Three wide receivers Steelers could look to add through free agency
Strapped by the cap, the Steelers could still search through free agency for a WR but may have to stick to a certain market.
Use a pick for any of the wide receivers in the upcoming draft and it’ll be unlikely a team does not receive a contributor; throw a contract at any of the receivers in free agency and hope it’s one of the favorites. For the Steelers, they are in a bind financially and may have to aim for low-risk, high-reward type of players.
AJ Green, Amari Cooper, & Emmanuel Sanders will lead the talks for media outlets on possible new destinations, but the depth of the group provides a couple of quality options. Pittsburgh has a very young & talented unit, but could always benefit from another body in the room.
Rashard Higgins
The former Cleveland Brown, Rashard Higgins has real potential that may have been crippled by an ill-advised system. After breaking out in 2018 with career-highs of receiving yards (572), yards per reception (14.7), touchdowns (4), yards per game (44.0), & catch percentage (73.6), it seemed the 3rd WR spot was undeniably in his hands as WR Odell Beckham Jr. arrived.
Then, came the nightmare of 2019 for Higgins. A starter & racking in 46 yards on 3 catches to kick off the season, a knee injury would sideline him for the next 5 weeks. However, in the midst of a laughable short-lived hype by the Browns & insecure-like interviews, the complications ran deeper than with the media, & Higgins was a component of it.
Difficult to understand how a player with promise eventually fell out to a career-low in snap counts (172) & without a single active play in the last 4 weeks of 2019. A few searches on Google and the evidence presents itself.
After returning from injury, the expectancy was that Higgins would be installed into the gameplan vs Seattle, but never received a snap. Long story short, Higgins didn’t know, Kitchens claims he wasn’t ready. Weeks later, “shade” is thrown from one party, the other is still without PT.
Now a free agent, the 26-year-old is a solid route-runner that has averaged more than 13.8 yards per reception the past two seasons. Someone who could benefit greatly with new scenery, what better way to do with a division rival? Revenge may not be the likely motive, but the Steelers have an opportunity to take a chance on an individual that could cost pennies.