The Steelers’ receiver room is short on know commodities aside from George Pickens, but a number of in-house options will get the opportunity to serve in a more prominent capacity this season. That applies to Calvin Austin. 
The 25-year-old is in line to see the largest workload of his young career to date, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic writes (subscription required). That come as little surprise considering Pittsburgh’s decision to trade away Diontae Johnson and release Allen Robinson. Those moves have created a pair of starting vacancies, and no veteran presence on the roster is a lock to secure one of them.
Austin was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 draft, but a foot injury cost him his entire rookie campaign. The 5-9, 162-pound speedster was healthy for the entire 2023 season, but the presence of Pickens, Johnson and Robinson limited his offensive role. Austin logged a 35% offensive snap share and made just 17 catches. The Memphis product did chip in on special teams as a punt returner, although free agent addition Cordarrelle Patterson could take on those responsibilities in 2024.
The slot is likely Austin’s primary location for offensive usage, but the same could be true (at least early in his career) of third-round rookie Roman Wilson. The Michigan product was part of a stellar receiver class in this year’s draft, and he should be able to compete for a rotational role amongst Pittsburgh’s other options – a list which includes the likes of Quez Watkins, Van Jefferson and Scotty Miller. Watkins saw his new team as an opportunity to earn a first-team role, but training camp will go a long way in determining the receiver pecking order.
Keeping in line with his previous stance on the matter, Kaboly adds in a separate piece that the Steelers could still be in the market for a wideout addition. Such a move may not happen until the start of training camp, the point at which unsigned veterans often commit to a team. Pittsburgh has nearly $16MM in cap space, so the team certainly has the flexibility to bring in another experienced pass-catcher.
Regardless of whether or not that happens, though, Austin could be primed to take on a starter’s workload in 2024. Doing so would be key for him given he will be eligible for an extension after the coming season. A strong performance would help his leverage in potential contract talks in addition to providing the Steelers with needed production from the WR spot.
Don’t sleep on this dude
Maybe he is just a role player, but if he breaks out, this is the season he’s going to do it
If he plans to break out it better be this year. There isn’t to much competition from the looks of it.
Austin had 2 great years in Memphis with back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons but he didn’t do anything that looked all that promising in his 2nd year. He got 6 receptions on 6 targets in his 1st game against SF but after that he didn’t do anything until he caught a 7 yard TD in the playoff loss to BUF. Maybe Russel Wilson can get him the ball this year and we can see if he is a guy worth keeping around.
He’s bad. He’s 4’2″ tall. Has the catch radius of an infant. No real role. Fast doesn’t make you good.
Almost no long balls between Kenny Pickett and Matt Canada’s offense.
Art Smith loves his seams routes against a loaded box.
Austin is 5’9 for the record, and more important than radius , is he’s proven he can catch in motion at high speeds when the burners are on behind a deep safety.
I think Pickens and Austin are in the same situation where they showed-off flashes of brilliance while limited in a weird Pickett led offense.
He’s proved that in his 18 career catches? lol
He’s shown off flashes of brilliance was my exact quote.
Austin III has a 67 & a 72 yard TD amongst those 18 catches .
Both incredible highlights too. Weren’t like some gimmick garbage time plays.
Right in the middle of the game action, They called it, he knew he was getting it , and made it look easy.
A dime a dozen speed threat like Quez Watkins doesn’t do that.
And that’s in an offense that almost never aired it out with Kenny Tenyards , so Austin made the most of it when he got it.
Ever hear of the smurf receivers….I guess not. I think Austin can be valuable with Wilson or fields as qb. Now tomlin is another obstacle with the receivers. I believe Pickens will show how great he can be this year. Watch him and enjoy
Runnin wild in the garden for sure on all AFC.
The Steelers have the worst WR room outside of the Bills right now.
How they haven’t addressed this issue is crazy to me. If you list out the top WR in the league how far is Pickens down the list. He is probably in the 25-30 range in most lists, maybe 20-25 if you really like the guy.
