Much has been made this offseason about the Steelers’ receiving corps. Few (if any) known commodities are in place behind George Pickens on the depth chart, leading to the expectation Pittsburgh would pursue a high-profile trade. 
Such a move has not yet taken place, though, and as a result the team’s internal options are on track to compete for playing time during training camp and the preseason. Pickens will handle the No. 1 role in 2024, his first season without Diontae Johnson in the fold. The latter was traded to the Panthers, creating a vacancy on the perimeter. Likewise, Allen Robinson‘s release opened up a starting spot in the slot.
Quez Watkins joined the Steelers this offseason in part due to the opportunity he would have to earn a first-team role, but a different free agent signing appears to have the inside track for the WR2 gig. Mark Kaboly of The Athletic writes Van Jefferson is currently “in pole position” for a starting spot (subscription required). The latter spent three-plus years with the Rams before being traded to the Falcons ahead of the 2023 deadline.
That move allowed Jefferson, 27, to spend time playing under Arthur Smith. The ex-Falcons head coach is now in place as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator, and that familiarity could translate to a role in Pittsburgh. Jefferson had a strong second season in Los Angeles (50 catches, 802 yards, six touchdowns), but he has not managed to repeat that production since. The former second-rounder signed with the Steelers on a league minimum deal, an indication of his market value and his tenuous hold on a roster spot entering training camp.
Pittsburgh has the likes of third-round rookie Roman Wilson and 2022 fourth-rounder Calvin Austin in the mix for signficant playing time in the slot in particular. The latter is on track for an increased workload compared to last year, but the spot opposite Pickens will be one to monitor during the summer. Jefferson, Watkins and Scotty Miller are among the names to watch on that front. It will be interesting to see if Jefferson delivers a strong showing in camp and the preseason or if one of the other contenders surpasses him in the receiver pecking order.
I mean who is the competition? The WR room is probably the 2nd worst in the entire league.
I’m guessing it’ll be Roman Wilson by the second half of the year as long as he’s healthy.
Should be. No reason to give a guy like Van Jefferson starts over him if he shows he can produce at the same level. Which shouldn’t be hard.
Find consistency early. There were rumblings about Pickens being used in the slot this year on the local radio but that I think would be an absolute waste and disaster. That would leave Van and Wilson as your 1-2. That is not it.
I’d like to see Arthur Smith use Pat and that tubber of a TE they got last year a lot in the passing game this year. I think Washington could offer a lot if you get him some volume.
I think you see something like Pickens, Jefferson, Wilson in the slot, and Quez somewhere in there for odd sets.
You can play mostly out of the slot and be a number one receiver (see: Ceedee Lamb), and Pickens already spent a good chunk of his snaps lined up out of the slot last year (about 17%), but I do think Pickens makes more sense on the boundary, especially with Wilson throwing to him. Like I suggested before, I think they’ll spend most of their time with two receivers and either two backs or two tight ends on the field, which I think makes a ton of sense with their personnel, provided Washington is ready to play more.
Also, call Washington a tubber all you want, but that man ran a 4.64 forty and a 10+ foot broad jump at 272 pounds, which is absolutely wild.
He is a tubber, but an athletic tubber. I hope he gets more action this year.
Pickens playing inside I think is a waste for him even if he’d produce doing so.
Like you mentioned his game would do well playing outside to aid Wilson’s game.
Steelers should just pony up the pick and get Aiyuk and extend him right away. They’d be a playoff contender right away and depending on the health of Watt and others during playoffs could sneak a win for Tomlin for the first time in forever.
Make Fields your WR2, it’s by far the best option Pitt has, Arthur is willing to make Jonnu Smith the centerpiece of his ATL offense, no reason Fields can’t be great at WR2
They should try to tape Jefferson, Quez, Miller, and Calvin together to try and make an actual legit #2 receiver.
If you’re suggesting the NFLPA is too weak to keep teams from Human Centipede-ing players together… you might be right.
Arthur Smith ran 11 personnel about the least in the NFL last year. I’m guessing that will be true again, with a lot of two back or two tight end sets. I’m guessing both running backs and possibly even two tight ends will be targeted more than their second most targeted receiver this year.
As a Falcons fan….I feel for the Pittsburgh offense this year SMH. Hopefully they turn out ok
I think Arthur Smith has gotten a little too much heat for his time in Atlanta (not that he helped his own cause with his attitude) and he was a great coordinator in Tennessee. Also, whatever you think of Wilson and Fields, he’s going to have a much better quarterback next year.
I think he gets heat for being a boring OC.
It was the most bland hire ever and a lot of Falcons hated it from the beginning, myself included. His time in Tennessee was just ride the heck out of Derrick Henry which obviously worked but there is only so many Derrick Henry’s out there. Once it became obvious it wasn’t working he became too cute trying to use the best skill position players to block and featuring the 2nd options…I do hope Justin Fields gets a good shot to compete however.
He also presided over Tannehill going from draft bust to very good QB.
What a joke. WR room is a bunch of losers, a rookie, and Pickens. Trading Johnson for a middling CB on the back end of his already unimpressive career was the biggest mistake of any teams offseason. But hey Pittsburghers Khan’s a wizard right??? Lol.
That is a compliment for Donte Jackson. That guy is a bum.
He’s given up 90 or high passer ratings on balls his way in 4 of his 6 seasons. Posted double digit missed tackles in 4 of his 6 seasons. Zero time PB, 1AP, or 2AP as well. An absolute bum.
Donte Jackson is one of the worst players I’ve ever seen. And they traded a pretty good receiver albeit with many mental mistakes to acquire that? Absolutely mind blowing.
If the Steelers had Diontae, Pickens, and Roman Wilson as their top 3 receivers with Pat and Washington as TEs, paired with two RBs who are better than average at catching out of the backfield and that team if healthy on defense could have made some noise.
100%. Though I personally don’t think Washington is a factor. He’s big. But he’s slow, got stone hands, and raw. But instead guys like Van Jefferson are going to see quality playing time which is beyond sad.
Washington in a small sample size caught 70% last year I think. I’d like to see what he can do with more targets.
Russ Wilson at QB1 and Van Jefferson at WR2. Yet another herculean task for Tomlin to will his team to 9-8.
Agreed and everyone will clown on Tomlinson for it…but he has a lot to do with the decision making so can’t really blame people
You don’t even know his name…. lol.
Mike Tomlin yes lol, feel better now?….Always wanna say Tomlinson cuz of Ladainian Tomlinson. Totally caused by fantasy football admittedly
It might just be Pickens Wilson Jefferson in that order. Scotty will be buried in the depth chart and Calvin could earn a WR3-B role
This is a little like being the early leader in a 100 meter race between 6 crawling toddlers. A whole lot can change between now and the end.
Eh might not change. Outside of Roman Wilson, no one on this depth chart is as talented as Jefferson. And Jefferson’s talent mirrors mine…. It’s a really, really bad receiving corps.
Should have just kept Diontae Johnson.