Wide receiver was a need for the Steelers in 2024. Omar Khan thought he’d addressed by picking Roman Wilson.
A year later, going into the 2025 NFL Draft, wide receiver was only a Moderate need for the Steelers. That was a fair assessment then because they still had George Pickens. Then they traded Pickens.
That may have been a wise move, Pickens’ outstanding year in Dallas notwithstanding, but the Steelers were counting on Roman Wilson in 2025 and he was a non-factor. Consequently, for a second straight season, the Steelers found themselves playing critical games in December with a JV wide receiving corps.
Omar Khan has already beefed up the Steelers wide receiving corps via trade, but just how much does that impact the Steelers draft plans for the position going into the 2026 NFL Draft?
This is the latest article in our Steelers 2026 Draft series.
D.K. Metcalf and Ben Skowronek leave the field following the Steelers win over the Ravens. Photo Credit: Ed Thompson, SteelersNow
The Steelers Wide Receiver Depth Chart Entering the 2026 NFL Draft – The Starters
Omar Khan began the 2025 off-season by trading for D.K. Metcalf, hoping to add maturity and firepower to the Steelers wide receiving room.
- Overall the results were positive, they come with a few qualifications.
At times Metcalf played with the authority of a true, number 1 wide receiver. On other occasions, he failed to make combat catches resulting in turnovers.
D.K. Metcalf opens the game with a 52 yard catch. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com
It should be noted that Metcalf exploded with 7 catches for 148 yards in the upset over the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium, and his elevated play was a big part of the reason why the Steelers earned critical victories against the Dolphins and Lions in December.
On the flip side, against the Lions, he got into an altercation with a fan, and was suspended for the final two games of the season, and the Steelers sorely missed him. He also dropped a pass early in the playoff loss to the Texans, sapping the energy out of the Steelers offense for the rest of the night.
Khan again opened the 2026 off-season by trading for another receiver, Michael Pittman Jr.
With Pittman in the fold, the Steelers now have two varsity NFL starting wide receivers for the first time in several seasons…
The Steelers Wide Receiver Depth Chart Entering the 2026 NFL Draft – The Backups
…And behind those varsity wide receivers, the Steelers have Cole Burgess, A.T. Perry, John Rhys Plumlee, Brandon Smith, Ben Skowronek, and Roman Wilson under contract.
Only Perry, Wilson and Skowronek have NFL catches to their name. Limited to catches made for the Steelers, that number drops to Wilson and Skowronek.
Ben Skowronek makes a catch for 21 yards. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com
Together the duo totals 21 catches wearing Black and Gold.
Steelers 2026 Draft Needs at Wide Receiver
With D.K. Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. the Steelers have two solid starters. They’re both 28 and neither has much of an injury history.
And IF Roman Wilson makes good on the potential coaches and scouts saw in him in 2026, and IF Ben Skowronek makes a Yancey Thigpen–like transformation from ace special teamer to playmaking wide receiver, adding to the position really doesn’t need to be a priority for Pittsburgh in the upcoming draft.
Those are some pretty big IFs.
- And no one either inside or outside of Pittsburgh is counting on those IFs coming to fruition.
Thanks to the Pittman trade, the Steelers don’t need to find an immediate starter at wide receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft.
And they don’t necessarily need to find someone who can come in and be WR. No. 3 on opening day, but it is close. Therefore, the Steelers” need at wide receiver entering the 2026 NFL Draft should be considered High.
