The Pittsburgh Steelers have turned the page on the Mike Tomlin era. This franchise, which has had a historical focus on defense, is moving forward with offensive-minded head coach Mike McCarthy. In doing so, we can expect some big changes on the offensive side of the ball.
Most of these changes should be for the good of the team. Tomlin and his recent offensive coordinators (Arthur Smith and Matt Canada) have been fearful of dialing up plays to exploit defenses over the middle of the field. The Steelers have also been using some of the heaviest personnel groupings in the NFL in recent years.
All of that could soon change.
There are certain things McCarthy has found success with over his NFL career—running out of shotgun, operating out of 11 personnel, and finding receivers in timing and rhythm. Based on what McCarthy's offenses have valued most over the years, several recent Steelers draft picks may no longer be a fit in Pittsburgh.
These three Pittsburgh Steelers weapons are poor scheme fits with Mike McCarthy's offense
Darnell Washington, TE
It pains me to say this, because as big a Darnell Washington supporter as you will find. But the harsh reality of the situation is that Washington is not a good scheme fit with McCarthy. At 6'7'' and over 300 pounds, Washington excels as an inline 'Y' tight end on a run-heavy offense.
That role is no longer critical for the Steelers' new-look offense.
With McCarthy expected to run 11 personnel the vast majority of the time, Washington could see the bench much more often in 2026. McCarthy's favorite personnel grouping includes three wide receivers, one running back, and just one tight end.
Because McCarthy cares much more about getting open in the passing than blocking for his tight ends, Pat Freiermuth could be his go-to option at the position, and his career could spike. As for Washington, the 2023 third-round pick could revert to being a part-time player and an afterthought in McCarthy's offense.
Kaleb Johnson, RB
Kaleb Johnson is entering just his second NFL season and was never able to get the wheels spinning as a rookie in 2025 after entering Tomlin's doghouse. Still, we would have expected him to see a big uptick in usage this coming season. That might not be the case now.
The Steelers drafted Johnson because of his ability as a wide-zone runner from a pro-style offense—an area in which Johnson excelled at Iowa. However, McCarthy's offenses have historically run heavily out of shotgun. This isn't good for a player like Johnson.
Johnson is a big back with build-up speed, so running out of the shotgun won't cater to his skill set. The 2025 third-round pick felt like a selection specifically for Arthur Smith's offense, but with Smith gone and McCarthy calling the shots, I wouldn't be surprised if Johnson is traded. If he sticks around, he might only be used in a rotational role at best.
Roman Wilson, WR
After essentially redshirting his rookie season due to injuries, Roman Wilson showed some flashes in his second season in 2025, but was put on the back burner as the Steelers favored veterans with more experience. Wilson has impressive, strong hands and more than enough speed to develop into a starting-level wide receiver, but that window in Pittsburgh may have already passed.
McCarthy typically likes bigger receivers on the outside, and his go-to option likely isn't even on the team yet. He wants nuanced route runners—players who the quarterback knows exactly where they're going to be.
This isn't Wilson's forte early in his career, and at 5'10 3/4'' and 185 pounds, he doesn't fit the description of what McCarthy typically looks for in big-bodied route runners (think CeeDee Lamb, Davante Adams, and Jordy Nelson).
Wilson might be able to stick around and carve out a role as the team's third or fourth wide receiver, but knowing McCarthy's offenses in the past, it's unlikely he will be used heavily in 2026.