Steelers must be giving Adam Thielen a call right now

News broke today that veteran receiver Adam Thielen was getting released by the Vikings. While a capable starter, Thielen had seen his play regress from his former top years. With Minnesota having so many big contracts upcoming, the cut wasn’t a surprise. That said, the Steelers should be interested.

While Thielen is no longer the top threat that he used to be, he is still a dependable receiver with good hands and a knack for getting open. The veteran should have some sort of market, as he is easily one of the most established and successful receivers available to sign.

The Steelers need to pounce on Thielen

It is no secret that the Steelers have a need at receiver this offseason. While they have a pair of capable starters, they lack a defined slot receiver. Calvin Austin could be a solution, but we know nothing about him after he spent the season on injured reserve.

I have been a huge proponent of the team adding a veteran to this room. The squad as a whole is extremely young, and having a stable veteran presence would be a help. Thielen is just that, as he is a great professional and would be a good mentor to this room while still contributing on offense.

That doesn’t even consider the role he could potentially play with the Steelers. He is a comfortable slot receiver, so he could become a fixture there right away. That doesn’t mean he is starting every snap, as the team will surely want to see what they have in Austin, but he can be an easy solution there for right now.

He also gives Kenny Pickett a dependable weapon to throw to. No, Thielen isn’t going to burn defenses for huge gains, but he can stack catches quickly and help keep the chains moving. He also has a knack for finding the end zone, something that this receiver room struggled to do last season.

While age is slowing him down, he was never a player that won with pure speed. He runs sharp routes and anticipates what the defensive back is going to do. This allows him to get open even if the play after the catch isn’t impressive.

Assuming Thielan is willing to lay on a smaller deal, he makes a lot of sense for the Steelers. He can fill in the slot right away as the team works in Austin. He is dependable and can serve as a safety valve while also mentoring this room. He is an extremely logical addition to this offense.