It wasn’t supposed to be like this a year ago, but the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers aren’t the strength we thought they were coming into the season. Even after Martavis Bryant‘s season-long suspension, Pittsburgh had the luxury of the league’s best wideout in Antonio Brown, and the promising futures of Eli Rogers and Sammie Coates – as well as newly re-signed Darrius Heyward-Bey and Markus Wheaton.
Should the Pittsburgh Steelers Invest in Another Wide Receiver?
But after the season, will the Steelers need another body in their receiver corps? Granted, we haven’t seen the receiving skills of tight end Ladarius Green that much yet, and there’s always the possibility of splitting Le’Veon Bell out wide, but the strength of the Steelers isn’t as pronounced as it was.
Many questions surround this group going forward. Wheaton is a free agent at the end of the season. Will he be retained? Brown is due a mega extension in the very near future. When will that get taken care of? Will Bryant be welcomed back with open arms after his latest issues? Will he be able to last until the start of next season without another ban? I really hope so, but would it be prudent to invest in another weapon?
Against the Dallas Cowboys, Le’Veon Bell was second behind Brown in receiving yards. Eli Rogers did back up a decent final quarter against the Ravens with another promising showing, but that was it. The young slot receiver has flashed this year, but like Sammie Coates, that’s all it’s been. Mere flashes. I believe in both players, but they are both young and injury prone.
Coates has been hampered by his hand, which saw him take only two snaps on Sunday. By comparison, Cobi Hamilton had 68. While Hamilton was a go-to guy in previous weeks, he only had one target for no catches against Dallas. Can the trio of Rogers, Coates, and Hamilton be trusted for long stretches of time to provide a reliable option opposite Brown?Perhaps, but it wouldn’t hurt to have another option. Another body is needed.
So What Can be Done?
I’m not suggesting that the Steelers use a high draft pick on a receiver. There are bigger needs elsewhere, but if there is value in the third or fourth round, then it should come into consideration. After all, the Steelers have found Bryant in the fourth, and Brown in the sixth. They have the ability to find talent late in the draft and coach them up; especially at the receiver position.
Both Bryant and Coates can be devastating going long, and Rogers is carving out a niche for himself in the slot – the Steelers could use someone who can go up and high-point the ball.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yumLZecMhTc
The early indication of this draft is that there aren’t as many high end talents at receiver for the first round as in previous years, but that there are a bucket load of players who deserve consideration from rounds two to five. If the Steelers end up with a Jehu Chesson, Amara Darboh, or Zay Jones if any happens to fall to the third round or later, then it could be worth an investment to keep the Pittsburgh offense at the level it needs to be during their title window.
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