NFL free agency officially opened on Monday, and the Pittsburgh Steelers wasted no time getting involved. Pittsburgh started by trading for and extending Michael Pittman Jr. from the Indianapolis Colts, then added cornerback Jamel Dean from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The team also signed running back Rico Dowdle, who previously played under Mike McCarthy during his time with the Dallas Cowboys, after Kenneth Gainwell departed to join Tampa Bay.
With Pittsburgh already bringing in a familiar face from McCarthy’s time in Dallas, there’s another former player of his that Steelers fans should keep an eye on as the Steelers look to round out their wide receiver room.
Jalen Tolbert could be an under-the-radar addition to the Pittsburgh Steelers WR room
This would be another reunion that makes sense for Mike McCarthy as the team looks to rebuild its wide receiver room. Even after trading for Michael Pittman Jr., the Pittsburgh Steelers still need a few more pieces to round out the group.
DK Metcalf and Pittman form a solid duo, but both are bigger-bodied receivers who win with physicality, contested catches, and vertical ability. Pittman can also work the middle of the field and find soft spots in coverage to move the chains, but neither receiver is known as a true technician as a route runner.
That’s an element the offense is still missing at the moment. Roman Wilson could potentially grow into that role, but there isn’t a large enough sample size yet to know for sure, and he’s not guaranteed to even make the final roster.
Jalen Tolbert could be a nice complementary addition as a receiver who can separate and run clean routes. He would likely come at a relatively low cost and provide additional depth even if Pittsburgh decides to address the position early in the draft.
Tolbert could also bring some special teams value. During his time with the Dallas Cowboys, he handled punt return duties at times, which could give the Steelers another option if they decide not to bring back Calvin Austin III.
Overall, it would be a low-cost move that makes sense from a depth standpoint. It would also give the Steelers a different skill set at receiver and add a player who already has familiarity with McCarthy’s offense, which could help others get up to speed in the wide receiver room and potentially make the transition smoother for the rest of the group as the offense continues to take shape.