The Steelers have needs all over their roster but finding a capable slot receiver with one of these eight pending free agents would be a huge help.
The Steelers have been something of a receiver factory over the past few years, but that may end this season as they prepare to watch two of their top guys walk. While drafting a receiver should be a part of their plans, signing a veteran would also be a wise move, specifically to address the slot position that JuJu Smith-Schuster will be leaving from.
Here are eight free agents the Steelers could sign to replace Smith-Schuster.
Steelers could sign Berrios
Braxton Berrios is another of a seemingly endless pool of Wes Welker-lite type of slot receivers. Undersized and only a marginal athlete, Berrios has found a stable role with the Jets as a gadget type of slot receiver and a surprisingly effective red-zone threat. While he isn’t a flashy player nor one that should be counted on for huge games, he can be a stable slot receiver and return man.
The Jets seemingly got the most out of him, as Berrios was becoming a staple every week in their offense. While he wasn’t dominating the snap count, he was finding ways to get the ball into his hands and more often than not found a way to score. The Steelers lacked that all season, especially out of the slot after Smith-Schuster went down.
While his next contract shouldn’t break the bank, he also can’t be relied on to play as much as a typical starter. As well, he needs to be used creatively, and the Steelers have shown an inability to do that. Both Ray-Ray McCloud and Ryan Switzer before him are built in the same mold and the team got little out of either.
Berrios would be an interesting and cheap fit, but the team would have to actually properly use him to make a signing like this workout.
Steelers could sign Pascal
If the Steelers wanted to get a cheaper version of Smith-Schuster, Zach Pascal could fit the bill. Used as an oversized slot receiver with the Colts, Pascal found some semblance of success in this league. While not a top option by any means, he has proven to be a fine starter and a reliable target when needed.
Despite him playing the most snaps of his career to date, he actually saw his stats tumble from where he had been before. He was used less downfield and as a result, was more of a possession target for the Colts. This led to an average yards per catch and reduced receiving yards. That said, his 2019 and 2020 seasons were bright spots for the Colts offense.
He would be a direct one-for-one replacement for Smith-Schuster if he were to be signed. The only real difference between the two would be the size of their contract, as Smith-Schuster is a much bigger name. Pascal wouldn’t be a huge get, but he can hold down the fort as the team rebuilds. He can use his size to score and pick up tough yards. If the Steelers don’t want to stray too far from what they have, Pascal makes a lot of sense.
Steelers could sign Higgins
A name that should look familiar, Rashard Higgins has been a regular contributor for the Browns since being drafted in the fifth round. While a talented option, he has always struggled without top-end athleticism (that was the primary reason he fell to the fifth round). While he hasn’t been exclusively a slot receiver, he could find a good home there with the Steelers.
Higgins just suffered through an abysmal season with the Browns. Their entire passing game was hampered all season long, and he never really got going in this offense. That said, he has proven before to be a fine option in a passing game even if he can’t be counted on to produce like a starter. He would work well in this offense, and his lacking speed could be hidden in the slot in a more full-time role there.
While less of a clone of Smith-Schuster, Higgins can give this team some above-average route running and capable slot work as a player. He can also be used more on the outside, giving him some more flexibility in this offense. He certainly won’t be breaking the bank this offseason, so the Steelers can add him on the cheap and get some regular slot snaps out of him.
Steelers could sign Pringle
A change of pace at receiver would be a welcome thing for this team, as the past two years have been focused on shorter routes and plays after the catch. Byron Pringle can bring some of the elements that made him a successful receiver with the Chiefs to any team he joins. He can play a variety of roles and be a great contributor on any offense.
Like Higgins, Pringle isn’t just a slot receiver. While he worked there with the Chiefs, he was also a notable outside threat. That said, getting him more along the inside could open up his playmaking ability. He is a good route runner that could benefit from the quicker timed routes that a slot receiver runs, and his speed could make him a potential yards after the catch machine in there.
Pringle is coming off his best season as a professional in a passing offense that makes almost anyone look good. That said, he has progressed every season to this point and is ready to take on a more permanent role in an offense. His fit wouldn’t be as clear as some of the other options on this list, but Pringle would bring a new element to this passing game.
