After the Pittsburgh Steelers failed to come away with a road win against the Cleveland Browns in Week 4, fans were quick to throw the blame at multiple players and units for the loss. Among them was the wide receiver group, which struggled mightily to create separation against the Browns' impressive man coverage. It begs the question: do the Steelers need to look for outside help?
There are a few interesting names that might be on the trade block this season, and the Steelers have extra draft capital from the Broderick Jones and Joey Porter Jr. trades. One of the most polarizing potential targets is Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. Harrison's name has been brought up in trade rumors due to his slow start in 2026, but his struggles extend beyond this season.
The former fourth-overall pick in 2024 has failed to live up to his lofty expectations through his first two+ seasons, with just 1,566 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in 32 career games. If he were the 44th overall pick instead of the fourth, those numbers would be totally fine, but Harrison was one of the most hyped receiver prospects in years when he came out of Ohio State.
As tantalizing as the talent may still be, the Steelers should look elsewhere for help on offense, regardless of what the price may be in a trade.
Marvin Harrison Jr. isn't the answer to the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver problems
Despite my belief that Harrison isn't the right player for the Steelers to target in a trade, I do think there is still reason to believe that he can turn his career around with a change of scenery. Since entering the NFL, the Cardinals have been trying to make him a true "X" receiver, asking him to win vertically on go balls and reel in contested catches down the field. While he may look like that type of receiver, he was more of a route runner with his ability to separate and find soft spots in zone.
So far, that has continued in the NFL. Over his first two seasons, he averaged 15.7 yards per reception against zone coverage vs 12 yards per reception against man, according to Sumer Sports. He has also bulked up since entering the league, which seems to have made him a step slower as well. Overall, things just haven't gone the way anyone in Arizona hoped they would.
If he can get back to being a player who is used more as "Z" to get free releases off the line, and he drops some weight and focuses on being as fluid as possible, he could at least become a legit No. 2 receiver with upside. The Steelers, however, need a player more like the one that the Cardinals have tried to pigeonhole Harrison into being.
The Steelers' passing game has been relatively effective against zone. The problem is that teams have played man coverage over 50% of the time against them, daring their receivers to get open and making them pay for doing so. So far, Pittsburgh has failed at that, and Harrison wouldn't change that.
For the right price, most teams would be wise to take a chance on the former Ohio State Buckeye, but the Steelers just aren't one of them.
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