Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan knew that if Aaron Rodgers was going to return for another season, he had to improve the wide receiver room. During the 2025 season, DK Metcalf was supposed to take this WR group to new heights. Unfortunately for him and Steeler Nation, Metcalf struggled to fully get going, finishing the 2025 season with 59 receptions on 99 targets for 850 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns.
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Steelers' quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks down with intense focus in street clothes as the team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
While those numbers aren’t bad by any stretch of the imagination, the Steelers traded for and paid Metcalf a ton of money for one reason: to set the standard at wide receiver in the NFL, and in 2025 that didn’t happen. The expectation wasn’t just production, it was dominance and a consistent ability to take over games when the offense needed it most. Instead, Pittsburgh often found itself still searching for that true WR2 presence week to week.
That wasn’t on Metcalf, though, as he didn’t have much help around him. That’s why Mike McCarthy and Khan knew they had to make some moves to help Rodgers out for his final ride in the NFL. The Steelers traded for veteran wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and traded up in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft to select wide receiver Germie Bernard to address the WR room. While this is exactly what Rodgers had hoped for, ESPN NFL analyst Bill Barnwell believes it’s a bad move for the Steelers.
"Another offseason brought another trade for an expensive wide receiver by an organization that had developed a reputation for finding its own in the middle rounds of the draft," Barnwell said. "Michael Pittman Jr. is a good fit for what Aaron Rodgers wants to do (get the ball out quickly for short completions), but a bad fit for what the Steelers need (a wide receiver who can stretch teams downfield). Second-round pick Germie Bernard should be an upgrade on Calvin Austin III, and it's fair to pin the problems creating big plays on the quarterback and his desire to stay clean, but the Steelers need to find a way to create explosive plays in 2026."
In the 2025 season, Rodgers did a solid job statistically speaking, putting up 3,322 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. He completed 65.7% of his passes and also led the Steelers to a 10–7 record and an AFC North title for the first time since the 2020 season.
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Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Still, the offense did not quite look like what many had hoped, but it did look better with Rodgers’ football IQ guiding the unit and running the offense. He wanted to operate quickly, using his signature trademark of getting the ball out fast to protect himself.
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The issue was that no one was consistently open for the Steelers, as Metcalf was often being covered heavily and forced into tough situations. Now with Pittman in the mix, the hope is that he takes pressure off Metcalf and he likely will, while providing Rodgers exactly what he wants in a reliable target.
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Steelers WR Michael Pittman Jr. speaking with members of the media after being introduced to the team ahead of the 2026 NFL season.
However, Barnwell still believes that may not be what the Steelers truly need to reach the next level. Only time will tell, but Steelers fans are thrilled about adding a veteran with Pittman’s do-it-all mentality and proven resume to the roster.
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