The Steelers will entertain former Raiders’ and Colts’ wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey today on the South Side.
While there is no discussion yet as to whether the Steelers and Heyward-Bey will come to terms on a deal, I do not believe this should change the Steelers’ thinking come draft time.
Heyward-Bey was a first-round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2009 going number seven overall.
The pick was seen as a reach in the eyes of most experts but his impressive speed was too much for the Raiders to pass up.
UPDATE: According to several sources, Darrius Heyward-Bey has signed a deal with the Steelers.
After three seasons in Oakland, he played in Indianapolis last year where he caught just 29 balls. His potential signing in Pittsburgh should in no way change their thinking about using their first or second round pick on a wide receiver.
At best, Heyward-Bey strikes me as a third or slot-type receiver. With Lance Moore and Markus Wheaton already in the fold, the slot position appears to be taken though. That’s why the Steelers still need to focus on finding a true number two receiver in the draft.
Thinking right now has the Steelers taking a cornerback in round one which means finding the right receiver in the second round becomes a ‘must’ in my opinion. Because of the deep draft especially at the receiver position, the Steelers need to get it right.
Adding a guy who can take double teams away from Antonio Brown and open up the secondary for Heath Miller and slot receivers is huge in the NFL today.
It would be great Darrius Heyward-Bey could come in and be that guy but I just don’t see him fitting that role. The Steelers should continue to make a receiver a top priority in the Draft.
Marc Uhlmann writes for and co-owns www.steelcityblitz.com. Follow him on Twitter @steeldad and follow the website at @SCBlitz. He can be heard weekly on Trib-Live Radio talking Steelers and is a blogger for ESPN 970 in Pittsburgh.
