If the NFL season started today, the most likely starting wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers opposite George Pickens is veteran Van Jefferson. Concerns over this is why every time the name Brandon Aiyuk or D.K. Metcalf comes up, Steelers fans get hopeful are making a big trade.
But it might not be that complicated. Looking over the offenses new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has been in charge of, the role of the No. 2 wide receiver might not be as vital as it could be on other teams.
This is especially true based on the rest of the Steelers skill players. Running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are both accomplished pass catchers out of the backfield.
The Steelers also have multiple pass-catching tight ends on the roster including Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington and Connor Heyward.
There’s no denying the sledding will be tough for Pickens at first as he adjusts to getting all the deep coverage his way. But with the Steelers run-first mentality and so many big, physical weapons, teams are not going to be able to commit extra defenders deep, which should let Pickens flourish in play action.
Jefferson is not a bad player at all. He’s got 113 receptions in four seasons and a career-high 50 in 2021 for 803 receiving yards. A season like that is more than sufficient for the Steelers in this new scheme.
