The Pittsburgh Steelers may be the best in the NFL at evaluating, drafting and developing wide receiver talent. The top three receivers on the depth chart are all home-grown talents, led by the recently extended Diontae Johnson, the enigmatic Chase Claypool and the dazzling rookie, George Pickens. Calvin Austin was injured before he could display his skill on the field during the preseason, but he is likely to be the fourth receiver for the Steelers this season.
Jordan Schofield/Steeler Nation (Twitter @JSKO Photo)
Tyler Vaughns spent his collegiate career playing for the USC Trojans and despite putting up solid numbers, he went undrafted. After failing to make the Indianapolis Colts last season as an undrafted free agent, he has flashed significant talent for the Steelers. Vaughns responded to reporters after practice, if he thought the preseason games were even more important than practice.
“In some ways,” Vaughns stated. “They get to see you in the full aspect of the game. In the game, it’s like you get to do some of the things that you want to and show your skills.”
NFL Network
The former Trojan made a spectacular move at the end of the Seattle Seahawks preseason game to give Kenny Pickett his first game-winning drive and the Steelers a 32-25 victory. The following week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he did not catch the game-winner from Mason Rudolph, but his receptions were the key plays of the final drive to put the Steelers in position to take the lead with under two minutes to play. Vaughns was asked if he thought he had done enough in the preseason games.
“Not enough, but I’ve done some. I try to come out, work hard every day, get better at my craft. I’m focused on this game.”
The 25-year-old wide receiver is competing to find a home on an NFL roster. He has demonstrated the ability to make clutch plays and has solid route running skills. Vaughns has become a favorite target of fellow newcomer Pickett and may be the biggest contributor to the first-round pick’s success in pushing the coaching staff into a difficult decision between himself and Mitch Trubisky.
“We was here in rookie camp,” Vaughns shared about his connection with Pickett. “I did the rookie camp with the guys earlier this year and got a little connection then. Coming into this camp, we just kept going and going.”
USA Today
Vaughns has displayed in the preseason that he is capable of being an NFL receiver. He has been the best receiver on the second unit to this point. Pickett and Rudolph both took full advantage of his talents in game-winning drives during the first two preseason games. The former undrafted free agent is in the fight of his life to make this roster with two established starters and sensational rookies ahead of him on the depth chart.
Jordan Schofield/Steeler Nation (Twitter @JSKO Photo)
That leaves two likely roster spots for Gunner Olszewski, Steven Sims, Miles Boykin and Vaughns. Olszewski has the advantage of being a Pro Bowl returner and scoring the Steelers first touchdown of the preseason. Assuming he makes the team, that leaves three talented receivers fighting for the remaining spot on the roster.
It is little comfort currently for those three, that the rest of the NFL is probably drooling to get their hands on the two receivers who are going to be cut by the black and gold. Sims is also a gifted returner and flashed big play ability with a 38-yard jet sweep against the Seahawks, and Boykin has been a consistent, if less spectacular second team option. It is likely that the second half on Sunday will play a huge role in who gets the final roster spot.
The Steelers play the Detroit Lions Sunday at 4:30 PM ET before a national television audience on CBS. The starters are likely to play most of the first half, which will leave precious few snaps for the trio to demonstrate that they deserve a roster spot. If Vaughns comes up big in the clutch again for the second unit, he may make himself too valuable to release. That is a great place for a former undrafted free agent to be.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Which receivers do you want to see on the depth chart when Pittsburgh visits the Cincinnati Bengals for Week 1? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
