The Pittsburgh Steelers still may have plans to fill out the wide receivers' room. George Pickens is the undisputed number one option, but there is a lot of uncertainty after him when it comes to the depth chart. A trade is absolutely still possible, but as it stands with mandatory minicamp beginning, 2024 third-round pick Roman Wilson could step in immediately to be the number two option. The University of Michigan product was as dynamic as they come in the red zone in 2023, hauling in 12 touchdown passes for the National Champions. Barring a trade, he could see a huge workload right off the bat.
Wilson checks in at about 6'0" and 180 pounds. The size tells the average fan that he could be better as a slot receiver, but the Steelers need someone to step up on the outside to be opposite of Pickens. Most of the other options on the roster are one-year rental players, which isn't good for the long-term success of the offense under Arthur Smith.
Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote back to fans in his weekly chat on Tuesday and the very first question asked was in regards to Wilson and how he looks so far. The answer might come as a tad concerning, given the physicality that NFL cornerbacks, safeties and linebackers play with on a week-in, week-out basis.
"Thinner than I thought he would be. He needs to fill out a bit," Fittipaldo wrote.
Wilson has been adamant about loving the Steelers' old school style of football. He enjoys blocking downfield and being physical with defenders. Professional football, however, is a different game than college. Fittipaldo's analysis of Wilson being a little undersized isn't very encouraging. The hope is that new strength and conditioning coach Phil Matusz can help Wilson with putting on a few pounds.
While uncertainty remains regarding a potential trade, Wilson is likely currently competing with Van Jefferson when it comes to who will be the second wideout on the depth chart. There isn't a ton of confidence in anyone behind Pickens, so Wilson will have the opportunity to impress right away. General Manager Omar Khan has clearly been waiting out the trade market, but it's not a guarantee that another organization caves to whatever he is willing to give up.
Some may be more convinced that Wilson can be a legitimate number two immediately if he looked a little bulkier once the regular season rolls around. If he remains around 180 pounds, it could lead to him taking a little bit longer to adjust. For comparison sake, Los Angeles Rams standout rookie from 2023, Puka Nacua, is roughly 6'2" and 205 pounds.
New quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields will be looking for targets not named Pickens, and Roman Wilson is expected to be at the top of the list. It will be crucial for the rookie to put a little bit of weight on in order to match up better with intimidating corners in the NFL.
Steelers Not Showing Any Urgency When It Comes To Wide Receiver Position
Khan may have something up his sleeve in terms of an acquisition, but as it stands entering minicamp, there are no firm answers outside of the building on what the plan is with the receiving core. It will be intriguing to see if a team dealing with a holdout decides that whatever player it is, isn't worth the headache. Khan could then swoop in and make a trade to improve the wide receivers' room as a whole.
