It may seem like the Pittsburgh Steelers were just putting the cap on their 2022 season but believe it or not Training Camp is right around the corner. As the Steelers prepare for their trip East to Latrobe, we’re getting ready too. We’ll be previewing the 90 players participating at St. Vincent College position by position. In this article we look at the wide receivers.
Currently on the Roster
Diontae Johnson – 5th year
George Pickens – 2nd year
Calvin Austin III- 2nd year
Miles Boykin – 5th year
Dez Fitzpatrick – 2nd year
Ja’Marcus Bradley – 2nd year
Gunner Olszewski – 5th year
Allen Robinson II – 10th season
Cody White – 2nd year
Jordan Byrd – Rookie
Diontae Johnson
A recent study found that Diontae Johnson was the “most open wide receiver in football in 2022.” While I’m not certain as to what they did to find this out I’m not surprised. Johnson is an elite route runner who had to endure a rookie quarterback who not going to force anything. I have to believe things will be better for DJ in 2023. The law of averages suggests that there’s no way he goes another season without a touchdown. More than however is that he is the number one wide receiver on this team and he has to be given opportunities to display that.
2022 Stats:
86 receptions
882 yards
0 TDs
10.3 yards per reception
45 first down receptions
George Pickens
Pickens electrified fans with some unbelievable catches and some that were quite clutch too. Now comes the real challenge. We’ve seen this movie before where a wide out has a big rookie season only to fall off drastically in year two (Chase Claypool comes to mind). We know Pickens can run the “go” route and the skinny post but his offseason should have been about building his route tree. Defenses will look to take him away now that they’ve had a season to see him but you can’t take away wicked athleticism.
2022 stats:
52 receptions
802 yards
4 TDs
15.2 yards per reception
38 first down receptions
Calvin Austin III
A “unicorn.” That’s what several Steelers’ players have called CAII during the Spring OTAs. That sounds like high praise but the honest truth is that what have no idea what he’s about to show us this season. With good hands, great speed and lightning quickness, Austin III should be a guy who aligns all over the formation. His biggest question will be durability. This is not a big guy and he’s coming off a completely lost season due to an injury and subsequent surgery. The sky is the limit but expectations must be tempered.
Miles Boykin
When he was drafted, Boykin was thought to be the next great ‘big’ wide receiver. At 6’4″ 220lbs Boykin was a beast, but it just never materialized that that way. To his credit, Boykin turned himself into one of the better Special Teams’ players in football and that’s what he was last season with the Steelers. He proved himself a viable replacement at WR in terms of knowing what to do but as you can see from his stats he really isn’t a threat. His status on the team is only threatened if someone else can do what he does on STs.
2022 Stats:
16 games
2 receptions
11 yards
10 tackles
Dez Fitzpatrick
He appeared in just one game last season for the Tennessee Titans after appearing in four the previous year. Seems very limited in what he can offer. Largely an outside receiver with a limited route tree. Good size but doesn’t separate and will likely need to prove himself on STs for a shot.
Ja’Marcus Bradley
Bradley saw action in eight games over 2020-2021 for the Cleveland Browns collecting nine receptions. He’s an intriguing prospect… He was a dual-threat QB in high school and translated those skills to wide receiver in college. Big touchdown guy in the Red Zone in college and is competent in running routes but he’s a long shot to make the roster.
Gunner Olszewski
it didn’t take long for Olszewski to earn the wrath of Steelers Nation as his fumble against the hated Patriots cost the Steelers a victory. To be fair, there were other factors that led to that loss as well, but the Special Teams ace was supposed to be the safest bet there was at punt returner. He was replaced and saw action mostly as a receiver. Olszewski is fine running routes out of the slot but as a runner or blocker he’s below average in my book. My input doesn’t matter because Mike Tomlin and Danny Smith love their veteran Special Teams guys.
Allen Robinson II
The praise for Robinson II has been high. It was thought he wouldn’t even be available for OTAs as he recovered from surgery but he participated and played at an extremely high level. It appears the Steelers will use him from the slot and I’m good with that in certain situations, like the Red Zone where he can use his size to beat smaller defensive backs. I do think Matt Canada needs to find speed and quickness (Calvin Austin III hopefully) for the slot at times too though. The trade for Robinson II could be a huge ‘get’ if he stays healthy and plays to his capabilities.
2022 stats:
10 games
33 receptions
339 yards
3 TDs
10.3 yards per reception
Cody White
He appeared in 15 games in 2021 but just one last season. He has six total receptions in his two season with the Steelers. I think he’s in another tough spot entering camp simply because of the talent already established and because of the new guys fighting to climb over him.
Jordan Byrd
Byrd enters camp looking to make it as a returner. He’s just 5’9″ but has electric speed and was All-Mountain West for three seasons as a KR/PR. He had just 275 carries in five years as a RB at SDSU and had less than 50 receptions but the Steelers view him as a receiver offensively. Don’t be surprised if he lights things up at camp but he has to be able to do more than just return kicks.
Roster Projections
Johnson, Pickens, Austin III, Robinson II, Boykin
Fitzpatrick, White – Practice Squad
Byrd, Bradley, Olszewski – Cut
*Don’t be surprised if they find a way to keep Olszewski.
