The Steelers were often linked to a wide receiver trade in the lead-up to the draft. However, no such action occurred over the weekend, and Pittsburgh has not yet participated in the post-draft wave of free agency.
The Steelers prioritized the offensive line, selecting tackle Troy Fautanu in the first round, center Zach Frazier in the second, and guard Mason McCormick in the fourth.
Roman Wilson, a former Michigan player, was selected by the team in the third round, adding another wide receiver to the mix. However, George Pickens may still play opposite a veteran pass-catcher in the starting lineup. Though experienced dominoes have fallen recently, Pittsburgh has not made an addition at the position
The Steelers were often linked to a wide receiver trade in the lead-up to the draft. However, no such transaction occurred over the weekend, and Pittsburgh has not yet participated in the free agency wave that follows the draft.
With first-round picks Troy Fautanu (tackle), Zach Frazier (center), and Mason McCormick (guard) up front, the Steelers heavily prioritized the offensive line.
Though there is place in the lineup for an experienced pass-catcher to play opposite George Pickens, the team also added a wideout in the third round when they selected Roman Wilson, a graduate of Michigan.
On the other hand, Pittsburgh has not added at the position while experienced dominoes have fallen in recent days.
This week, Odell Beckham Jr., DJ Chark, and Michael Gallup all signed one-year contracts, reducing the number of options available. It would be surprising if Pittsburgh pulled off a player exchange at this moment, given 49ers general manager John Lynch recently stated that a blockbuster trade involving either Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel is no longer an option.
In fact, Steelers general manager Omar Khan stated that no receiver addition is currently planned during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.
Tyler Boyd, who was connected to his hometown team early in the free agency process, is one of the best free agents currently available. However, Pittsburgh now has fierce competition for the former Bengal, and a deal is unlikely to be reached because of the team’s low asking price for a contract.
Regarding that, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic observes that the Steelers are unwilling to provide an offer to Boyd for a multi-year contract, which he is requesting (subscription required). Kaboly states that a Boyd-to-Pittsburgh agreement is still “extremely unlikely” at this moment because of this.
The Steelers’ wide receiver group also includes Denzel Mims, Calvin Austin, Van Jefferson, Quez Watkins, Marquez Callaway, and Wilson in addition to Pickens.
The team could afford to add another player with over $18MM in cap space, but it will be fascinating to see if Khan goes for one of the remaining veterans or lets the current bunch fight for positions on the squad come training camp.