The Pittsburgh Steelers are 2-0 and sitting atop the AFC North. There’s all sorts of cause for excitement, but the offense is still putting up pedestrian numbers at best. The Steelers started 2023 averaging ten points per game. On the bright side, they’ve improved to a whopping 15.5 points per game! This is likely due to the WR room being one of the worst in the NFL, with George Pickens doing his best to anchor a squad with Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin playing meaningful roles. Whether they make a splash trade, check out free agency, or find a solution in house, this team needs a WR2, and soon.
3 Options for the Pittsburgh Steelers at WR2
Trade for John Metchie III
The Texans are currently enjoying an embarrassment of riches at WR. Between Nico Collins becoming a true alpha, their trade for Stefon Diggs, and Tank Dell being pound for pound one of the best receivers in the league, they can spare Metchie. His early NFL career was derailed by cancer, and it’s a great story that he’s back and available. For him to make the most of his NFL career, he needs to find a situation where he can play meaningful snaps. The Texans are looking to make a title run now, and their WR4 isn’t a part of the push. Whether it’s for draft capital to continue building around Stroud, or a defender (maybe a depth DL swap?) a move makes sense for both sides.
Sign a Free Agent
Michael Thomas and Hunter Renfrow are on their couches right now. What is there to lose from bringing one of them in? Either they outperform Van Jefferson and add some separating skills to a team that needs it, or they’re veteran presences in the locker room on extremely cheap deals. The last time we saw each of them in a fully healthy season they were target earning machines, but haven’t had any teams knock on their door. For context, Michael Thomas had more receptions in his second best season than Van Jefferson has in his entire career. Renfrow is 28, not an ancient terrible receiver that the game has passed by. Neither is a golden solution for the team, but they can at least be Band-Aids until option three is ready.
Wait for Roman Wilson
The Steelers paid up for Roman Wilson in the draft. For most teams, a day two pick is whatever. For Pittsburgh, a day two pick more likely to be a Pro Bowler than out of the league in five years (which is wild). Wilson’s best traits weren’t often on display at Michigan, but he’s in a great opportunity here. He can separate well, has enough speed to make the safeties respect it, and is best suited as a team’s WR2 or 3. Unless the Steelers find a cheap option in free agency or via trade, he is the most likely solution. It’s not often that a day two rookie receiver is required for a team’s success, but after the Diontae Johnson trade and no clear solution after the Brandon Aiyuk saga, Steelers fans need to prepare for a full serving of Roman Wilson.
Main Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
