The Pittsburgh Steelers will need more firepower on offense in 2023, and these free-agent wide receivers may be able to help Kenny Pickett in his second season.
Even with a strong finish to the 2022 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers must find a way to improve their offense next year. This may come with the potential departure of offensive coordinator, Matt Canada, or perhaps Omar Khan addresses the offensive line early in the NFL Draft. However, adding a weapon to Kenny Pickett’s arsenal is a must.
The Steelers have a few very promising pass-catching options to look forward to in George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth, but Diontae Johnson was very up and down in 2022, and they could use another receiver who offers something different than what they have.
The team is hoping that fourth-round rookie Calvin Austin will be able to help out in his second season, but the 5’7 3/4”, 170-pound receiver missed his entire rookie year with a foot injury. If Pittsburgh decides to go the free-agent route when looking for help, these four receivers could make sense to target during the 2023 free-agency period.
Steelers could sign DJ Chark
Don’t let his lack of production over the past three seasons fool you. DJ Chark still has plenty to offer. Despite a more limited role than he had to begin his career in Jacksonville, Chark still carved out a niche for the Detroit Lions this year.
His biggest problem has always been staying healthy, as the lanky wide receiver seems to be banged up with one injury after the next. Still, it’s simply hard to find receivers that run 4.34 (at 6’3”, no less). Chark would instantly give the Steelers a quality deep threat from the ‘Z’ position and would serve as an insurance policy if George Pickens were to go down next season.
Steelers could sign Mecole Hardman
If the Pittsburgh Steelers want a more established deep threat with slightly fewer injury concerns, Mecole Hardman could be their guy. At 5’10”, Hardman isn’t nearly as tall or long as Chark, but his 4.33 speed will be a coveted asset during the 2023 free agency period.
Hardman has already been a part of some very successful offenses with the Kansas City Chiefs, and he can line up at multiple receiver positions. This would give Pittsburgh plenty of flexibility and allow for more creativity on offense.
While fans would love to see Calvin Austin become this type of player, it’s very likely that Austin is limited to being a part-time slot receiver in the NFL due to his tiny frame and catch radius. At 5’10 1/4” and 187 pounds, Hardman compares much more favorably in size to Diontae Johnson but has a gear that Johnson does not possess.
Since trading away Martavis Bryant, the deep-threat role is one that the Pittsburgh Steelers have not been able to fill. Hardman is a dangerous receiver with the ball in his hands and can help stretch the field for Kenny Pickett.
Steelers could sign Parris Campbell
Parris Campbell isn’t the type of receiver who is going to force Diontae Johnson or George Pickens off the field unless there’s an injury to either player or they are completely gassed. However, that doesn’t mean he couldn’t offer this team some quality depth at the wide receiver position.
After a very slow start to his NFL career in which he didn’t see much usage from 2019-2021, Campbell has developed into a security blanket for a struggling Colts offense in 2022. Campbell can line up in various roles but is best from the slot. At nearly 6’0” and 205 pounds, the former Ohio State product has a good frame for his role.
Despite running a 4.31 forty-yard dash at the 2019 NFL Combine, Campbell hasn’t been used as much of a deep threat, as he has averaged just 10.3 yards per reception in his career, per ESPN stats. However, perhaps the Steelers could find a way to use his speed to their advantage.
Even at just 25 years old, Cambell should come at a relatively cheap cost, as Spotrac.com estimates him earning $2.5 million annually in free agency this year. That’s not a bad price to pay for a veteran receiver who could offer some depth and security at the position.
Steelers could sign JuJu Smith-Schuster
With the way things ended for him in Pittsburgh and the fact that he has spoken so highly of the Chiefs organization, chances are JuJu Smith-Schuster won’t be coming back to the Steel City. Since leaving the Steelers, JuJu has been a much more efficient football player now that he is paired with Patrick Mahomes. But a Smith-Schuster reunion is still within the realm of possibility.
JuJu wasn’t efficient at all in his final season with the Steelers, and he missed extended time with a shoulder injury. However, now that there’s a new quarterback in town who likes to distribute the football a bit more evenly, JuJu could find a quality role once again in Pittsburgh.
This team desperately lacked a quality slot option this year, and JuJu could help them do the dirty work underneath in traffic. Kenny Pickett could use another physical player who could act as a security blanket — even if it’s only in a part-time capacity.
Believe it or not, Smith-Schuster will be just 26 years old to begin the 2023 season, and the price tag could be within reason. I wouldn’t be totally shocked to see the Steelers target their former second-round pick during the free agency period.