Steelers Determined to Land Proven WR

The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking for a proven star to pair with George Pickens.

Stephen Thompson | Apr 12, 2024

Nov 19, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) / Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

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Pittsburgh Steelers

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers traded Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers earlier this offseason, opening up a gaping hole in their wide receiver corps and they're looking for someone ready to replace that production immediately.

In his latest live chat, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette's Gerry Dulac said that the Steelers are looking for a "proven" wide receiver to replace Johnson and he believes that led them to make some phone calls about Stefon Diggs, the former Bills star traded to the Houston Texans for one second-round draft pick.

“I don’t know that for certain, but I would imagine, given their desire to find a proven WR, they made a few phone calls,” Dulac wrote.

The Steelers have been active looking for a wide receiver to pair with George Pickens. They were reportedly interested in trading for 49ers star Brandon Aiyuk earlier this offseason before San Francisco general manager John Lynch shut that possibility down. Former Chargers wideout Mike Williams was an option until he signed with the New York Jets and Tyler Boyd, who remains unsigned, continues to drift further and further out of the picture.

Pittsburgh brought in a pair of veterans to help fill the gap in Quez Watkins and Van Jefferson but neither figure to be either No. 1 or 2 options. Cordarelle Patterson was a late free agent signing but seems to fit in more as a running back for the Steelers this season.

With the free agent market drying up, that leaves the NFL Draft for the Steelers to potentially grab a top receiver and Dulac added that he believes they'll do just that.

"Pickens will be No. 1. And they will get a WR before the second day of the draft is over," he wrote.

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Published Apr 12, 2024

STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper. He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press. During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.