Steelers Verify Another Quarterback from NFL Draft and…..
Reasons for the Steelers to pass on wide receiver in the NFL Draft of 2024
Could the wide receiver group the Steelers have already assembled make the incoming offensive coordinator feel at ease?
April 25, 2024 | By Cory Rogers
Van Jefferson
Reddit, Facebook, Twitter, and Getty Images / Van Jefferson, Harry How
The Steelers are rumored to be considering selecting a wide receiver in the 2024 NFL Draft. With veteran slot receiver Allen Robinson being released during the offseason and former starter Diontae Johnson recently being sold to Carolina, this became a hot topic of conversation.
However, given Arthur Smith’s offensive philosophy, is it possible that the former Atlanta Falcons head coach and current offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers is at ease with the wide receiver group he already has in the building?
In an article published on Steelers.com recently, Dale Lolley stated that Smith’s Falcons were the only team in the NFL to play with 12 players last season—two wide receivers, a tight end, and two running backs, including a fullback—nearly 42% of the time.
Four of the five wide receivers on Smith’s roster were at least 6-1 and 200 pounds, demonstrating his preference for bigger players who are strong enough to block downfield. The only player not to play in all 17 games was 5-9, 174-pound Scotty Miller, who only took part in 24% of the Falcons’ offensive plays.
In terms of playing time during the final 12 games of the season, Drake London (6-4, 213) and Van Jefferson (6-1, 200) were the Falcons’ top two receivers. After being acquired from the Los Angeles Rams early in the season, Jefferson started five games and played 45 percent of the Falcons’ snaps. London started 16 games and played 81 percent of the team’s snaps.
Not so coincidentally, Jefferson signed a free-agent contract with the Steelers soon after Smith moved to Pittsburgh. Jefferson (6.27 NFL.com prospect ranking) recorded a 4.39 in the 40 at the 2020 NFL Combine, which helped the Los Angeles Rams choose him in the second round. The 5-10, 183-pound Johnson (6.20 NFL.com prospect ranking) ran a 4.53 the year before to the Steelers selecting him in the third round.
Thus, it’s reasonable to assume that Smith’s new London will be the returning starter George Pickens (6-3, 200), and Jefferson will take over for Johnson. Throughout his career, Johnson has averaged 8.3 targets per game as opposed to Jefferson’s 3.4, while having greater statistical success (he has 25 career receiving touchdowns to Jefferson’s 10).
The Rams’ 2021 Super Bowl victory, in which Jefferson started all 17 games during the regular season and caught 50 catches for 802 yards and six touchdowns, was his finest season to date.
Though they are untested, the Steelers also have other receiver options.
Denzel Mims, a 6-3, 207-pound pick from 2020’s second round, is another player on the Steelers roster who may be a major factor in Smith’s system. He didn’t have much success in his three years with the Jets, thus his career has never really gotten off the ground. Due to an injury sustained in the previous season, he was cut by the Lions and signed by the Steelers as a practice squad member in the middle of the campaign.
Mims (4.38 in the 40) possesses the height and speed that scouts adore (6.33 NFL.com prospect ranking). He went one pick after Jefferson but ahead of Gabe Davis (fourth round, Bills), Darnell Mooney (fifth round, Bears), and K.J. Osborn (fifth round, Vikings).
Maybe, while collecting passes from new Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson, Mims can finally put it all together. Marvin, the younger brother of Mims, showed flashes of his explosive play-making abilities during his rookie season in Denver last year.
The 5-9, 162-pound Calvin Austin III (6.00 NFL.com prospect ranking) and the recently acquired, 6-0, 185-pound Quez Watkins (5.95 NFL.com prospect ranking) are the two receivers the Steelers have available if they decide to go to three, with one in the slot. With Austin recording a 4.32 in the 40 and Watkins registering a 4.35 in the 40 with a 36.5-inch vertical jump, both athletes possess incredible speed and athleticism.
Austin was injured late in training camp, which prevented him from playing his whole rookie season. The Steelers selected Austin in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He made a comeback to the team the previous season, participating in 17 games (one of which he started) and hauling in 17 receptions for 180 yards and a touchdown. When you remove that one touchdown reception (against the Raiders) out of the picture, he wasn’t able to have much of an effect.
