The Steelers are missing a certain kind of player. That player is a true downfield threat at wide receiver. A trough-line of the Ben Roethlisberger era, highlighted by two Super Bowl victories, always had a true downfield threat. Someone who can “take the top off” of a defense, stretch the field vertically, and draw the defense’s attention.
Currently the Steelers have Wide Receivers Dionte Johnson and Chase Claypool on the roster. Johnson is your typical “X” receiver. He’s often isolated on the backside of the offense. Able to use his incredible release and footwork to run multiple routes and get open. Claypool so far in his career has played the “Z”. This is supposed to be your downfield threat. But inconsistencies winning jump balls and an inability to stack corners has led to up and down play in that role.
With JuJu Smith-Schuster, the team’s slot receiver, an unrestricted FA, there’s a chance Claypool moves inside. So far in his few snaps in the slot, Claypool has lacked the awareness and sure handed-ness it takes to play that position. But given the chance to learn the position more over the summer could improve his play.
And that’s it. That’s the group. Even if JuJu returns, which I advocate for here, this team is still missing someone to stretch the field.
Before we look at some potential options to fill that role, let’s take a trip down memory lane at some of the players that have played in Pittsburgh through the years. The kind of player the Steelers are missing.
Plaxico Burress (2000-2004)
Plaxico Burress was drafted 8th overall by the Steelers in the 2000 draft. Burress was HUGE coming into the combine at nearly 6’5, 231 pounds, and with nearly 34″ arms. While Burress wasn’t an elite athlete when it came to speed (just a 4.59 40) his size and strength allowed him to win downfield. Burress was able to stretch the field for Pittsburgh in the early 2000s to make room underneath for the likes of Hines Ward and Antwaan Randle El. Plaxico had 261 catches for 4,164 yards and 22 TDs in his five years with the Steelers (before his brief end of career return eight years later).
Nate Washington (2005-2008)
Nate Washington was signed as an Undrafted Free Agent after the 2005 NFL Draft. Once Plaxico Burress signed with the New York Giants earlier that offseason, Pittsburgh was determined to get another big, downfield threat. Coming from Division II Tiffin University, Washington didn’t see much (or really any) time as a rookie. But in his second season he made his mark. Playing in all 16 games he had 35 catches for a whopping 624 yards and four touchdowns. He was able to match that production in the next two years for Pittsburgh, before moving on to the Tennessee Titans to have a productive career as a full time starter. Washington was on the Steelers roster for both Roethlisberger Super Bowls.
Mike Wallace (2009-2012)
Similarly to Burress, when Washington left Pittsburgh in the 2009 offseason the Steelers turned around and drafted his replacement. Unlike the Burress-Washington swap, the Steelers opted more for speed than size in their downfield threat this time. Enter Mike Wallace. Drafted in the third round 84th overall Wallace was a true burner. He boasted a 4.28 40 at the combine and with a 40″ vertical to boot. The Ben-Wallace connection was the true origin of one of NFL Twitter’s favorite memes:
Wallace made his lone Pro Bowl as a member of the Steelers. In his four years with the team he had 235 catches, 4,042 yards and 32 TDs.
Emmanuel Sanders (2010-2013)
Emmanuel Sanders joined the Steelers as part of that excellent 2010 draft class that included Maurkice Pouncey and Antonio Brown. Sanders was the team’s third round selection at pick 82. Him and Brown joined a pass catching group of Wallace, Ward, Randel El and Tight End Heath Miller.
Sanders came to the Steelers with a 4.4 40, 39″ vertical, and elite short area quickness. Still a productive receiver just this past year, Sanders was a great compliment to Brown in their time together. Despite being the only undersized guy on this list (just 5’9, 186 at the combine) his tremendous speed, hands and body control allowed him to be an excellent deep threat. Sanders really only put in two season of regular offensive play (Wallace and Ward were still starting in Sanders’ second season) Emmanuel still put up 111 catches for 1,366 yards and seven TDs in his two seasons as a mainstay in the offense.
Darrius Heyward-Bey/Martavis Bryant/Markus Wheaton
I’m lumping all three of these guys together. Between Wallace and Sanders, Claypool and James Washington, these were the ones attempting to solve the problem of the Steelers missing a certain kind of player. After Wallace and Sanders left in consecutive seasons, Pittsburgh found a way to keep a down field threat on the roster. Markus Wheaton was drafted in the, you guessed it, third round, at 79th overall after Wallace left for the Miami Dolphins. Wheaton ran a 4.45 40. In two years as as a starter he had 97 catches for 1,393 yards and seven TDs, but unfortunately hand and ball tracking issues kept him from becoming a consistent player. The next year NFL Journeyman Darrius Heyward-Bey was brought in during the offseason that Sanders signed with the Denver Broncos. “DHB” is most famous for his ridiculous 4.25 40 time which led to him being the 7th overall pick in the 2009 draft by the then Oakland Raiders. While he stuck in Pittsburgh for a few years and saw the field plenty, he never put in a strong season.
That same year the Steelers drafted Martavis Bryant in the fourth round, 118 overall. Of all these players Bryant had the best combination of size and speed. At 6’3 and 211 pounds at the combine he ran a 4.42 40 and had a 39″ vertical. Bryant looked to have all the makings of a great Steelers WR. In his first two seasons he had 76 catches for 1,314 yards and 14 touchdowns. Unfortunately off the field issues led to him being in and out of the league over the next three years, and he hasn’t been back in the NFL since 2018.
Who’s Up Next?
The Steelers are missing a certain kind of player. That player is a true downfield threat, hopefully with 4.4 kind of speed. A player like one of the ones mentioned above. They can find that guy in the draft or in free agency.
I lean draft. With any luck this team can re-sign JuJu, so this downfield threat only has to be a rotational player. Not someone that would cost veteran money. The right blend of cost/skill for a position like this can best come in the draft. A good free agent will cost too much, a cheap one might not be good enough.
I’ve done two mock drafts so far. In my first I mocked Joseph Ngata of Clemson he has great size and speed, but the latest since this mock is he might return to college. That mock can be found here. In my Mock Draft 2.0 I picked Reggie Roberson Jr. who is an electric downfield threat from SMU. He’s had some injuries but was a productive player overall. That mock can be found here.
I made those “picks” in the seventh, and fourth rounds respectively. Slowly moving towards a Day 2 investment in the position. With needs on the offensive line and linebacker wide receiver gets pushed down. But if Smith-Schuster isn’t re-signed we could see a Day 2 pick made.
Be on the lookout for my next mock draft here at Championship Sports Media!
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