Aaron Rodgers announced on The Pat McAfee Show this week that this will likely be his final year of football. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed the future Hall of Fame quarterback to a one-year contract, and all signs point to this being a one-time investment. The aging signal-caller is legendary, but he is someone who demands a lot from his receivers. It's a jumbled mess at the position for Pittsburgh that needs to be situated.
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan wants to find an upgrade for the position, but it might not materialize.
The odds of landing a significant upgrade over their current group of receivers are low. They want to support Rodgers with better weapons, but it might not happen. Their internal choices are unproven, but they could fit with the veteran signal-caller. Second-year receiver Roman Wilson appears to be the closest thing to a reliable slot receiver on the roster.
He fits the same mold as Randall Cobb to a degree.
Cobb played 11 seasons with Rodgers as his quarterback, and he became a reliable piece on offense. He was relied on by the quarterback enough that he found a job with the New York Jets. It was a fantastic pairing between the two players. They created many iconic moments, most of them with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers should hope someone on the roster will be similar to Cobb this season.
Aaron Rodgers could force Roman Wilson into a similar role at receiver as Randall Cobb
Roman Wilson's rookie season may have been wasted due to injury, but the skill set he displayed while at Michigan is a perfect match with the Steelers' new QB.
Wilson has impressed everyone during the off-season workout process. The Steelers saw this last year before the second-year receiver struggled to stay healthy from training camp on. Everyone hopes that it will be different this time around. With a highly skilled quarterback behind him, it's possible this playmaker could be on his way to a massive season in front of him.
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Both Wilson and Cobb have similar attributes as receivers. They are twitchy route runners who can beat a defense in different ways. They can line up in the slot or as an outside player. Pittsburgh wants Wilson to become a dominant outside option, but it would be unwise to play him where he won't succeed. Their physical attributes are the same; Wilson and Cobb are 5'10 and weigh similarly.
The Michigan product is a little lighter than Cobb was during his playing days. Wilson is 186 pounds, while Cobb played at 192 pounds. It's not a massive difference, and Rodgers might've seen the similarities during his practices at the Steelers minicamp. Having a Hall of Famer at the most crucial position in football should only heighten the potential for Wilson going into this campaign.
The former third-round pick out of Michigan has shown glimpses of brilliance on the practice field, but he must show up in-game action.
Pittsburgh has a quarterback who will demand a lot from his receiving corps. Wilson and a lot of the younger weapons on offense must prove their worth to Rodgers. He played with many talented receivers throughout his career, but Cobb was his safety blanket on many occasions. It's hard to discount the familiarity that Wilson could pose to the signal caller, which could result in a breakout season.