Either way you are starting a guy who is bottom half of the league as your #1 and then your #2 is who Van Jefferson? Not only is your #1 not a top #1 but the drop off from your #1 to your #2 is probably the steepest in the league.
The Steelers are in a very bad spot.
30-35 range
If we add in the rookie class there are 33 WR’s I would take over Pickens. I am not trying to come off rude, even if it sounds like I am. Pickens is the #34 WR in the league on MY list (for now). Van Jefferson is so far down my list I will just be nice and say he is #69 lol.
Anyhow I agree, PIT is in need of another skilled WR. If Aiyuk isn’t happy in SF the Steelers should be making a serious offer imo.
Pickens is gonna be top 10 on your list after 2024
Yeah there is a good chance of that. Pickens averaged 18.1 yards a reception last season. Russell Wilson has a bigger arm then Kenny so in theory Pickens could be a serious deep threat in the league if he stays healthy. I thought he could have made a few more catches last year but I blame the QB play more then the WR. If Rus can still throw a deep ball Pickens has a chance to establish himself as one of the top WR in the league.
Just have to wait for the dang season to start already lol.
And what makes you an expert on receivers? You a wannabe scout or commentator?
Leave the expertise to the experts, not some couch potato qb
Ouch, you got me Bucco, you are deadly with that keyboard.
Keep up the hard work.
Hey your welcome…just don’t be a poumpas slug.
I unmuted you just to see what you had to say today and once again you prove to be a clown. I don’t understand your needless hate but whatever man I will go back to muting you.
You spelled POMPOUS wrong, there is no A in POMPOUS. However, there is an A in A**hole, and that is what you are, from sunrise to sunset.
If your going to call someone a name please try to spell it correctly in the future. Otherwise you just sound STUPID.
Yup Diontae Johnson trade is going to kill them. They traded one of the 2 competent WR’s on the roster for a backup CB who was getting cut in a week. Bad business move, and they’ll quickly find that out.
Dionte runs some clean routes, but I hated almost everything else about him.
Johnson ran backwards after making a catch. He was traded because he caused disruption in the clubhouse
Is there a reason no one is mentioning Roman Wilson? Pretty solid receiver prospect.
I can’t put him in my rankings because I have no idea if Arthur Smith is going to utilize him the same way Harbaugh did. I think Wilson-to-Wilson could become a popular phrase on the Steelers weekly highlight reel but we just have to wait to see if it happens.
Roman has the perfect opportunity to become the main slot WR on the team and hold the WR2 role in PIT for the next 4 years+. He could be Russel Wilson’s favorite target and he could win offensive rookie of the year. It really just depends on what this new offense is going to look like. Personally I am excited to watch PIT this year, I haven’t said that since the year before Big Ben left. If nothing else PIT fans are going to have a lot to talk about this season.
Because he’s a rookie and you have no clue what your getting out of him. But he’s a slot guy in an offense scheme that doesnt use a slot receiver….
Arthur smiths offense historically doesn’t use slot receivers so let’s go draft a slot receiver. lol. I’d bet any amount of money roman Wilson doesn’t finish top 3 in AFC ROY
He was what, the 25th offensive player selected by an AFC team? Of course he’s a very long shot to finish top three in AFC ROY. But he’s still very likely to be starting by the end of the year. And yes, Arthur Smith uses slot receivers, like literally every other offense. He does tend to use tight ends there a lot and running backs there occasionally, but his formations will often feature two slot receivers. He also used Van Jefferson and Scotty Miller in the slot a good bit, and Wilson is likely to be better that those guys by the end of year one.
Every offense uses spread formations.
Just because it’s not the focus , doesn’t mean there’s not gonna be a ton of 3 and 4 WR sets based on the situation.
They’re not going to run 2 TE motion power on 3rd and 8. lol
Smith did use 11 personnel less than almost everyone in football.
They don’t know bout Roman yet..
They’ll find out in Fantasy this year.
♫ Lost in a Roman
Wilderness of pain
And all the children are insane
All the children are insane
Waiting for the summer rain ♫
Doors / Apocalypse Now
Steelers are dead this dude stinks.