Pittsburgh Steelers fans want to believe that things got a lot better on offense in the second half of the season. However, since their Week 9 bye, their offense managed just over 20 points per game against a pedestrian schedule in the second half of the season. If this number were to be prorated for the year, it still would have ranked just 19th in the NFL in 2022.
On the year, Pittsburgh managed a dismal 18.1 points per contest and struggled to move the ball against respectable opponents. It’s clear that they need an immediate boost on offense, and nabbing another quality receiver could give them a spark.
Sadly, this is a bad WR class in the 2023 NFL Draft and the Steelers would likely have to reach with a pick they can’t afford to miss on. Instead, signing a plug-and-play veteran to improve the wide receiver corps might be the way to go. Here are the best fits among available free-agent wide receivers that Pittsburgh could pursue.
4. Mecole Hardman would offer explosive plays for Steelers
In 2022, the Pittsburgh Steelers certainly were not a threat to score from any distance. While George Pickens was a menace with the ball in the air, these big plays rarely resulted in touchdowns (or allowed for yards after the catch, for that matter). Though Pittsburgh does have Calvin Austin III returning from IR, it would be unwise to count on a former fourth-round rookie who stands under 5’8’’ and is coming off a season-ending foot injury to solve all of their problems.
The Steelers have their starters in place for now with Pickens and Diontae Johnson in addition to having guys at the bottom of their roster who play special teams. Still, they could use a dynamic player like Mecole Hardman. The explosive receiver can win down the field from the outside or stretch the seam from the slot. He’s also a threat to chew up big yardage on jet sweeps.
Hardman isn’t the best receiver in free agency, but he could offer a much-needed spark to a stagnant offense that severely lacked speed in 2022.
3. Parris Campbell is a good fit at a cheap price
I’m not the biggest Parris Campbell fan. For the most part, the former Ohio State wide receiver has been a bit of a disappointment in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts. Campbell is a little inconsistent and doesn’t typically show the athletic traits that his testing numbers would indicate. However, if the Steelers want a quality fit at a cheap price, Campbell could be just what the doctor ordered.
After doing next to nothing in his first three seasons, the former second-round pick finally came alive in 2022 (albeit on a very suspect offense). Campbell quickly emerged as a security blanket for the Colts underneath as he caught 63 passes for 623 yards and 3 touchdowns last year, via ESPN stats.
These numbers are obviously nothing to write home about, but Campbell was pretty efficient – catching nearly 70 percent of his passes. He also managed a respectable 4.4 yards after the catch per reception. In comparison, Diontae Johnson averaged a despicable 2.7 YAC/reception in 2022.
Campbell doesn’t really have a defining trait, but he can play outside and in the slot. The best part is that he should come with a very affordable price tag. According to Spotrac, Campbell has a calculated market value of just $2.5 million per year on his next contract when he signs in free agency. The price is right to give Kenny Pickett another option in the passing game.
2. Darius Slayton would greatly boost Steelers WR depth
If the Steelers are looking for another competant options for their WR3, Darius Slayton would be a respectable choice. In his first four NFL seasons with the New York Giants, Slayton has surpassed 720 receving yards three time .
In 2022, Slayton was remarkably efficient for quartetrback Daniel Jones, as he earned 724 yards on just 71 targtets. His 10.2 yards per target was among the highest in the NFL this past season. Slayton would give the Steelers much-needed insurance at the position in the event of an injury to either George Pickens or Diontae Johnson, and he does his best work on the outside.
The speed Slayton offers will also be an asset coming out of Auburn in 2019, Slayton posted a 4.39 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine to pair with a remarkable 11'3'' broad jump. His ability to win routinely down the field is evidenced by his 15.0 career yards per reception.
Slayton would still be the third wide receiver in Pittsburgh next year, but he could carve out a decent role and give them a spark. His skill set should be a desirable trait to a team that must get more explosive on offense.
1. Sterling Shepard is perfect Diontae Johnson insurance
After playing only a combined 10 games in the past two seasons, it's getting really hard to trust a Sterling Shepard to stay healthy. The former second-round pick all the way back in 2016 has played 16 games in a season just twice in his NFL career so far, and injuries have been a major concern.
When he does play, Shepard has a quality niche thanks to his ability to create space and run excellent routes. For this reason, the veteran wide receiver would give the Pittsburgh Steelers an excellent insurance policy for Diontae Johnson.
We all witnessed the struggles Johnson showcased last season, as he was statistically one of the least efficent starting receivers in the NFL. On the other hand, Shepard was much more effient prior to his injuries the past two seasons.
Shepard has had quality production throughout his career. The veteran receiver just turned 30 years old and is coming off a season-ending knee injury that he suffered early in the year. However, the Steelers could land a quality player in free agency who could potentially steal some looks from an inefficient Diontae Johnson.
The Pittsburgh Steelers might be confident in what receivers like Calvin Austin and Anthony Miller could offer them in 2023, but these veteran receivers should be on their radar as nothing is more important than making sure Kenny Pickett succeeds.