Steelers could sign Crowder
In the middle of this list falls the most stereotypical and model slot receiver: Jamison Crowder. He has been in the league for what seems like forever, and while he has never been an elite receiver, he is a stable and consistent slot target. He won’t burn any defense and he won’t make contested catches down the field, but he excels at coming down with the tough catch and moving the chains.
That is something the Steelers lost when Smith-Schuster went down. Suddenly, the offense didn’t have the tough and gritty slot receiver to depend upon. Crowder would fix that to an extent, as the veteran has been a model of consistency. While a little older, that may actually benefit a young receiving room. Crowder wouldn’t only be a starting slot receiver, but he can also be a mentor for the up-and-coming receivers.
His deal almost certainly won’t break the bank, as his upside going forward is essentially nonexistent. Every team knows what he provides and knows they won’t get much more out of him. That said, if he were to come to the Steelers, he could instantly solve their slot problems and be a dependable target for the team. He is a safe choice for a team in need of a slot receiver.
Steelers could sign Wilson
Another name that should sound familiar but for different reasons, Cedrick Wilson could follow in his father’s footsteps and sign with the Steelers. While his father was never much more than an average reserve, Wilson showed this season that he is ready to be a starter. He became a mainstay with the Cowboys’ offense and a reliable target for Dak Prescott.
While he has the size to play along the outside, he did a lot of his damage from the slot this past season. He runs sharp routes and has sneaky athleticism that helped him make some big plays. He really came into his own this season in that regard, and he should be able to build off that going forward.
There is a lot of inherent risk with Wilson, as he was mostly a reserve before this season. As well, the Cowboys’ offense as a whole was dynamic, and he saw less coverage because of that. That said, the risk could be worth it assuming his contract demands aren’t through the roof. He would be a good fit in this offense and a stable target out of the slot and along the outside.
Steelers could sign Kirk
One of the safest and most obvious slot receiver candidates in this year’s free agency class is Christian Kirk. While he never quite lived up to the hype he had entering the Cardinals receiver room, Kirk has still become a consistent and above-average slot receiver. He isn’t going to come in and put-up elite numbers (he never did that in Arizona), but his sharp route running and deceptive speed can be a huge help in this offense.
What makes Kirk so appealing is that he is a natural slot receiver. He does his best work making tough catches, attacking the middle of the field, and making some plays with the ball in his hands. While Smith-Schuster was fine in that role, the team tried using him like he was going to break big plays off short passes. He wasn’t fit for that, but Kirk is better there.
While not a dynamic receiver, Kirk will certainly be a sought-after name for any team in need of a slot receiver. If the Steelers wanted to pony up some extra money for him, it could be well worth it. Kirk is a stereotypical slot receiver and would be a good addition to this roster. While not an elite player, he would bring a new element to this passing game.
Steelers could sign Fuller
At one point in time, Will Fuller was seen as an up-and-coming receiver with the potential to be elite. A perfect athlete, Fuller could attack defense on deep routes from the outside or burn them inside from the slot. Unfortunately, a drug scandal and injuries derailed his season with the Dolphins, and he will once again find himself a free agent with his market at an all-time low in terms of value.
This should interest the Steelers, as they could get a potentially great receiver for next to nothing. Fuller will want a chance to establish himself as a top threat on a cheap prove it deal, and the team should be all over that. Fuller would be a great name with serious speed to fill in at the slot. He is still outside capable as well, meaning he could rotate around with the other receivers on the team.
While him not playing most of last season isn’t great, it does lend Fuller to being a cheap option for the team. While there is a risk that he won’t achieve the same levels of play that he did earlier in his career, he is worth the risk if cheap enough. He has the speed and route-running ability to be a huge threat in the slot. He is a name the team must consider once free agency rolls around.
The Steelers will need to add a new face or two to their receiving room, and these free agents make the most sense. While the team can and should draft a receiver, adding one as a free agent is logical. Keep these names in mind for the team moving forward.