NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
As it stands now, the Pittsburgh Steelers will make the playoffs but will be one-and-done. While that has been the case for the past few seasons, this season should be different if they can make one move. They need to find another receiver.
Getting rid of George Pickens does not look like a smart move. Yes, maybe he was a locker on cancer, but imagine what he could have done opposite D.K. Metcalf and catching balls from Aaron Rodgers. The deal with Pickens may have been his attitude, but can you blame him when he was given subpar QB after subpar QB? This season was to be the one where he finally had a good one and then another powerful receiver opposite him. The 2025 Steelers’ offense was shaping up to be something special. Until it wasn’t.
The Steelers need a secondary receiver, and that was as evident in not only their loss to the Green Bay Packers, but also their entire first half of the season. Metcalf was a non-factor. With him being blanketed, Rodgers had to use his TEs way more than he probably wanted to.
One thing about the Steelers, they are not short at that position. They arguably have the best core of TEs in the league with Jonnu Smith, Pat Freiermuth, and Darnell Washington. But still, having that other receiver who can stretch the field and help take double teams off of Metcalf would come in handy down the stretch and for their playoff run.
Metcalf is leading the Pittsburgh Steelers in receptions with 24, yards with 461, and Targets with 43. The next closest receiver to him is Calvin Austin with 14 receptions on 23 targets.
This is not the same Rodgers who played with the New York Jets last season. This version has the pop and zip back in his passes, and truth be told, he’s even moving better out of the pocket. He may not be the Green Bay MVP version, but what the Steelers have in their QB is one who can lead them past the first round. He just needs the weapons.
The ground game is showing life with Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. As far as the passing game goes, these two out of the backfield have accounted for 42 receptions and 279 yards. Using backs is good, but having another receiver would just elevate things for the Steelers’ offense.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently 19th in the NFL in Passing Yards per Game and 25th in Yards Per Game. There is room for improvement, but that all starts with getting Metcalf and Rodgers some help. Maybe they can continue to use Roman Wilson more as they did against the Packers.
There are players out there who could come right in and contribute. One of the big names is Jaylen Waddle of the Miami Dolphins. With that team falling apart year after year, many believe this is the dual season of this core together. Tyreek Hill’s time in Miami may be done, and if they decide to move on from Mike McDaniel and possibly Tua Tagovailoa. Waddle could be up for grabs by the trade deadline.
Another name to keep an eye on is Chris Olave of the New Orleans Saints. But that may be a stretch, as Kellen Moore is still trying to find a suitable QB to fit his offensive scheme. Calvin Ridley is another receiver who may need a change of scenery as well. Another team to keep an eye on with their receivers will be the San Francisco 49ers.
Rodgers had the same issue in NY with the Jets; there was Garrett Wilson, and no one. And when he did get Davonte Adams, the offense looked a tad better, but by that time, the Jets were in trouble. Rodgers was dogged for his play, but this season in Pittsburgh is shaping up to be different. No way he can go back to the Aaron of previous seasons, but he’s playing at a level where the Steelers must go all in.
Gaining Metcalf to pair with Pickens was such a good move then for the Steelers to trade Pickens away; well, that was odd. Pickens is thriving with the Dallas Cowboys as he’s paired with CeeDee Lamb, while Rodgers and the Steelers are still searching for that missing piece when they had him all along.
