Many Pittsburgh Steelers fans have given up on wide receiver Roman Wilson. In fairness, the club's actions since drafting him suggest they're ready to cut their losses, too.
However, with a new regime comes a clean slate for Wilson. He has a prime opportunity to rewrite his story and prove himself following a disappointing start to a once-promising career that may be fading fast. First-year Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy appears to be leaving the light on for the 2024 third-round pick to bounce back.
Time will tell whether Wilson pans out. He's at least giving himself a chance by reportedly making a strong first impression on McCarthy, though.
Mike McCarthy could be the turning point Pittsburgh Steelers' Roman Wilson desperately needed
"[Wilson's] been here from Day 1," McCarthy stated, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN. "He was one of the first men to reach out and clearly ask what the expectation was of him, how I view him, how I saw him fitting in as the roles X, F and Z. He's doing the work. ... Roman's done a really nice job."
It's refreshing to hear Wilson hit the ground running and get in McCarthy's good graces. The Michigan product was seemingly trapped in Pittsburgh's former longtime leader, Mike Tomlin's, doghouse due to injuries and inconsistency.
How much of a factor Wilson will be for the redesigned Steelers remains to be seen. They'll probably take anything from him, considering he was a healthy scratch for four of the team's last five games this past regular season. The front office has invested heavily in the wideout position over the past two offseasons, further complicating matters.
Nevertheless, there's a reason(s) Pittsburgh spent a top-100 selection on him not long ago. His exciting combination of speed and athleticism can prove valuable. He has the upside to give McCarthy and Co. an explosive element that the offense has lacked with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers under center.
For what it's worth, Wilson ranked 18th in yards after catch per reception (5.6) among 133 wideouts with 20-plus targets in 2025, including the playoffs. As a point of reference, that was better than bona fide alphas like Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings and the Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase. Volume ought to be taken heavily into consideration, yet there could be more meat on the bone here, sample size (or lack thereof) aside.
Seven of Wilson's 12 receptions went for first downs. He also had a 120.0 passer rating when targeted, good for 15th using the aforementioned statistical filter. Several indicators suggest the Steelers might be sitting on a potential breakout candidate.
Note: Metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus' premium stats ($).
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