The Steelers need some speed on their offense this offseason, and these six pending free agents would fill that void.
The Steelers receiving group will be in transition this offseason, as James Washington and JuJu Smith-Schuster are pending free agents. While replacing Smith-Schuster will require a more physical slot style of receiver, the team is lacking a natural deep threat with some speed.
Here are six free-agent receivers that could add some serious speed to the Steelers roster.
Steelers could sign Jackson
The go-to standard of a deep threat receiver since he was drafted, DeSean Jackson will once again find himself as a free agent this offseason. Despite not being a full-time starter anymore due to his age, his speed is still wholly present. He only caught 20 passes this year, but he compiled an obscene 454 yards off those receptions for a 22.7 average yards per catch.
The Steelers haven’t had a threat like that since Mike Wallace, and while Jackson will continue to regress, he still has the speed to take the top off a defense. The team is lacking a receiver that wins vertically like that, and while it wasn’t a huge issue in an offense that was focused on the short passing game, it may become an issue with whoever the new quarterback is for this team.
Jackson would come in cheaply and have an instant role on the team. He wouldn’t be pushing for starter snaps, but he can play 10-15 snaps a game and force a defense to drop some defensive backs deep. At his age and being only a role player, a new deal likely won’t break the bank, and adding him would give this offense some of the speed they need.