After the 2024 NFL season, it was clear the Pittsburgh Steelers needed help at wide receiver. They addressed this by making a blockbuster trade for WR DK Metcalf, forming a dominant one-two punch alongside George Pickens Despite having one of the best tandems in the NFL, many are still calling for Pittsburgh to draft a wide receiver. This would be a mistake.
Entering the 2025 season, the Steelers’ wide receiver corps is expected to include Metcalf, Pickens, Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek, and Scotty Miller. While Skowronek and Miller don’t turn heads, Austin showed growth last year and Wilson can show his worth after missing his rookie season due to injury. A three-wide receiver set of Metcalf-Pickens-Austin/Wilson is strong. Though Pittsburgh won’t often use four wide receivers, TE Pat Freiermuth can line up at wide receiver if needed.
The main argument for drafting a wide receiver this year is knowing Pickens’ rookie contract expires after the season. On the surface it makes sense: draft a replacement the year before Pickens leaves so the new receiver can develop and adjust to the NFL, taking over as WR2 in 2026.
The problem with that thinking is two-fold: (1) Pittsburgh’s disappointing free agency, means they must to address other needs earlier in the draft; and (2) the wide receiver class is weak, making it harder to find a Pickens replacement in later rounds.
If Pittsburgh plans to replace Pickens, the replacement must come from the first three rounds. The problem is they only have two picks in the first three rounds. Excluding quarterback, Pittsburgh’s most pressing needs are defensive tackle and offensive line depth. Defensive tackle should be their first round pick, yet names like WR Luther Burden III continue to be mocked to Pittsburgh.
Burden may develop into a solid player, but he is coming off a season where he took a notable step back, tallying 61 catches for 676 yards and eight touchdowns. In 2023, he had 86 receptions for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns in only one more game. In most years, Burden wouldn’t be considered in first two rounds, and definitely not in the first round. Yet, this year, he’s being considered in the Top 32. What does that say about the rest of the wide receiver class?
To replace a player like Pickens, the Steelers must draft a wide receiver high. Could Burden be a Pickens replacement? Sure, but that would mean drafting a round one wide receiver and delaying drafting a defensive tackle. After Pittsburgh’s putrid run defense down the stretch, which resulted in a promise by Art Rooney II to remedy the situation, that wouldn’t be ideal even understanding how deep the d-line class is.
Entering the 2025 season, Pittsburgh’s wide receiver room looks strong. Given the Steelers are in win-now mode, it’s illogical to draft a wide receiver in the first three rounds. Defensive tackle, running back, and offensive line depth should be Pittsburgh’s top priorities in April. With the few talented receivers in this class gone by the mid-rounds, there’s no reason to draft someone who won’t project better than Austin or Wilson. So what’s the point?
Instead, the Steelers can double-dip at defensive line in a deep class to prepare for life without DT Cameron Heyward. They can also draft a cornerback, knowing CB Darius Slay won’t be playing for much longer, and the team needs depth and a future cornerback to pair opposite Joey Porter Jr.
The sole reason to draft a wide receiver this year is to replace George Pickens. Pickens is an ultra-talented player who, in a strong draft class, would need to be replaced with a top-80 pick. This year’s wide receiver class is weak. Pittsburgh would need to replace Pickens by using their first round pick, but given their many needs and lack of draft capital, there’s no reason to draft a wide receiver in April.
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