Receiver does not seem like a need for the Steelers come the 2024 NFL Draft right now, but that could change quickly. There are some question marks at the position that could lead to some weapons on offense getting some looks following this upcoming college football season. Pittsburgh should keep a close eye on some of these top prospects heading into the year.
Steelers should keep a close eye on these honorable mentions
Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Rome Odunze is coming off a highly productive season at Washington after showing steady signs of improvement before his breakout year. Michael Penix Jr. has upgraded that offense and players like Odunze have benefited. He is only a junior, but he could be a high draft choice come spring if he repeats, or builds off his production from last season.
Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State
The first thing you will notice when you see Johnny Wilson play football is his crazy size. He could be a tight end kind of player and should remind some of Kelvin Benjamin when he was coming out of Florida State. The Steelers would surely love his size on the outside, but he will need to have a year that exceeds his output from last season.
Oronde Gadsden II, WR, Syracuse
Another big target here with Oronde Gadsden II out of Syracuse. He has never played with an elite college quarterback, but he would be a nice big guy to add to the offense. He had a breakout performance last year and will need to take his game up a notch to make it to the NFL draft. His size is something that will keep scouts wanting to see more.
Malik Nabers is an interesting prospect that could interest the Steelers
Another interesting name to monitor come draft time is Malik Nabers out of LSU. He had a breakout year at LSU last season and should be able to keep that momentum going. Although the Tigers might have had an inconsistent offensive attack last year, it was Nabers and others on the offense that were able to step up.
There is a lot of boom or bust potential for most of these receivers potentially coming out of college after this season. Most have had one explosive year and will need to build off that to keep their draft stock high. Nabers is physical for his size and has found ways to make plays when he can find some open grass.
Even though Nabers does possess some skills when it comes to route running, he does need to work on some things in that department. He needs to work on different ways to find separation this season and the next level. That is the part of his game that has struggled to find itself since he started to grow his role at LSU.
A lot of receivers normally show good qualities during the combine portion of the draft process, but Nabers should be able to put on a show. He has the speed that everyone is looking for and should be able to show signs of his elusiveness too. If he has another quality season with the Tigers in 2023, then he could be a fringe day one option.
Xavier Worthy has a lot to build off of to increase his draft stock
One of the better proven receivers in this class is Xavier Worthy coming out of Texas. He has been one of the steadiest potential prospects coming out of the 2024 NFL draft. He has yet to have an explosive season with breaking over 1,000 receiving yards, but he has shown back-to-back quality years in both his freshman and sophomore seasons.
Another receiver here that is described as speedy and able to get to the next gear to make plays on the field. Worthy has been labeled as one of the fastest potential receivers coming out of college football next year. His straight-line speed makes him a dangerous deep threat, but he is also one of the most fluid athletes out there.
The Steelers could fall in love with the type of player he is, even though he is on the lighter side of things when it comes to his weight. Filling out his frame is something that scouts would love to see while he keeps his speed intact. Another big part of his game is versatility and the different roles he could play on a team.
Worthy has been used as a deep target during his time at Texas, but he has played in other spots too. Slot is another potential option for him to play in and that could give an offensive coordinator a couple of different options with a single player. Worthy has also done some work in the return game too, which is always a welcome addition to any rookie in the NFL.
Emeka Egbuka is an Ohio State product that is flying under the radar
Ohio State has been one of the best programs in the country, but they have been even more effective when it comes to their recruiting at receiver. They have had plenty of their top offensive weapons taken early in the draft throughout their history, but recent years have seemed to spike those numbers even more. They have created a revolving door of talent at the position.
It seems like Ohio State has a receiver at the top of each draft class over the past several years and that trend will likely continue. There are a few receivers heading into the 2023 college season that should be able to put themselves in the first-round conversation. Some of them might even be locks for night one of the 2024 NFL draft if they can continue their production.
One player in that program that seems to be overshadowed heading into this campaign is Emeka Egbuka. He heads into this year as a junior and should be able to build off his explosive sophomore year back in 2022. With C.J. Stroud gone at quarterback that could cause some uncertainty for these receivers and their targets.
Perhaps his role will end up being in the slot when it comes to the NFL with the type of shiftiness and route running ability that he possesses. Egbuka will need to show more consistency at the catch point to become seen as more of an outside option at the next level. Chris Olave is a fair comparison, but he might be slightly lower than Olave when he was coming out of Ohio State.
Marvin Harrison Jr. is the top receiver in this class by a good distance
Boy would the Steelers love getting the chance to draft Marvin Harrison Jr. in the 2024 NFL draft. Unless Pittsburgh tanks this upcoming season, it is a long shot for Harrison to get anywhere close to their selection. It is mostly agreed by scouts that Harrison is the top receiver coming out of the upcoming draft, but they also agree that he will probably go in the top eight.
This guy has it all, size, explosiveness, and NFL bloodlines. If his name sounds familiar, his dad is Marvin Harrison, the Hall of Fame receiver for the Indianapolis Colts. Those types of NFL bloodlines will have the Steelers and other clubs excited to watch this player do some damage this upcoming season. No matter who the quarterback is at Ohio State, he will find ways to make things happen.
Another junior here as Harrison will be able to get better as he enters this season, especially since he is projected to go so high in the draft already. He has only one year of high production as a Buckeye, but he has too many tools that work for him to struggle. Ohio State has too many weapons on offense and Harrison is the top dog in that department.
One should assume unless a major injury or unforeseen lack of production occurs this year, Harrison will be the top receiver taken in the upcoming draft. There are too many variables that are working for this player and the abilities that he has that work for him. He is a special talent and someone the Steelers and every other team in the NFL would love to have on their roster.