Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan has a plan. Fans would do well to remember that, but social media is buzzing with questions after Khan stripped down the wide receiver room to George Pickens and Calvin Austin III as the top two options on the depth chart. Khan shipped Diontae Johnson and the Steelers' seventh-round pick to the Carolina Panthers for cornerback Donte Jackson and the Panthers' sixth-round draft pick.
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Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin (left) and Omar Khan (right) are staring at an almost empty wide receiver room.
Khan filled one hole in the defensive backfield by trading away one of his two best wide receivers. Pittsburgh is known for being adept at identifying wide receiver talent in the draft, but the Steelers young wide receiver room needs a veteran leader. Here are three names that Khan, Mike Tomlin, and Andy Weidl could be privately courting to fill that role in 2024.
1) Michael Thomas
At one time, New Orleans Saints' Michael Thomas was the highest-paid receiver in the NFL. He began his career with 5,512 receiving yards and led the NFL in receptions in 2018 and 2019. After signing his record contract, he suffered a horrific ankle injury and missed most of the 2020 season and all of the 2021 season for the Saints.
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver options might include Michael Thomas in 2024.
The Steelers should not be under any illusions about who Thomas is at this point in his career. He has played just 13 games since he returned in 2022 and has not come anywhere near his previous production levels. Thomas is still a reliable option on third down and produced 21 first downs on his 39 catches. The Steelers are betting on a Russell Wilson career revival; a similar bet on Thomas to fill Johnson's shoes as the number two receiver behind Pickens could also pay dividends.
2) Mike Williams
Arthur Smith's offense is predicated on heavy personnel that allows big, strong, physical wide receivers to thrive. AJ Brown parlayed his performance with the Tennessee Titans into a trade and then a huge contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. Pickens figures to be the wide receiver in Smith's offense, but Mike Williams, at 6' 4", is a very intriguing name to pair with the Steelers' third-year receiver.
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Steelers could look to Mike Williams to fill Diontae Johnson's shoes in 2024.
Williams has battled injuries for most of his career, but he is a big-play receiver who is used to not being the primary focus of the offense. He has produced two 1,000-yard seasons, despite only being targeted over 100 times once in his career. Williams averages over 15 yards per catch and could be an ideal fit to mentor a rookie who will eventually replace him as the second option in the Steelers' passing game.
3) Tyler Boyd
Many Steelers fans on social media have called for the former Pitt Panthers player to come home. Tyler Boyd has a complicated history with Pittsburgh after he accused them of quitting in 2021 during Ben Roethlisberger's final season. Boyd was the Cincinnati Bengals' number three wide receiver behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in 2023. Andrei Iosivas came on at the end of the 2023 season, which pushed Boyd down the depth chart and ultimately off the roster.
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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver, Tyler Boyd is reportedly excited about coming home to Pittsburgh.
Boyd has started 74 games over eight seasons and is a solid professional receiver. However, whether he can consistently line up as the number two receiving option on a playoff-level football team is questionable. Ideally, he is best as a third option. Still, he could serve as a mentor for a rookie receiver on the outside before sliding into position as a reliable slot receiver for Wilson.
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan Will Likely Get His First Swing At Drafting A Wide Receiver In April
The Steelers did not draft a wide receiver in 2023, but that will probably change in 2024. Pittsburgh still has multiple holes to fill, but a free agent wide receiver will be a crucial component of the 2024 roster puzzle. Khan and Weidl will likely add a receiver in April and try to prove that their first wide receiver selection will be the latest in a long line of meaningful contributors to the offense.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Which veteran receiver do you want the Steelers to add in 2024? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.
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