The Pittsburgh Steelers might not have to look far for an answer at wide receiver opposite of D.K. Metcalf. While Aaron Rodgers may have lost a step over the past two seasons in New York, there’s no doubt he brings a level of competency to the quarterback position that the Steelers have lacked for years.
Young receivers like Calvin Austin III have struggled to break out thanks to that incompetence, and now that he has a future Hall of Famer delivering him the ball, now is the time for him to break out as the Steelers’ next young star at the position.
This Is Calvin Austin’s Best—and Possibly Final—Shot to Break Through With The Pittsburgh Steelers
Austin is entering his fourth season with the franchise after missing the entirety of his rookie season. Truthfully, he’s been one of the most disappointing mid-round receiver selections for Pittsburgh in some time. The franchise has built a reputation for developing these receivers quickly, and Austin has seemingly missed the boat.
But again, it isn’t totally his fault because of the quarterback play. Even last year, he turned on the heat once Russell Wilson stepped in at quarterback, and his individual production surged down the stretch, even as the entire team crumbled. 26 of his 36 receptions, 381 of his 548 yards, and three of his four touchdowns came with Wilson at quarterback.
Game-by-game, he was hit or miss. However, his best games came when the Steelers needed it most. He caught five passes for 65 yards against Philadelphia, matched his yardage on four catches the next week against Baltimore, and caught another four passes for 31 yards against Kansas City. Toss in his four catches for 95 yards and a score against Los Angeles, and he had some of his best performances against the strongest teams and defenses on Pittsburgh’s schedule last year.
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The past two offseasons have seen Austin garner praise for his improvements as a professional. Entering year four with a lot to prove, Austin’s time to grab the spotlight as the next mid-round receiver to excel in Pittsburgh is now or never.
Aaron Rodgers Could Be the Key to Unlocking Austin’s Potential
While the Steelers could inevitably find another proven No. 2, that wouldn’t necessarily obliterate his chances of breaking out. As Arthur Smith suggested during minicamp, the addition of Rodgers will open up the offense. Last season with the Jets, Rodgers had three wide receivers with 60 or more targets. Last year in Pittsburgh, only George Pickens exceeded that target share, while Austin was just two targets off.
Opportunity breeds production with a qualified skillset, and Austin has shown improvements over the years after a disappointing start. Whether he’s the No. 2 or No. 3 wideout option, if Austin sees more targets from Rodgers in 2025, the young receiver out of Memphis is due to make the biggest impact of his career.