Ever since the Pittsburgh Steelers made the decision to trade former top receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, the biggest question mark on the roster has been who DK Metcalf's running mate will be this season.
With no firmly established players behind their prized offseason addition, many expected to see another trade or signing to bolster the room. Instead, the preseason performance of both young and veteran receivers has given fans something to be hopeful about.
With Calvin Austin III nursing an injury for most of the summer, players like Roman Wilson, Scotty Miller, Brandon Johnson, and Ke'Shawn Williams all had their moments during preseason play. Miller, in particular, went from potential cut candidate to roster lock after strong showings in all three exhibition games. With the impressive summer from many of their depth playmakers, it's easy to believe that a true No. 2 receiver may not be needed in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Steelers can survive with a mix of players behind DK Metcalf
Receivers seemingly grow on trees nowadays in the NFL, and yet the Steelers failed to build a receiver group that has many reliable options this offseason. While the trade of Pickens made sense in some aspects, it no doubt puts the offense in a tough position.
Now that many of the backups have shown much more promise than anyone could have expected, I believe that some combination of Austin III and Wilson can serve as a solid No. 2 option at receiver. Even Scotty Miller looks like he can serve as a real contributor on offense after his outburst this preseason.
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Don't get me wrong, it's not the ideal way to build a receiving depth chart. Having an experienced and productive player to pair with Metcalf would raise the ceiling of the offense. If any offense could manage without that, however, it's Arthur Smith's.
Even before adding Jonnu Smith in the Jalen Ramsey trade, Smith planned to lean on his tight ends in both the run and pass games. The Steelers used two and three tight end sets as much as any offense in the NFL in 2024, and they will rely on that even more in 2025.
It remains to be seen exactly how Smith and Pat Freiermuth will be used, but one or both will see plenty of reps as a true slot receiver. That will help take the pressure off of players behind Metcalf, allowing them to settle in as the season moves along. If the running game can show up this year as well, after a down year in 2024, then this offense won't need a solidified No. 2 receiver after all.