The Steelers have their initial roster in place, but receiver still looks like the spot that could use a little more work before Week 1 against the Falcons.
The top of the group is set, but the depth behind it is shaky. The fifth and sixth receivers are there mainly for special teams, while the third and fourth options are young players who still have plenty to prove. That leaves Roman Wilson in a spot that feels a little too uncertain for comfort.
Wilson’s first two seasons haven’t given Pittsburgh much reason to feel settled. He missed most of his rookie year, then struggled late in his second season.
This offseason gave him a chance to reset, and for a while, it looked promising. He was getting plenty of targets in practice and seemed to be building real chemistry with Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph.
For a stretch, the third receiver job looked like his to lose.
Then the pads came on and the preseason arrived, and Wilson faded.
He may still get the first crack at the No. 3 role, but the margin for error does not sound wide. Germie Bernard could be waiting in the wings, and if he takes over, Wilson could wind up inactive again from week to week.
That is why a veteran like Trent Sherfield makes sense as a possible quiet addition. Sherfield did not make the Bills’ active roster and was sent to their practice squad, which opens the door for Pittsburgh to bring him in and put him on the active roster.
It is fair to say Sherfield is not a big-time receiving threat. But he does bring reliability as a third or fourth option, plus special teams value. Based on what Wilson produced a year ago, Sherfield could match it or even do a little better.
There is also a built-in benefit for Wilson himself. Bringing in Sherfield would add pressure, and maybe that is exactly what Wilson needs.
If he responds, the Steelers get more out of the spot. If he does not, Pittsburgh would at least have a dependable veteran already in the system who can step in.
In Other News...
Steelers Cut Just Drew Immediate Interest From Another Team
D'Shawn Jamison did not stay on the market long after the Steelers moved on from him during final roster cuts. The cornerback, who has also spent time with the Panthers and 49ers, drew a workout from the Arizona Cardinals and quickly landed a practice-squad spot as teams continue sorting out depth in the secondary.
Arizonas interest makes sense with Will Johnson sidelined by a lower-body injury and five cornerbacks already on the active roster. For Pittsburgh, Jamisons quick landing is another reminder of how fluid the back end of the roster can be once cutdown day passes and teams start looking for experienced cover help. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Quietly Added An Intriguing Edge Rusher To Watch
The Steelers quietly added three players to the practice squad, and one of the more interesting names is Bradyn Swinson, a young edge rusher with some real developmental appeal. Pittsburgh also brought in defensive back Car'Lin Vigers and wide receiver Brandon Johnson, but Swinson stands out because of where he was drafted and the kind of role the Steelers believe he can grow into.
A 2025 fifth-round pick by the Patriots, Swinson spent most of his rookie year on New Englands practice squad and got into three games. For a Steelers team that has long valued pass-rush depth and coaching up athletic defenders, he is the kind of low-risk addition worth monitoring as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]
Tomlin Finally Revealed What Really Pushed Steelers To Trade Pickens
The Steelers did not move on from George Pickens just because they had a chance to reshuffle the wide receiver room. Mike Tomlin laid out the thinking behind the decision, saying Pittsburgh no longer saw Pickens as a fit for its long-term plans, especially when it came to the leadership expectations that come with a second contract. In that same explanation, Tomlin pointed to DK Metcalf as the kind of player the organization felt more comfortable building around after giving him a major extension.
Pickens time in Pittsburgh had plenty of talent but also enough friction to make the choice easier to understand in hindsight. The fines and on-field incidents that followed him through his Steelers tenure were part of the backdrop, and Tomlins comments made clear those issues mattered when the team weighed what it wanted next at the position. The larger question now is how far Pittsburgh was willing to go to draw that line, and what it says about the standard the front office wants to keep enforcing. [Read more 🡒]