The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2025 season is over, which means it’s time for a post-mortem on what went wrong and the biggest talent deficiency on their roster. That question is a bit overwhelming after another 30-6 walloping by the Houston Texans, but the top answer is clear. The Steelers need to modernize their passing game, and they can’t do that without talented receivers.
“If the Steelers don’t take a receiver in the first round, they should take one by the second round,” Gerry Dulac said via Post-Gazette Sports on YouTube. “And I’m of the opinion they should take two in the first four rounds because they have to deepen that position. They have to go find some of these young guys in the draft with speed.”
The Steelers scored just six points against the Texans despite forcing three turnovers on defense. The offensive line, quarterback, and the run game share in the blame, but the receivers did not make enough plays. DK Metcalf dropped a crucial ball or two, and Calvin Austin III couldn’t come down with a 50-50 opportunity deep down the left sideline.
Metcalf was the Steelers’ leading receiver and both of his two catches for 42 yards came on their first two drives. Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Adam Thielen were dependable when targeted for the most part, but they were Band-Aids applied late in the season to cover up a massive roster deficiency.
Pittsburgh has been linked to wide receivers in the free agent and trade markets for too long. It’s time to do for the WR position what the team did with the offensive and defensive lines in each of the last two years. Heck, with 12 projected draft picks, why not take three receivers and overhaul the room with youth and competition?
“If I had to pick one need for them going to the offseason, it actually might be two, it’s the receiving corps,” Ray Fittipaldo said. “They have to upgrade. DK Metcalf is their No. 1. I’m not so sure he’s a No. 1. They gotta get somebody else to be his running mate, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to draft somebody else too because we don’t know what’s gonna happen with Roman Wilson.”
The Steelers have only selected one receiver in the past three drafts, and Wilson was a massive disappointment this season. After turning heads during training camp and the preseason, he was a complete no-show who finished the year as a healthy scratch in sweats and a T-shirt. It’s not time to completely give up on him, but he is basically still at square one entering his third season. He’s entering DeMarvin Leal territory as a former third rounder with minimal expectations moving forward.
Matt Miller’s initial top 50 prospects list featured eight receivers. There will undoubtedly be movement on that list throughout the pre-draft process, but there are plenty of receivers to be had for Pittsburgh. If this isn’t the year to land a quarterback as initially expected, invest in whom the eventual quarterback will be throwing to.