Potential first round Steelers draft targets post free agency

Steelers could target WR Jahan Dotson

Due to the addition of solid starters across the board in free agency, the Steelers can truly focus on drafting the best player available in this year’s draft. This opens up wide receiver as a possibility for the Steelers, which may not have been a remote possibility earlier on in the draft process. Now that the Steelers added Mitch Trubisky to the quarterback room, as well as James Daniels and Mason Cole to the offensive line, it is possible that the Steelers look at wide receiver round one, rather than forcing a selection at one of those positions.

The wide receiver class has loads of depth this year, as there could be six receivers who go in round one. While the Steelers could go for any of them, Jahan Dotson is one that could make the most sense for the Steelers. Dotson has arguably the best hands of any receiver in this year’s draft class and could be a perfect replacement for Juju Smith-Schuster in the Steelers’ offense.

According to ESPN, Dotson tallied 91 receptions for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns this year at Penn State. That kind of production, combined with his high-end speed, athleticism, and hands make him a likely high-end contributor from day one in the NFL. Wide receivers have been making an impact very early much more often in recent years, as JaMarr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, Justin Jefferson, Ceedee Lamb, and others have burst onto the scene and flashed high-end potential as rookies, and there’s no reason to believe this year’s class can’t do the same.

Dotson’s ability to play in the slot makes him a perfect compliment to Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool and could giveTrubisky a dominant group of offensive weapons. NFL.com lists him at 5’11”, 178 lbs and that size compares well to players the Steelers have drafted in the past such as Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders, so it’s easy to see why they could fall in love with him as a prospect.