The Pittsburgh Steelers' wide receiver room has been a significant focus this offseason. With nearly every position seeing upgrades or showing strength, the wide receiver position has been under scrutiny. The team traded away Diontae Johnson, positioning George Pickens as the new star of the group.
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Steelers.com
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin talks with receivers George Pickens (#14) and Diontae Johnson (#18) after repeated taunting calls against the Los Angeles Rams.
Pickens will face new defensive coverages with Johnson's departure, drawing the full attention of opposing secondaries. This situation necessitates that another receiver on the depth chart steps up and performs beyond expectations in 2024. To address this, the Steelers drafted wide receiver Roman Wilson in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Wilson joins the Steelers with high expectations due to his mentality and effort. He is a reliable, sure-handed receiver who is not afraid to get physical. Some pundits believe he will play a major role in his rookie season. Meanwhile, Steelers Wide Receivers Coach Zach Azzanni has been praising Calvin Austin III.
Austin missed his rookie season due to injury, but showed glimpses of his potential in 2023. Wilson has expressed that he believes Austin is the definite leader of the wide receiver room.
“I mean right now, the way I look at Calvin, he is the veteran of the room. In my opinion, I feel like he is more of the leader of the room. He is just a great guy and a great teammate. I feel like I can talk to him and ask him questions. He asks me questions and I just feel like he is a great dude.”
In 2023, Austin caught 17 passes for 180 yards and one touchdown. He also had 11 rushing attempts for 57 yards and another touchdown. Despite his limited stats, Austin's incredible speed and all-around abilities have impressed Wilson, who views him as the epitome of a perfect player.
“He is a phenomenal athlete. Very twitchy, fast, great hands. Kind of just everything you want in a player. I mean he is a great dude.”
The Steelers faced challenges with their wide receivers during the 2023 season, with Pickens and Johnson leading the group. According to one report, the Steelers decided to trade Johnson due to the issues he caused. During the season, Pickens faced criticism for his attitude and effort, notably failing to block on a potential scoring play.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers wide receiver George Pickens runs into the end zone for a score against the Bengals.
This incident led fans to call for him to be benched or traded. In response, Pickens delivered the best game of his career. By the end of the 2023 season, Pickens displayed a positive attitude, even celebrating with his team despite not receiving a single target. The Steelers are hopeful he can step into a leadership role in his third season.
Steelers' Calvin Austin III Continues To Impress Coaches And Teammates
Austin is still a young player, but hearing Wilson's praise of his leadership is an exciting development. The commendation Austin has received this offseason has been noteworthy, leading some fans to speculate about his potentially increased role in the upcoming season.
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Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III gets ready to make a catch during practice.
Austin's incredible talent and speed, combined with a new system in place, suggest he could have a breakout season in 2024. The Steelers will need their wide receiver room to step up, and early indications point to Austin rising to the challenge. Steelers fans are eager to see what kind of role Austin will have in 2024.
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