It’s no secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers are on the hunt for a No. 2 wide receiver with Aaron Rodgers now officially in the fold. The addition of DK Metcalf was a big one this offseason, but that was somewhat offset by trading away George Pickens. For the Rodgers experiment to work in Pittsburgh, he needs to be surrounded by weapons in the passing game due to his lack of mobility.
Pittsburgh will continue to explore the trade market over the next several months, and we shouldn’t rule out the possibility of the Steelers adding a player like Allen Lazard to fill in that role. But the Steelers are hopeful that one of their young receivers could potentially step up and fill that void. And the first player up is none other than Roman Wilson, the third-round pick from Michigan just a year ago.
In a recent article by Ryan Smith of Pro Football Focus, he took a look at 10 second-year players who are primed for bigger roles during the 2025 season. That list included Wilson, who failed to haul in a single pass during his rookie season. But here is why Smith and the site are optimistic about Wilson going into Year 2:
"In his final season at Michigan in 2023, Wilson accounted for 48 receptions, 789 yards and 12 touchdowns. He displayed strong hands (just one drop) and big-play ability, catching 12 passes 20-plus yards downfield. Moving forward, Wilson has an opportunity to step up into a bigger role. With George Pickens being traded to Dallas, Pittsburgh has very little depth at wide receiver behind recently acquired D.K. Metcalf, and the team will need his production to contend in a tough AFC North division."Ryan Smith, Pro Football Focus
Wilson is the type of receiver who would stylistically fit well with Metcalf, as he is an underneath receiver who can play in the slot and as a Z-receiver. He’s incredibly quick, but he’s a polished route runner with the ability to create quick separation.
However, it’s fair to wonder how far behind Wilson is after missing so much time during his rookie season. Expecting him to be the No. 2 receiver during his first healthy year might be too big of an ask, especially with a 41-year-old quarterback who has always preferred to play with veterans.
The Steelers are hopeful that Wilson can find his way into the starting lineup and fill a role this season. And if they can’t find a viable No. 2 receiver via trade, they might not have another choice. Roman Wilson’s success or lack thereof could be a major harbinger for the Steelers overall during the 2025 season.