The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering the 2025 season in a similar situation at the wide receiver position as they were in 2024. The faces in the room are different, but it is the same issue where the talent behind the top wide receiver is questioned heavily. Last year, it was George Pickens leading the way, but now it is DK Metcalf after Pittsburgh was active on the trade market throughout the 2025 offseason. The talent behind Metcalf is being questioned by a large portion of the fan base however, and many fans want to see the team look to bring in some other wide receivers, either through trade or free agency.
There are some wide receivers around the league that may be available via trade, but there are two intriguing names available on the open market: Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen. Both players are accomplished NFL wide receivers who are nearing the end of their careers. That is a similar situation to DeAndre Hopkins, who signed with the Baltimore Ravens earlier in the 2025 offseason. Steelers insider Brian Batko was asked on Thursday about whether or not Pittsburgh had interest in Hopkins, and the two remaining veterans on the open market.
"Hopkins also is someone who has amassed plenty of individual accolades, but is still chasing that ring, so on that note, who knows if he’d even have had the same interest in coming to Pittsburgh as he did Baltimore," Batko wrote.
Batko praised the signing for Baltimore, and he also acknowledged that Hopkins would have been an upgrade at the position for the Steelers. There was never any reports about the Steelers being interested in the veteran, but Batko finds it hard to believe that Hopkins would have had any interest in joining Pittsburgh for the 2025 season due to the team not being a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Hopkins, Allen, and Cooper are all in the same situation. They have all had amazing careers statistically, but none of them have won the Super Bowl. Hopkins was able to go to Super Bowl LIX with the Kansas City Chiefs at the end of the 2024 season, but the Chiefs came up short. The goal for all three players is probably to continue their careers with a legitimate contender, which may eliminate the Steelers from consideration.
Pittsburgh is a team that is set on winning now, but the franchise is also clearly gearing up for the future. That has been made clear by the way it took advantage of the compensatory pick formula during the 2025 offseason, as the Steelers are projected to have 12 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. This will allow the Steelers to build the roster for the future, and hopefully find a franchise quarterback.
The Steelers win games, and the organization often finds itself in the postseason. However, a playoff game has not been won by Pittsburgh since the 2016 season. That probably does not instill a ton of confidence in veterans considering signing with the Steelers.
Steelers May Benefit From A Good Start To The 2025 Season
There is a chance that both Allen and Cooper wait until the end of training camp, or even after camp, to sign somewhere. They could wait for some injuries to occur, or get a better idea of who the good teams will be. Many accomplished veteran free agents do this. If Pittsburgh can start the 2025 season off on a good note, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers can play well, it might lead to Cooper or Allen being interested in signing with the team.
Hopefully by that point, either Roman Wilson or Calvin Austin III has taken a legitimate leap forward and Pittsburgh does not need to make any additions.
Would you want the Steelers to sign either Allen or Cooper?
