3 Intriguing Realistic Options For The Steelers At Wide Receiver In Free Agency

The Pittsburgh Steelers have its top two receivers, Diontae Johnson and George Pickens, in pen on the depth chart for 2023, so when free agency begins look for the organization to target a budget third option and or special teams contributor. The team will look this offseason to try and find the perfect complement to their high-ranking statistical duo from 2022. 

Outside of the big two, the Steelers still have Gunner Olszewski under contract. The former New England Patriots First Team All-Pro special teamer in 2020 struggled as a returner and offered little on offense and could be a potential cap casualty. Beyond that, the team has high hopes for Calvin Austin III in what will be a rookie season in 2023 after what felt like an injury redshirt year in 2022. Anthony Miller, who impressed in the 2022 training camp before an injury sidelined him, and Cody White, who made one catch in a win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 11, remain interesting options for the future and are signed to reserve/future contracts. 

Steelers' Top 3 Potential Targets

Here are three options the Steelers could target in free agency to fill that third spot with someone with more experience than Austin, Miller or White and give offensive coordinator Matt Canada another weapon in 2023. While Diontae Johnson is the only receiver making any money next year at $16 million according to Sportrac, don't look for the Steelers to spend on potentially pricey options like MeCole Hardman or a JuJu Smith-Schuster reunion who both project to get upwards of ten million dollars a year on Sportrac.

While Olamide Zaccheaus is only 5'8 and 193 lbs and seems to provide a lot of similar elements to the group they already have, he is young, turns 26 in July and shouldn't break the bank coming off his rookie contract with the Atlanta Falcons. The former undrafted free agent signing out of Virginia became a lowkey favorite target for quarterback Marcus Mariota, through the first seven weeks Mariota had a 155.8 passer rating when targeting him, the highest of any player in the league at the time. He has also done some kick return and punt return work in the NFL as a rookie so could fit in as an Oleszewski replacement. 

If the team is looking to add more size and championship experience for a reasonable price, they might want to turn to former Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins and Las Vegas Raiders receiver Mack Hollins. Hollins is a more proven veteran option than Zaccheaus having played more than double the number of games and won a Super Bowl with the Eagles as a bit player in 2017, but is also still trying to establish himself setting a career-high of 690 receiving yards in 2022. 

The 6'4, 221 lbs receiver would give Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett a second bigger target after Pickens and offers some big play ability having caught a 60-yard pass last year that tied for the longest by a Raider. 

Finally, Parris Campbell of the Indianapolis Colts is another interesting possible signing as a pick-up of a young player on the rise. The 26-year-old in July managed to start in 16 games in 2022 after getting just eight starts due to injury the previous three seasons. The former second-round pick posted a 623-yard season and with his speed could be a good option to fill the slot role. While perhaps the Steelers will decide to address the lack of depth in the position via the draft, it would certainly leave the group inexperienced with potentially the 27-year-old Johnson, in his fifth season, as the most veteran presence.

Do you think the Steelers need to make an addition to the wide receiving group? Are you a fan of any of the options listed? Are there any guys you would target? Let us know in the comments or on social media. 

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