What Miles Boykin signing means for Steelers NFL Draft needs

Last year, with just three days to go until the 2022 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers inked Terrell Edmunds to a one-year contract and covered their bases at the safety position. While Edmunds departed for the Eagles during the 2023 offseason, the front office made a similar move to assure they have depth -- this time at the wide receiver position.

With just three days until the 2023 NFL Draft officially begins, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced that they have signed wide receiver Miles Boykin to a one-year contract.

This obviously isn't earth-shattering news. Boykin was almost solely a special teams player last year in Pittsburgh, as he was targeted just 3 times and caught 2 passes for 11 yards, via ESPN stats. In terms of value to the offense, this signing adds nothing. However, it could change their thought process just a bit when it comes to the NFL Draft.

Will Steelers still draft a wide receiver?

Boykin's return to the Steelers roster gives them some added depth we weren't anticipating. This move comes just a few days after Pittsburgh traded for veteran wide receiver, Allen Robinson. In addition to this, Calvin Austin III and Anthony Miller will be returning to the roster after spending the entire 2022 season on IR.

While this still isn't a star-studded wide receiver room, it at least has some depth and plenty of players who are under contract. Now the Steelers have a little bit of everything -- a guy who can win down the sideline in George Pickens, a guy who can get open in Diontae Johnson, some guys who can play the slot in Robinson, Austin, and Miller, and guys who can play special teams in Boykin and Gunner Olszewski.

The combination of these players helped the Steelers cover their bases just before the NFL Draft. This means that the team may no longer be eying a receiver at all at this point.

Obviously, this doesn't mean that Pittsburgh couldn't draft one if they thought the value is too good to pass up at some point. However, this isn't a great WR class, to begin with. Additionally, it's worth considering that not all of the aforementioned receivers on the Steelers will even make the final roster. There are already seven names listed (among others that they carry on their 90-man roster), but only 5 or 6 will make the final cut.

With wide receiver taken care of (at least temporarily) the Pittsburgh Steelers should have plenty of flexibility in the directions they choose to go in the 2023 NFL Draft. It will be interesting to see if they have indeed crossed WR off as a possible option in the draft this year.