Khan may have signed Watkins away from Philadelphia as a free agency for this reason. Despite being on and off the IR for a large portion of the previous season, he has a track record of making an impact. He started 12 out of 17 games in 2021, hauling in 43 receptions for 647 yards and a touchdown.
This is probably where the wide receiver room for the Steelers would be if the season began today:
Second-round selection George Pickens
Van Jefferson, a second-round selection
Second-round selection Denzel Mims
Calvin Austin III (slot; fourth round pick)
Quez Watkins (slot; sixth round pick)
Remember that Smith is a proponent of “positionless football” and frequently lined up tight end Kyle Pitts in the slot. Pat Freiermuth of the Steelers, a tight end, will probably play that position in 2024, which is why the team recently added MyCole Pruitt, a former Falcon, to the roster.
Additionally, the 6-2, 220-pound Cordarrelle Patterson was signed by the Steelers instead of Atlanta. Although Patterson played mostly wide receiver for the first half of his 11-year career, he is labeled as an RB/KR.
Having said that, the Steelers would be foolish to pass up the chance to acquire Brandon Aiyuk (49ers) or Courtland Sutton (Broncos) by trade, or if a top receiver falls to them in the draft.
Aiyuk (6-0, 200) is the most logical choice because of his skill set and contrasted size, in addition to his consecutive seasons with 1,000 receiving yards. He should easily replace Johnson’s output and be a great complement to Pickens.
Wilson would be somewhat reassured by Sutton (6-4, 216), as the two had been teammates for the previous two seasons, and the Steelers would have another formidable target to complement Pickens. Last year, Sutton recorded his best-ever season with ten touchdown receptions.
I’m intrigued by two draft choices if a deal for any of these two doesn’t pan out.
The Steelers should consider drafting Brian Thomas, Jr. (6.47 NFL.com prospect rating) from LSU if they remain at No. 20 and he becomes available. The good news is that he played with Malik Nabers, who is ranked as the finest receiver in the draft by NFL.com (6.86), and recorded an FBS-high 17 touchdown receptions last season. The 6-3, 209-pound Thomas possesses a 38.5-inch vertical leap in addition to 4.33 speed.
It should be mentioned, nonetheless, that Denzel Mims and the actor share a lot of physical characteristics. Thomas is a “Pickens clone,” according to some, and the Steelers would be better off selecting an offensive lineman in Amarius Mims (Georgia) or a center like Graham Barton (Duke) in the first round. That may be the case, but would it not be entertaining to watch Pickens and Thomas together on the field? Smith also has no problem with starting two wide outs.
The Steelers selecting a wide receiver like UCF’s Javon Baker (6.25 NFL.com prospect rating) in the second round and a cornerback like Iowa’s Cooper DeJean in the first round is a sleeper pick that I like. The Steelers should be able to select Georgian center Sedrick Van Pran-Granger in the third round.
Although Baker is larger than Diontae Johnson at 6-1 and 202 pounds, he possesses comparable speed (4.54 in the 40) and collegiate output. Baker spent his final two seasons at UCF after spending two years as a reserve at Alabama.
Baker has excellent ball skills, runs nice routes, and can play both inside and outside. During the previous season, the first-team All-Big 12 Conference selection averaged over 20 yards per catch, racking up 52 receptions for 1,139 yards and 7 touchdowns for the Knights.
It is now time for the Steelers to decide if they want to add a receiver or not. Most likely, they will. However, considering other areas of need and Smith’s offensive philosophy, don’t be shocked if it’s not included in the selection.
Troy Fautanu’s selection indicates that the Steelers prioritize versatility on the offensive line. The depth chart has been updated following Troy Fautanu’s selection. NFL experts have provided draft rankings following Troy Fautanu’s selection.
• Mel Kiper Big Board: Top Players Still Available for Day 2 of the NFL Draft • NFL Draft 2024: Top Players Available for the Steelers to Target on Day 2 of the Home/Steelers Draft
