The Pittsburgh Steelers' top priority this offseason was to upgrade their lackluster wide receiver group, and they have already made a big splash with the trade for Michael Pittman Jr. from the Indianapolis Colts. It's a solid start, but their work is far from finished, especially after news broke late Thursday night that they are losing one of the top contributors from last season.
Calvin Austin III agreed to a deal with the New York Giants, signing a one-year, $4.5 million contract. He presumably will be competing for a chance to replace Wandale Robinson, who parlayed his career season in 2025 into a big deal with the Tennessee Titans.
Austin never fully broke out for the Steelers, but he was a useful part of the offense for the past two seasons and made several big plays that helped lead to victories. His role will need to be replaced, and it may not be as easy to do as his production would indicate.
The Pittsburgh Steelers must find a new dynamic athlete to replace Calvin Austin III
Austin turned into a solid receiver for the Steelers after missing his entire 2022 rookie season due to injury, but he was also an effective punt returner. His best season as both a receiver and returner came back in 2024, when he racked up 548 receiving yards, 289 punt return yards, and scored five total touchdowns (four receiving and one punt return).
That is solid production for a #3 receiver, especially in a passing offense that wasn't exactly elite. His numbers took a dive in 2025, but injuries and a passing game made up almost entirely of short passes were the main culprits.
He was still the same dynamic athlete he had shown to be; his skill set just didn't mesh with quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the same way it did with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields the year prior.
Now, he will get to play with the raw but exciting young QB Jaxson Dart in New York. Dart is not afraid to throw the ball deep and give his receivers chances, and Austin could benefit greatly from that mentality. His diminutive size (5'8", 170 pounds) will always be a limiting factor for him, but it hasn't kept him from being productive when given a chance to shine.