Steelers are suggested to turn to an aging receiver to rebuild the receiver room

The Pittsburgh Steelers need to rebuild their wide receiver unit after trading George Pickens, and there’s a veteran option that makes a lot of sense.

OTAs are already underway, and the Pittsburgh Steelers still have some major questions to answer. Of course, the biggest one is who will be the team’s starting quarterback. All signs point to Aaron Rodgers eventually joining the team, but nothing is guaranteed until it’s official. One of the other big questions for Pittsburgh is how good the eventual quarterback’s wide receiver unit will be.

The Steelers made the splashy move of trading for D.K. Metcalf this offseason, exciting everyone about the duo of him and George Pickens, but that excitement was extinguished when Pickens was sent to the Dallas Cowboys. Now, the wide receiver room consists of Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, Robert Woods, and some younger, unestablished receivers. The belief is that Pittsburgh will need more in the room to guarantee consistent production.

Although it’s late in the offseason, there are still a few quality veterans available, and the Steelers were recently named as the perfect fit for one of them. In a Sports Illustrated piece naming the best fits for the top remaining free agents, Pittsburgh was named as the ideal landing spot for veteran wideout Amari Cooper.

Steelers named as best fit for free agent receiver Amari Cooper

Cooper has been an elite receiver since entering the NFL back in 2015. Over the course of his career, he has made five Pro Bowls, with his most recent one coming just two years ago in 2023. However, spending time with the Cleveland Browns and the Buffalo Bills last season, his production dipped down to 44 receptions for 547 yards and four touchdowns— all career lows.

Still, Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano believes he can contribute a lot to Pittsburgh.

"Cooper, who turns 31 in June, had a quiet, brief stint with the Bills after being traded by the Browns midway through the season. He’s still a solid route runner capable of opening up the field for his teammates. The Steelers are thin at wide receiver after sending George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. Cooper can help move the chains and take some attention away from newcomer star wideout DK Metcalf. Cooper, who has 711 career receptions, would make life easier for Mason Rudolph or a popular unsigned quarterback. "

Gilberto Manzano

Signing Cooper in 2025 isn't going to generate the same excitement it would’ve a few years ago, but the move won’t really hurt the Steelers. The veteran wideout will likely be inexpensive, and it won’t be surprising if he’s more productive than he was last season. If that’s the case, he’d end up being a great pickup for Pittsburgh.