Roster turnover comes with the territory in the NFL, and we saw a lot of it from the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2025 offseason. Unfortunately, it looks like we could be headed toward a similar outcome in 2026. Only a few NFL Draft selections remain from the Kevin Colbert era, and one more could be out the door as soon as the sun sets on the 2025 season.
Calvin Austin III had a shot to showcase his talents this year. Finally removed from the shadows of underwhelming wide receivers like Allen Robinson II, Mike Williams, and Van Jefferson, Austin had a great summer and was allowed to be the Steelers' No. 2 wide receiver.
Sadly, the 2022 fourth-round pick didn't live up to expectations.
Austin flashed at times with his big-play ability, but he lacked any sort of consistency to make him a reliable option in Pittsburgh's subpar passing game. The young receiver also had issues staying on the field, as he missed time due to injuries.
Now it looks like Austin could be on his way out.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could move on from WR Calvin Austin III in 2026
While Austin has only suited up in a Pittsburgh Steelers uniform for three seasons, this is because his rookie year was lost during training camp due to a foot injury, which required surgery. Austin managed to work his way back and climb the ladder to have his best season in 2024—one that offered hope, thanks to his big-play ability.
But when thrust into the spotlight, Austin fell short (and I don't mean that as a bad height pun).
The 5'7 3/4'', 170-pound receiver couldn't consistently locate the football, and he had a few crucial drops during the 2025 season. These are the simple mistakes he couldn't afford to make for a player in his position. Austin's tiny frame has required Steelers quarterbacks to be pinpoint accurate when locating him in the passing game over the past three years, which is why he wasn't frequently targeted.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to have a dozen draft picks in 2026—several of which could be used to bolster a lackluster wide receiver group. Meanwhile, Austin has an expiring contract following the 2025 season and will be eligible to hit the market as an unrestricted free agent.
Though the Steelers may have some interest in bringing Austin back, thanks to his solid ability as a punt returner, it's unlikely that Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin will have enough incentive to offer Austin a contract extension, considering the inefficient season he had.
If anything, it feels like the Steelers could finally give Roman Wilson a shot to prove himself in year three—much like the one Austin received in his third season in 2024.
Next year's wide receiver room is likely to consist of DK Metcalf, Roman Wilson, a few draft picks (one of which could come as early as the first round), and a free agent or two. The Pittsburgh Steelers have had less success at the wide receiver position than nearly every team in the league, and they could wave goodbye to Calvin Austin III as a result.