In a considerably surprising move in this year's NFL Draft, the Steelers selected University of Memphis wide receiver Calvin Austin III with the 138th overall pick in the fourth round. I say “surprising” since the front office had already used a high-round draft pick to select fellow wide receiver George Pickens out of The University of Georgia just a few rounds prior (2nd round). Although it may have been a head-turning move, especially with having the likes of Chase Claypool and Diontae Johnson already on the 53-man roster, both Pickens and Austin III bring different skill sets to a receiver room that had an influx of talent already.
Steelers rookie WR
As minicamp continues, the Steelers wide receiver room has been getting more attention than most. Johnson, who was in the midst of a “hold-in” contract situation with the organization, just inked a new three-year contract that will keep him in Pittsburgh until the end of the 2025 season. Added attention comes from the noise Pickens has been making throughout camp. Almost every list has him atop the NFL Offensive Rookie of the year projection due to his clear playmaking ability.
Austin sure is making it hard for Steelers fans not to mention his name. The 5 '9 161 pound receiver has been showcasing his skills not only with the receiving group but also in the return game, as his speed has been a topic of conversation during camp. Not a shock to most, as Austin III did post the third fastest 40-yard dash time of any receivers in this year's draft. The receiver posted 4.32 seconds and was coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Memphis Tigers. It's safe to say that the Steelers knew what they were getting with the 23-year-old receiver.
Steelers WR
A good reason for the influx of receivers this upcoming season could be due to the loss of JuJu Smith-Schuster to the Kansas City Chiefs. Smith-Schuster was a top talent at the receiver position but also was a fan favorite for the 5 years he wore the black and gold. In those 5 years, Smith-Schuster found himself being Ben Roethlisberger’s comfort blanket, posting 323 receptions for 3,855 yards and scoring 26 touchdowns. Not only did he produce on the field when his name was called, but also did a great job of branding himself throughout all of SteelerNation, arguably becoming the most popular Steeler on the roster.
That being said, when rookie numbers were announced for the 2022 class, something looked quite familiar. There looked to be another receiver wearing #19. Although Pickens is getting most of the rookie buzz, many believe Austin has the ability to become a vital part of this Steelers offense and will seemingly do so, in a very recognizable uniform number.
"I'm sure when most Steeler fans see 19, that's who they're first gonna think of, and that's to be expected."
"It's just until I come in and show what I can do, then hopefully they'll be thinking of me when they see 19," Austin III said.
This Saturday is the first pre-season game against the Seattle Seahawks in what will be the debut of Acrisure Stadium. This is when fans will be able to get a small glimpse of what Austin is describing above. Big shoes to fill as far as Austin is concerned, but his hope is that fans start to associate him with the number, once the production comes.
Do you think Austin III will have a vital role in this new offense? Comment below!
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