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Pittsburgh Steelers: Mid-round wide receiver is a need, even if it’s not

By Noah Strackbein

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 19: Quadree Henderson #10 of the Pittsburgh Panthers carries the ball for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Duke Blue Devils at Heinz Field on November 19, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 19: Quadree Henderson #10 of the Pittsburgh Panthers carries the ball for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Duke Blue Devils at Heinz Field on November 19, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
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The Pittsburgh Steelers love to draft mid-to-late round wide receivers in the NFL Draft, and this year is going to be the same.

There is no need for the Pittsburgh Steelers to draft a wide receiver. Their big three on top of Justin Hunter, a healthy Vance McDonald and a likely Eli Rogers return doesn’t leave much room for a rookie.

Pittsburgh’s going to draft a wideout, though. Whether it’s the fifth or seventh, the Steelers are going to add another man to their rotation in the passing game. Why? Because they like to.

The Steelers love to find the mid-round wideout to add to their mix. Whether it’s Antonio Brown, Eli Rogers, Martavis Bryant, Pittsburgh uses at least one pick on a receiver, and more times than not, it’s a worthy move.

If these guys never panned out and Pittsburgh was left year after year releasing rookie wideouts, they’d have a reason to stop. But they don’t. Each offseason, this team uses a draft pick on a position they don’t need more of, and every time, it comes out as a great move.

This could stir trouble for guys like Rogers and Hunter. Whether it’s Justin Watson, Quadree Henderson, or a random receiver, the Steelers will more than likely add another depth chart player to the position.

It’s nothing more than a compliment to Bryant, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Brown, but Pittsburgh loves to keep their slot receivers in rotation. That doesn’t mean Eli Rogers isn’t making a comeback, but it could mean there’s another name that gets reps this season.

Pittsburgh craves the rookie receivers. No one knows why, but until it doesn’t work, they’re going to keep drafting them. You can’t blame them, and it’s never an unexciting pick to hear the new offensive weapon added to the team.

This year, the position has some hot targets in the mid-rounds. Pittsburgh is eyeing up one of their fifth-round selections on their next receiver. Plenty of people see the Pitt native, Henderson, staying in the City of Champions, but that isn’t a guarantee.

Next: 15 greatest 1st round picks in Steelers history

The name called will be a draft day decision. But one thing is certain – the Steelers are going to use a pick on a receiver. It’s just what they do.

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