2025 Steelers Prototype Wide Receiver

The Steelers’ 2024 wide receiver room lacked diversity in profiles, skill sets, and overall talent, making a complete overhaul necessary this offseason. The key that sticks out to any fan would be the lack of threats the Steelers pose on the outside of the formation with the only one who seemed capable of being a playmaker outside the numbers being Pickens. With ongoing speculation about Pickens’ future, there is a scenario where the only returning receivers from the 2024 group are speed slots Calvin Austin and the redshirted Roman Wilson.

What are the key profiles?

It’s easy to look at the Steelers’ wide receiver corps and conclude they need a Z receiver—someone who can create separation and capitalize on yards after the catch. While these traits are crucial for a productive receiver and would certainly help open up the offense, physical attributes alone aren’t the most important factor when constructing the position group for the 2025 season.

The reason for this is that, despite the Steelers drafting talented receivers, the position group has lacked strong leadership since the Antonio Brown era, which has negatively impacted the room for nearly a decade. Character issues have repeatedly surfaced, and from an outside perspective, it seems like Tomlin and the coaching staff believe they can keep players in check. However, the evidence suggests otherwise. Cases like Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson, and JuJu Smith-Schuster all saw their tenures cut short due to off-field distractions.

Now, their current WR1, George Pickens, could be following a similar trajectory. However, there’s still hope that he puts everything together and maximizes his potential in 2025—assuming he isn’t traded.

With the Steelers, the key players who have struggled with character concerns have unfortunately allowed those issues to hurt the team more than their talents have helped. So heading into the 2025 season the key will be to acquire players not only for their on the field talents, but mainly how they carry themselves off the field.

The off-the-field trait the Steelers need to prioritize is genuine leadership. They need a player who carries themselves like a true professional, someone with a resume that George Pickens and the younger receivers can look up to. This veteran presence should set the standard for success in the league, demonstrating the preparation, discipline, and work ethic required to perform at a high level every Sunday. This kind of player will not only will bring their own production to the room but the margins they unlock with hoping to create an environment that allows the other members of the room to tap into their own potential.

Options:

• Cooper Kupp
• Chris Godwin
• Emeka Egbuka

Cooper Kupp may have lost a step and seen a downturn in production, but he would still provide a reliable safety blanket for whoever is under center. His ability to operate in the slot, paired with his strong blocking skills, makes him a natural fit for the Steelers’ offense. The primary concern with adding Kupp is that he would be another slot receiver in a room that already includes Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson. However, from a leadership and character standpoint, Kupp is exactly what the Steelers need. A triple-crown wide receiver and Super Bowl LVI MVP, his resume speaks for itself. The way he carries himself on and off the field would set a high standard for the younger receivers, giving them a veteran presence to learn from and emulate.

Chris Godwin enters free agency as one of the more intriguing wide receiver options and would provide the Steelers with a much-needed outside presence. While he is coming off another long-term injury, his resume speaks for itself—he was a 2019 second-team All-Pro, a 2021 Super Bowl champion, and has recorded four 1,000-yard seasons as a pro. Throughout his tenure in Tampa, he consistently performed at a high level alongside Mike Evans, proving to be a reliable and versatile target. His addition would not only give the Steelers a leader in the receiver room but also a potential Pro Bowl caliber player if he returns to full health entering his age-29 season.

When it comes to Emeka Egbuka, the Steelers would need to invest a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to secure him. While it would be unrealistic to expect him to step in as a leader right away—given he would be joining a room with veterans who have spent years in the league—Egbuka embodies the type of high-character player the Steelers should prioritize.

Emeka Egbuka told Will Howard to throw the Go on #29’s inside leverage. They executed that perfectly with the game on the line. That is leadership and trust. pic.twitter.com/RtePJUP5kY

— Corey Rosenberg (@crosenberg565) January 26, 2025

He is a natural-born leader, and throughout his time at Ohio State, he played alongside superstars, showing a willingness to let others succeed without worrying about his own numbers. Egbuka seamlessly adapted to playing alongside Marvin Harrison Jr., Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and freshman sensation Jeremiah Smith, all while still becoming Ohio State’s all-time leader in receptions and second in yards. His leadership qualities would provide the Steelers with a young player who is just as valuable off the field as he is on it—something crucial to reshaping the culture and future of the receiver room.

As fans of the Steelers, is it fair to assume they need to prioritize the character of players at one of the most volatile positions in the league from that standpoint? Or should they continue to select the most talented player available and trust their culture to keep them in check for 2025 and beyond? Perhaps it’s a balance of both approaches?