The Pittsburgh Steelers have been struggling on offense for the last several seasons, and a lot of that has to do with the play of various positions in the passing game. The quarterback position has been inconsistent at best, while there has usually been no depth at the wide receiver position, and George Pickens is often checked out of games. Both spots on the roster need to be upgraded in order for the Pittsburgh fan base to expect to have an increase in offensive production, and while the quarterback is still a question mark, the wide receiver position is looking good.
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Steelers' DK Metcalf walks off of the field after a home game with the Seattle Seahawks.
The Steelers made a splash right before the legal tampering period of free agency began by acquiring star wide receiver DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks. He immediately signed an extension, and should make an incredible duo when paired with Pickens. If the Steelers can get the quarterback position squared away, the team should be able to compete in the AFC, but it doesn't seem like the franchise is done at wide receiver. The organization has done its due diligence in scouting this year's wide receiver class, and Steve Palazzolo shared an interesting tidbit of a player the Pittsburgh scouts were keeping a close eye on during an episode of the Check The Mic Podcast.
"The scouts I was sitting near, I believe were West Coast scouts." Palazzolo said. "Every player they were like, 'Hey!', it was all West Coast players. There was like a 'Horn's looking good today.' Some nudges. Maybe from a Steelers scout. Some nudges from a Steelers West Coast scout about Jimmy Horn Jr. That's my dirt."
Jimmy Horn Jr. is an exciting prospect, although he isn't highly regarded by many. He played at Colorado so his name doesn't come up often as Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders take over most headlines when there is any discussion about the school's football program. Horn played two seasons at South Florida before transferring to Colorado.
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Jimmy Horn Jr. after catching a pass during an away game with the Colorado Buffalos.
Horn has a small frame but electrifies television screens with his blazing speed and reliable hands. Over his two seasons at Colorado he caught 95 passes for 1,008 yards and seven touchdowns. He had some solid production while playing with other top-flight wide receivers, and he should be able to make some noise at the NFL level as well.
Palazzolo noticed Steelers scouts were paying close attention to Horn during the NFL Scouting Combine, and fans should be able to gauge exactly how serious the organization is about players from Colorado on April 4th. This is the date of the school's Pro Day, and it will be interesting to see who is in attendance for Pittsburgh. If Wide Receivers Coach Zach Azzanni along with other members of the offensive staff is there, then the interest is likely legit and the Steelers will be looking to grab Horn on the third day of the 2025 NFL Draft.
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Jimmy Horn Jr. during a home game with Colorado in 2024.
Steelers Drafting Jimmy Horn Jr. May Not Be The Smartest Move
Horn has a small frame, and his play style is eerily similar to Calvin Austin III's. Austin's contract expires after the 2025 season so Horn can be viewed as a potential replacement, but the Steelers don't need another speedy receiver with a small frame on the roster for the 2025 season. Austin showed he was reliable and could produce in 2024, so there is no need to go and get a player who could be considered a carbon copy.
The only scenario where it would make sense to select Horn is if he fall to Pittsburgh's seventh round selection and the organization has not drafted a wide receiver yet. Then there would be a ton of value in the selection, however it still doesn't make that much sense to bring in players that are nearly the same.
What do you think of Horn becoming a Steeler? Let us know in the comments below!
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