarthy’s offense looks to be built on shear strength.
As the team awaits an answer on the future of future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, it has turned its focus to upgrading it’s skill positions. But make no mistake about it, a Rodgers return could certainly help the potential pursuit of a Super Bowl run in 2026.