The Steelers have a major need at receiver this offseason, and these six day two prospects all make a lot of sense for the team.
The Steelers went into the offseason with three of their top five receivers set to enter free agency. None of their options returned to the team though, and now this depth chart is extremely top-heavy with little depth behind it.
It seems all but certain that the team invests an early pick in a receiver in order to get this room back to where it needs to be. Here are the six most logical receivers for the Steelers to target on day two of the draft.
Steelers should target Metchie
A name that seems to be lost on a lot of people is John Metchie. Alabama has recently been a powerhouse for developing quality receiving weapons. While Metchie isn’t in the top sphere that some recent names have been in, he is still a capable weapon that has some versatility in terms of where he can line up. He has the ability to be a potent slot option and the speed to stretch the field along the outside.
The issue with Metchie right now is injury, as he may need some time into this season to get back to full health. For a Steelers team that needs receiving help now, having to wait on Metchie may not be ideal.
That said, he comes from a good school and has some really good tape. He would play well in the slot early and would have the versatility to play along the outside if need be. If the team can land him in the third, he would be well worth the investment.
Steelers could target Pierce
A lowlier name on this list due to my perceived lack of upside, former Bearcat receiver Alec Pierce has all of the makings of a quality receiver even if he never ascends into a team’s top option. His size, athleticism, and route running make him a capable threat from all over the field, as he can essentially play all three of the primary receiver positions for a team.
This type of versatility makes him valuable for a team, as he can shift in wherever the team needs him. He could instantly come in and serve as a slot receiver this year, play the Z and have Chase Claypool move to the slot, or get work as the X receiver in case Diontae Johnson isn’t around past this season.
The main problem with Pierce is his lack of a defining trait. While he has good athleticism his deep speed isn’t always there on tape. His route running is good but lacks the smoothness that Johnson has on the team. He is physical and tough, but he isn’t always a secure option over the middle. He has work to do, and he will need to find a spot and settle in sooner than later, but Pierce would be a fine, versatile target for the team in the third round of the draft.
Steelers should target Moore
A name that quickly heated up for the Steelers and then essentially completely cooled off, Skyy Moore has all of the makings of a great slot receiver at the next level. His size will keep him mostly inside as a pro, but he could easily be a productive and dependable threat for this team if he were drafted here.
Where Moore excels at is his get-off and ability to make big plays. A great athlete, he is quick off the snap and can make the first move for his route. This leads to him getting open quickly. He has solid hands-on top of this, leading to quick competitions that can turn into big plays. He should quickly become a safety valve and high-volume target for an offense.
He does have some issues with his route running as a whole. He can be a little sloppy at times, and some of that may be attributed to his newness to the position for him. That said, he makes a lot of sense for a Steelers team lacking a slot receiver. Moore can come in and fill that role from day one. Assuming he falls to pick 52, he would be a solid get for the team.
Steelers should target Austin
If Moore is off the board before the Steelers pick in the second round, a capable gadget slot option could be had a round later. Don’t confuse Calvin Austin III with any of the typical high-weight-speed receivers in this class. He is extremely small and light for a professional. That said, his running back style of play mixed in with his impressive speed is a potent combination for any team to have.
Outside of his size, there aren’t many elements of Austin’s game that is lacking. He runs sharp routes, has good hands, and has the aforementioned speed to make big plays. That said, his build will severely limit his ability to make any sort of a contested catch. He has shown often that he can blaze past a defense deep, but anytime a defensive back is hanging with him, Austin likely isn’t coming down with the football.
That all said, for a team that could use a dynamic slot receiver, Austin makes a lot of sense in the third round. He will never become a true top threat in the league due to his lack of size, but he will be a consistent and explosive addition to any offense he is a part of. The Steelers could use a threat like this on their offense if they could land him.
Steelers should target Pickens
A receiver that the Steelers have shown a lot of interest in is Georgia’s George Pickens. The classic height-weight-speed type of outside threat, Pickens was insanely productive for the Bulldogs when on the field. He is a sharp route runner with elite speed that makes him potent when running deep routes.
The issue with Pickens has been his health. He missed most of his junior season last year due to an injury that limited his final college production. His stats aren’t anything to get overly excited about, but he is far better on tape than what his stats seem to indicate. Beyond his health, his game isn’t significantly lacking in any major way.
He would slot in well as the Z receiver which would shift Claypool more into the slot. This would give the Steelers a trio of insanely talented and athletic receivers to work with at any given time. The team has shown a lot of interest in Pickens to this point, and he seems like a good bet for the team in the second round. He would add an element of explosiveness along the outside that is needed right now.
Steelers should target Watson
While Pickens is the safer bet to be a productive player assuming he stays healthy, Christian Watson has all of the traits to be an elite receiver at the next level. He has had one of the best pre-draft processes in recent years which has caused his stock to skyrocket. There is a real chance he doesn’t fall to the pick 52, but if he does, it would be an obvious choice to snag him.
Watson has impressive size and truly game-breaking speed. All of this shows up on his tape as well, as he regularly was burning cornerbacks for huge gains while at North Dakota State. He regularly averaged over 20 yards per catch in college, and that big-play ability should translate to the next level well.
His major concern stems from inconsistencies in catching passes. His hands aren’t that great, and it will have to be something that is worked on as a pro. As well, he is coming from a small school, which will cause some to question his productivity. That said, since the Senior Bowl where he dominated, Watson has been a top option in this class. He will be a valuable deep play threat early in his career with the potential to be so much more.
The Steelers have an obvious need at receiver this offseason, and luckily for them, this draft class is filled with capable names. While taking a receiver in the first seems unlikely, landing a quality day two receiver seems like almost a lock. These six receivers in particular make the most sense for the Steelers in either the second or third round of the draft.