The Steelers would be wise to reconsider their approach to the wide receiver position

Martavis Bryant. Antonio Brown. Chase Claypool. Diontae Johnson. George Pickens.

What do all of those receivers have in common?

For one, they were all exceptionally talented players when the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted them. They differed in size and background — Brown and Johnson were smaller in stature, and played at mid-level MAC schools, while Bryant, Claypool and Pickens were all big and fast and hailed from traditional football powers (Clemson, Notre Dame and Georgia). But, despite the difference in their profiles, they had elite characteristics that made them highly attractive.

With Brown and Johnson, it was their quickness and route-running ability. Both could buckle a defender’s knees with their precise cuts, and their ability to operate in confined spaces was exceptional. With Bryant, Claypool and Pickens, it was their deep-ball prowess, and how frequently they would win on contested throws. Brown’s tenure in Pittsburgh overlapped with Bryant’s, while Johnson’s extended through both Claypool and Pickens. Stylistically, this made perfect sense, as the Steelers selected complimentary assets who could stress defenses in varying ways.

There was just one problem with Pittsburgh’s evaluation process: each of these players also shared an inability to mesh with the team culture in Pittsburgh, and to play selfless football. They were tough to coach, they created distractions both on and off the field, and their boorish behavior ultimately paved their way out of town.

In retrospect, it’s hard to believe the Steelers traded away every one of these players. Every one. If one or two hadn’t worked out because of behavioral issues, you might understand. But all five? How could the team keep tripping up over the same issue again and again? How could they keep drafting talented receivers who show great potential, or even, as in Brown’s case, produce great results, but whom they eventually have to unload because their behavior is a liability?

It’s a remarkable streak, albeit a dubious one. And it speaks to a significant flaw in the way Pittsburgh has evaluated the position.

Hopefully, that’s about to change. All the players mentioned above were selected by previous general manager Kevin Colbert. The team’s new front office regime, led by Omar Khan and Andy Weidl, did not select any of them. Khan and Weidl have displayed a penchant for drafting linemen rather than receivers. Last year, they did add Michigan’s Roman Wilson in the third round. But Wilson was an interesting departure from the receivers Colbert selected. While Wilson was fast, he was not described as uber-athletic. Nor was he thought to be an elite route-runner. Nor, at 5’10-185 pounds, was he particularly big. Instead, he was hailed for his blocking, his toughness, and for being a team-first player. Steelers fans never got to see any of that, as Wilson missed his entire rookie season with an injury. But he seems like a different player than what Colbert preferred.

That could be a good thing. The Steelers would be wise to reconsider their approach at the receiver position. Granted, it takes elite athletes to be successful there. But elite athleticism and strong character do not need to be mutually exclusive. Emeka Egbuka, for example, who left Columbus as Ohio State’s all-time leading receiver, was a team captain and one of the locker room leaders on the Buckeyes national championship squad. Egbuka was taken 19th overall in this year’s draft by Green Bay. Jack Bech from TCU, whose character and toughness became a national story after his brother was killed in the terrorist attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Eve, was the MVP of the Senior Bowl. Bech was drafted in the second round by the Raiders.

Talented receivers who are not selfish divas do exist.

One such player the Steelers should consider bringing in to replace Pickens on their roster is veteran Keenan Allen. While Allen is 33 years old, he’s coming off of a productive year in Chicago where he caught 70 passes and seven touchdowns. Allen has a Hall of Fame resume and has been a leader and strong locker room presence throughout his career. Former teammates have praised his work habits and described him as an excellent mentor for younger players on the roster. That’s precisely what the Steelers need in their receiver room: a veteran who can still produce, and who can teach the younger players how to be a professional.

Hopefully, the Pickens ordeal will help the Steelers see the light. Khan and Weidl have invested in high-character players in other areas these past two years. Now, it’s time to do so at the receiver position.

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