Through four weeks, a lot of issues have already emerged for the Steelers. The offensive line hasn’t progressed like you would have hoped for; the linebackers have fallen off a cliff, and the secondary is a mess following the Joey Porter Jr. trade.
Worse yet, despite another offseason dedicated to rebuilding the receiver room, this group has once again fallen flat on its face.
While a big play occurs here and there, no one is consistently separating. Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers has struggled to take advantage of the few times these players have gotten open. They need some more big-play threats.
DK Metcalf has struggled, Roman Wilson is hot and cold, and Germie Bernard hasn’t been given a good shot to make an impact. Michael Pittman Jr., meanwhile, has been a complete non-factor for this offense.
Thankfully, there are some names that would make sense to add. Even better, these names could be budget options for the team.
3 receivers the Pittsburgh Steelers could add to jumpstart their offense
Quentin Johnston
While Quentin Johnston hasn’t lived up to his billing as an early first-round pick, he has found some staying power as a solid second option with the ability to win deep down the field. The past two seasons saw him garner over 700 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in each of them.
In Mike McDaniel’s offense, however, he has clearly become an afterthought.
Through four games, he has caught seven passes for just over 100 yards. The Chargers are struggling all over the board, and it seems like they may look to overhaul the roster after this year.
Johnston doesn’t feel like he is a part of their long-term future. Despite having his fifth-year option picked up, it is a manageable contract if the Steelers were to keep him past this year. He clearly needs a change of scenery, and Pittsburgh could use some juice in their receiving room.
Tyreek Hill
It looks like Tyreek Hill is finally getting healthy, and for a receiver room that is failing to separate, make plays after the catch, and win deep, a player like Hill could make a lot of sense.
While his speed and athleticism are naturally going to wane at his age, being blessed with so much means he has plenty to spare. He can play any receiver spot and do damage in a variety of ways.
He hasn’t played in a while, and he would need a good amount of time to ramp up and get back to pro shape. Assuming he can do that, he would be a great complementary piece to this offense.
Even better, he won’t cost a draft pick. There is a lot of risk here, as there is a real possibility that Hill doesn’t get back to his pre-injury form, but for a team with receivers as inefficient as the Steelers have, they need to try something.
Brian Thomas Jr.
Brian Thomas Jr. is such a weird case. He broke onto the scene as a rookie, proving to be a dynamic threat and garnering Rookie of the Year looks. Once Liam Coen took over, it felt like there was a disconnect between Thomas and the offense.
Now, he feels like a complete afterthought as he has just nine receptions over the first four games.
He isn’t being used deep anymore, and it feels like he has been completely overtaken by Parker Washington. Like Johnston, he feels like an afterthought in this offense and needs a change of scenery.
Pittsburgh could be just that. While the quarterback play would have to get better, Thomas could be a big reason for improved play. It feels like he would have plenty of opportunities in this system and would be a daunting second option next to Metcalf.
Better yet, he is only entering his third year. That means you have at least two years to figure out what you have with Thomas, and if he does well, you can use the fifth-year option for even more control.
There is a risk that he never returns to form, but he is in a league of his own in terms of available receivers. The Steelers would be wise to inquire about him.
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