Mike McCarthy is officially in charge in Pittsburgh, and with him comes a clear mission: fix the Steelers’ offense. That’s been the missing piece for years now in the Steel City, and McCarthy-whose résumé includes leading top-tier offenses in both Green Bay and Dallas-has been brought in to do just that.
During his five-year run with the Cowboys, McCarthy’s offenses finished first in scoring twice and landed in the top five three times. That kind of production doesn’t happen by accident. Sure, having Dak Prescott under center helped, but McCarthy’s system has always thrived when paired with the right personnel-particularly at wide receiver.
And that’s where the Steelers’ current roster hits a snag.
Outside of DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh doesn’t have a consistent, go-to option in the passing game. The supporting cast has been a revolving door of short-term fixes, none of which have stuck. Now, with McCarthy’s West Coast offense set to take center stage, the need for a true No. 1 wideout isn’t just glaring-it’s urgent.
McCarthy’s track record makes that clear. In Green Bay, his offenses leaned heavily on versatile, precise route-runners like Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, and Davante Adams.
When he arrived in Dallas, his very first draft pick was CeeDee Lamb-an all-around weapon who became the centerpiece of the Cowboys’ aerial attack. Lamb didn’t quite crack 1,000 yards as a rookie, but over the next four seasons, he averaged over 1,300 yards and nearly eight touchdowns per year.
That’s the kind of production McCarthy builds around.
Now in Pittsburgh, the search is on for his next elite WR1.
The Steelers hold the 21st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and are armed with a total of 12 selections. That kind of draft capital gives them flexibility-especially if they want to move up for one of the premier receivers in this year’s class.
Two names to watch early in the process: USC’s Makai Lemon and Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson. Both are dynamic, polished, and projected to be off the board early-possibly even in the top 10.
Pairing one of them with Metcalf could give McCarthy the kind of 1-2 punch he’s used to scheming around.
Of course, it would take a trade-up to land either Lemon or Tyson. But given McCarthy’s history and the Steelers’ offensive needs, it’s not out of the question.
If Pittsburgh decides to stay put at 21, there are still intriguing options like Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion or Washington’s Denzel Boston. While they may not carry the same top-end pedigree, both bring the kind of versatility and route-running ability that McCarthy values.
Bottom line: the Steelers were already in the market for a wide receiver. Now, with McCarthy calling the shots, that search becomes even more critical.
His offense doesn’t just benefit from a do-it-all receiver-it depends on it. And with a deep draft class and plenty of picks to play with, Pittsburgh has the tools to go get their guy.
Whether that means a bold move up the board or a calculated pick at 21, expect wide receiver to be front and center come April.