Steelers owner Art Rooney II admitted that the team will be looking to improve their receiver room this offseason after struggling to find consistency at the position in 2024 outside of George Pickens.
“I think we have positions in the wide receiver room we’re going to have to address,” said Rooney (via Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show).
Bringing in a high-profile wideout to take targets away from Pickens could cause tension with the mercurial 23-year-old, something Rooney addressed in his press conference.
“I think every team seems to have one or two guys in that room that you have to manage them correctly,” said Rooney. “I still think George has enough talent that we’ve got to try to work and see if we can get him to fulfill the talent that he really has.”
Indeed, despite repeated incidents at Georgia and in Pittsburgh, Pickens has been the Steelers’ best receiver since he was drafted. Head coach Mike Tomlin is no stranger to getting the most out of intense personalities (Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell), which Rooney referenced as well.
“But when you have guys that are as talented as some of the guys you’re probably thinking of, you try to work with them and have them help you be successful,” he said, adding that the team has yet to work on an extension for Pickens.
Pickens is under contract for 2025, as is Calvin Austin, the team’s second-leading receiver, but Van Jefferson and Mike Williams are both set to hit free agency. Rooney’s comments indicate that he is planning to go in another direction, though he’s more focused on the Steelers’ future at quarterback.
“That’s priority No. 1,” said Rooney. “The quarterback position is a key piece of the puzzle that needs to be addressed.”
But the Steelers’ offseason resources – the 21st overall pick and more than $40MM in cap space, per OverTheCap – are better attuned to bolster their receiving corps. It’s unlikely one of the draft’s top quarterbacks falls to Pittsburgh, and none of the available veterans profile as high-upside options. The 2025 receiver class is far deeper in both the draft and free agency, forcing the Steelers into a tough offseason dilemma. They can improve their weapons on offense, but that may not be enough to break their playoff win drought without a better long-term quarterback.
Here is one way to upgrade the WRs. Upgrade the QB spot
The options for simply upgrading your QB during this offseason are really non-existent though. You really want to make a case that Darnold at a lot more money (if he’s even available) is significantly better than what you just had? Who else is there?
Agreed on theorem, but their WRs are objectively absolutely awful
Have a couple 1-trick ponies, but lack a route-runner/ go-to target
Save it for next year when Manning is eligible for the draft and then use Tomlin to secure the top pick in the draft. We won’t have to tank to get the top pick and this team will get the fresh start it needs with a new coaching staff and a franchise QB. Tomlin can go…and do whatever it is he does for a new team.
A bit of schizophrenia in your “that awful coach we must fire is worth the first overall pick” logic…
But, just out of curiosity, were you part of the “Arians must go” crowd, too?
Why would you extend Pickens?
Also why would you trade Pickens?
Go year to year. Franchise if needed
He will be in the final year of his contract.
Do you want to risk him blowing up his value with a solid season? WR value isn’t about to come down with Tee Higgins and Chase about to get new deals.
Steelers will either need to resign or move on this off season. They are not going to pay him close to 30mil a season and if that’s his asking then you deal him.
He’ll make virtually nothing this season. If he blows up, you can franchise tag him and yes, he’ll be expensive but then you’re basically getting 2 amazing seasons for the price of one amazing season.
Really they want to improve at WR? Van Jefferson wasn’t good enough? How about Scotty miller? This team can’t really get much worse at the position outside of trading Pickens and bringing in another decent blocking WR
Don’t forget Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson.
Calvin isn’t a #2 receiver and god knows what they have in Wilson.
If the Steelers are going to upgrade the position they need a legit #2.
I was being sarcastic lol. Austin shouldn’t be a WR5 on the worst team in the league. He’s bad. Roman Wilson is also a joke. A hamstring kept him out all year? More like he wasn’t ready for action and was over drafted.
I’d argue they need a serious WR1, because Pickens (as talented as he is) has an insane amount of shortcomings. He can catch any contested ball there is, but his route tree is horrendous, he’s constantly missing assignments, and he’s the obvious headcase that the Steelers’ WR room consistently has. Not to mention he’s about to cry for a top 10 contract when in reality he’s maybe the 25-32nd top WR.
They’re in trouble
Seems they were all-in on Aiyuk and got burned
Now with Pickens falling off the wagon, they pretty much need an entire WR room
Austin is good at what he does, and not good at what they’ve been asking him to do
The thing is, Austin isn’t good at doing much. His a middle of the road punt returner (16 guys had 20+ returns he was 8th in yards), he’s too small to play outside, and he doesn’t have the hands or catch radius to play the slot. He will get an explosive play here or there – every blind squirrel finds a nut though.
I got busy at work and didn’t completely finish my thought but yeah they did go all in for Aiyuk and had no backup plan. Then traded WR2 (I mean Johnson fell off the wagon this year but still they had no plan behind him) for a CB2 without a backup plan there either. Then reached in the draft for a guy who may never touch the field. Their WR is a disaster and that’s being polite lol.
Is this a good WR draft?
If so, trade him for, say, a second and a third. Take two WR’s, along with RB and DT, and then sign one free agent guy better than Van Jefferson.
OR go big and try to snatch Tee Higgins. Weaken a rival while getting better.
Awaiting moderation…guess I should have said “snag”.
They need to get either Wilson or Fields cheaply and go after Higgins. I wish they would trade for Likely from Baltimore. Let him play wide receiver.
Ter Higgins. Pay that man
Pat Pickens and he will be the biggest cry baby/diva/bewitch in the league. Trade him for a field goal post pad
Pay**
It’s too late to Claypool him, but the question is do you risk him panning out elsewhere or do you still cut your losses and risk that?
I’d side with the latter. See if you can get a pick between 50 and 80 for him and cut bait.
If he pans out, you look so dumb, but…if he goes the way of basically every other WR who has left PGH in the Tomlin era, it will look brilliant no matter the return.
Rooney should do what good owners do…stay quiet and let the people they hire make football decisions. There are already too many owners playing the meddling game. Rooney should resist the temptation.