With the NFL trade deadline rapidly approaching, Pittsburgh Steelers fans are banging the table for their team to go out and make a move for a wide receiver. While there's no question the team needs to see more production at the position outside of DK Metcalf, the answer they are looking for is already on the roster.
Roman Wilson has hardly been noticed so far by the casual fan. During his rookie season in 2024, the third-round pick saw the field for just five snaps while dealing with a high ankle sprain and a hamstring injury. This year, Wilson has caught just four of five targets for 36 yards in six games.
Despite a shoulder injury to Calvin Austin III that led to added snaps for Wilson, his production has been unspectacular. But that's not Wilson's fault.
When you examine Wilson on the all-22 film, it's clear to see the talent the Steelers are working with. Against the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football in Week 7, Wilson was getting open all night long. Unfortunately, quarterback Aaron Rodgers blatantly ignored a wide-open Wilson on multiple occasions (whether it was because Rodgers didn't see him, or because the play was designed to go elsewhere).
Not only that, but Wilson was fantastic as a blocker—displaying technique, physicality, and the effort to play through the whistle.
In the best game of his career so far, Wilson saw just two targets and turned his limited opportunities into two catches for 17 yards. Wilson also had an impressive catch-and-run that was called back due to a penalty. On this play, the athletic wide receiver hurdled a group of Bengals defenders to pick up an extra five yards after the catch.
While Wilson's production is entirely unimpressive, the film tells a different story—a story of why the answer to the Steelers' wide receiver issues is already on the roster.
The Pittsburgh Steelers need to start targeting WR Roman Wilson in the passing game
Since the beginning of the season, I've been studying Wilson on the all-22 film... and I've been impressed. More often than not, Wilson is used as a back-side decoy—a wide receiver who can stretch the field and help pull the safety away from the play to make more room for primary targets like DK Metcalf and Jonnu Smith.
But what's encouraging is that Wilson has also shown the ability to create separation with ease.
This shouldn't be surprising. Wilson was the number one receiver on a championship Michigan team in 2023 before proving to be one of the best receivers at the 2024 Senior Bowl ahead of the draft. We are seeing the same burst and explosion from Wilson that we saw on tape back then. Sadly, the Steelers have yet to take advantage of his skill set.
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Unfortunately, we know how things work with Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tomlin values veteran experience (something Wilson doesn't yet have) over youth and upside. It's the reason why he started Van Jefferson last year over Calvin Austin, and it's the reason why the Steelers have made trades in recent years for washed-up veterans like Mike Williams and Allen Robinson II.
It might take some time for Tomlin, Rodgers, and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to trust and integrate Roman Wilson into the offense fully. Still, the coaches' film proves that the wide receiver this team needs is already on the roster.
Unless they're planning on getting a superstar ahead of the trade deadline, the Steelers should roll with Wilson at wide receiver.