Before heading into the offseason, one of the most glaring needs for the Pittsburgh Steelers was addressing the lack of a true number two wide receiver, an issue that has plagued the offense for the past two seasons.
On the first day of free agency, Pittsburgh took a step toward fixing that problem by completing a late Day 3 pick swap with the Indianapolis Colts to acquire Michael Pittman Jr. The team later signed him to a three-year extension, giving the Steelers a proven running mate to pair with DK Metcalf and helping stabilize the wide receiver room.
Even with that addition, there is still room to add more talent at the position, and the Steelers drafting a wide receiver in the first round is still not out of the question. One potential prospect who could have been in play at pick number 21 may now see his draft stock slide to Day 2 after news surfaced of a recent knee procedure that could raise some red flags for teams considering investing a first-round pick.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could avoid KC Concepcion after recent knee procedure
On Monday, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that KC Concepcion recently underwent a knee scope that was described as routine and preventative. The procedure is not considered serious, and he is expected to be fully ready for the rookie minicamp.
Still, any news involving a knee issue can cause teams to proceed cautiously, and even minor procedures can sometimes push prospects down draft boards.
Before the news surfaced, Concepcion was widely viewed as a potential late Day 1 selection. With the recent development, however, there is a chance the procedure could push him out of the first round conversation altogether as teams weigh the medical report more closely.
After acquiring Michael Pittman Jr. to pair with DK Metcalf, the Pittsburgh Steelers now have two big-bodied receivers on the outside. What the offense could still benefit from is a complementary receiver who can operate as a precise route runner and create easy separation. That type of role has often been important in offenses run by Mike McCarthy, and it closely matches Concepcion’s skill set.
Medical concerns have not always scared the Steelers away in the past. Recent first-round selections such as Troy Fautanu and Derrick Harmon were both projected by some to go earlier in the draft but slipped after certain teams flagged medical questions during evaluations. Pittsburgh, however, did not view those concerns the same way and trusted its medical staff during the process.
If Concepcion does begin to slide because of the knee procedure, it could create another opportunity for the Steelers. Should the organization once again trust its evaluations, Concepcion could still be very much in play with their first round pick and would give Pittsburgh another dynamic option to add to its wide receiver room.