The Pittsburgh Steelers are left thin at the wide receiver position following the Chase Claypool trade. Here are some free agents who could help.
Just before the NFL trade deadline, the Pittsburgh Steelers pulled off a surprising trade that sent wide receiver Chase Claypool to the Chicago Bears. I was a big supporter of this move, as it shows that the organization wasn’t able to pass up a good deal and that they have the future of the team in mind.
The bad news is that after shipping Claypool to the midwest, Pittsburgh is left razor-thin at the wide receiver position. This is especially the case, as Calvin Austin and Anthony Miller — two wide receivers projected to be on the roster — suffered what proved to be season-ending injuries before the start of the 2022 season.
Since 2020, backup receivers Steven Sims, Gunner Olszewski, and Miles Boykin have combined for just 6 catches. The lack of production should have the Steelers worried. In a year where Pittsburgh won’t be competitive anyway, I wouldn’t worry about it too much, but Mike Tomlin could be looking to bolster the WR room to ensure that Kenny Pickett has as much help as possible. Here are some receivers they could target:
Steelers could sign Will Fuller
The Steelers thought they were going to at least be aided part-time by a receiver with 4.3 speed this year. Though Calvin Austin wasn’t protected to play a big role from the gate, his elite speed and twitch could have been an asset. Now after trading Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh suddenly has a very average group of receivers when it comes to athleticism.
Will Fuller has a long history of injuries and suspensions, but he has always been one of the better deep threats in the league. This is something the Steelers have been missing since Martavis Bryant. Still 28 years old and without a home, Pittsburgh could sign Fuller to a rental-type deal where he could try to boost his value in the second half of the season before 2023 free agency.
Fuller hasn’t played football since Week 4 of the 2021 season as injuries kept him sidelined, but he’s finally ready to go and he could give this offense a spark if he proves to be the player he was before the injuries.