Steelers' Top Wide Receiver Free Agent Targets "Would've Been Here By Now" If They Were Coming To Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers seemed to have gotten drastically better on offense after trading for star wide receiver DK Metcalf. Last year, the Steelers were on a serious search for another receiver to pair George Pickens with, but the big move didn't come until the 2025 offseason. When the offense seemed like it had a chance to be seriously explosive and possibly have one of the best receiving duos in the NFL, the Steelers then dealt Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, and now it's Metcalf who stands alone as the best receiver in the room.

Following the Pickens trade, many fans quickly moved on from him, despite his play-making abilities through his first three seasons in Pittsburgh. Pickens was a player that the Steelers were ready to move on from, which says a lot in itself. With Pickens now in the NFC, the Steelers have Metcalf, Roman Wilson, Calvin Austin III, and Robert Woods as their most notable depth options for 2025.

Many, like Steelers insider Mark Kaboly, firmly believe that the Steelers will be aggressive and pursue another receiver before September. Rumors have circulated surrounding Chris Olave in a trade with the New Orleans Saints, but that seems unlikely currently. Others also have predicted that the Steelers will add one of Aaron Rodgers' favorite targets, like Allen Lazard, if and when the four-time league MVP signs with Pittsburgh. 

On Friday, Kaboly spoke about the Steelers' current situation at wide receiver. While he firmly believes that they will make another addition at some point, he doesn't believe that it would be players like Olave or Lazard. Top free agent candidates like Keenan Allen and Amari Cooper are a likely no-go at this point too.

"I think they will. I think they will go get themselves a veteran-like receiver," Kaboly said. "We hear the names, but it's probably not gonna be those guys, right? Probably not gonna be the Keenan Allens or the Amari Coopers. They would've been here by now. I think, yeah. What are those two waiting for? I don't think the Steelers can afford waiting on that."

Kaboly then continues by mentioning that Austin is the final year of his rookie contract and he may not even be with the team in 2026. He says the Steelers need to add somebody considering they could only have Metcalf and Wilson for next year. 

"I think they did really wait too long last year and they learned from that [Brandon] Aiyuk thing, so I think they'll bring one in here. Maybe not for training camp, but I think it will be before that five to six week hiatus."

Many insiders like Kaboly expect Wilson to take a huge step in his second year, after barely seeing the field his rookie season. Wilson suffered an ankle injury on one of the first days in training camp at Latrobe last season, which completely derailed his rookie campaign. Kaboly also said he thinks Wilson will look fabulous when Organized Team Activities (OTAs) begin next week. 

If the Steelers don't end up adding another big name like Olave, then Pittsburgh's number two wideout in 2025 will have a much bigger role than they've ever had and they'll need to step up to have an effective offense. Metcalf dealt with some injuries last season, and any more in his first season with the Steelers would be detrimental to the team now that Pickens is no longer a member of the franchise.

Steelers May Regret Not Drafting A Wide Receiver In 2025 NFL Draft

The Steelers didn't use one of their six draft picks in the 2025 NFL Draft on a wide receiver before trading Pickens, which may come back to haunt them. They did sign an undrafted receiver who has nice tape with the University of Memphis, but expecting him to come in and become a top three or four target is a big ask. 

What do you think about the wide receiver group in Pittsburgh? Who would you like to see them add, and who do you think are the most realistic options? Let us know in the comments below.

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