The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to keep loading up at wide receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft. The team is likely to invest very early on in the position. On top of that, it could easily double up on the position and go for another wideout later in the draft to add depth, talent, and youth to a room that desperately needs all of those things. There is no such thing as too much depth, and General Manager Omar Khan is very aware of that fact.
Steelers.com
Steelers' executives watch the draft from their war room as they await their pick.
The Steelers might have the perfect developmental option for their receiver room, and that would be a man whose physical traits are being compared to Hall ofFame wideout Calvin "Megatron" Johnson.
Jeff Caldwell is a WR prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 10.00 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 2 out of 3926 WR from 1987 to 2026.
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) March 21, 2026
Behind Calvin Johnson, pending pro day.https://t.co/ouxCKYCrgp pic.twitter.com/GK7dXNMK8s
Being in that conversation with Johnson is a compliment of its own, but now, Cincinnati Bearcats prospect Jeff Caldwell cannot let that get to his head. A perfect 10 is such an amazing score, and he will have more to prove during his Pro Day. It's safe to say that there will be plenty of scouts watching him when that happens, including maybe some from Pittsburgh to see if the hype is real at all.
The Steelers have invited Caldwell to the facilities for a Top 30 visit, so there definitely is some level of interest there for the physical freak. He is 6'5", weighs 216 pounds. He also ran a 4.31 40-yard dash. If the right team selects him and he can hone in on his craft, he may be worthy of those Megatron comparisons after all. It's a lot easier said than done, though.
College Football on Fox Sports 1
Jeff Caldwell celebrates a touchdown catch during a home game for the Cincinnati Bearcats.
There are a ton of red flags with Caldwell, which is why he is not seen as a first-round pick. The 2025 season was his only one at the FBS level, and he had just 32 receptions for 478 yards. Of his three seasons with the FCS Lindenwood Lions, he had only one year where he had over 1,000 receiving yards. The production just has not been there for him, and he has a lot to learn.
He has a ton of mechanical flaws that could severely slow him down at the NFL level, and they most likely will. He has a super-limited route tree, and he does not attack the ball as much as he should. The good news, however, is that mechanics can be taught. Size and speed can't be taught. He has elite upside, but he could also bottom out hard. He is the ultimate boom-or-bust prospect, and if he booms, watch out.
Steelers Can Afford To Give Caldwell All The Time He Needs
The Steelers are expected to start Week 1 with DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., and a draft pick as the wide receivers. All of them are/would be signed for the long-term so Caldwell would certainly begin his career as a special teams guy. While also working with the second- and third-team offense, he could focus on fixing his mechanics so he can really use that freakish size and speed to his advantage.
Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press
Steelers Wide Receiver DK Metcalf making a catch in 2025 season against the Cincinnati Bengals
Caldwell will need more than one year to develop properly. If the Steelers draft him, he will likely get his first real chance to shine when Pittman's career begins to wind down. If takes that long for him to become a true threat on the outside and be a big-play option that makes opposing defensive coordinators stay awake at night, no one will complain about how long it takes for him to develop.
What do you think about the Steelers possibly developing Caldwell? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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