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Throughout the first couple weeks of the 2022 off-season for the Pittsburgh Steelers, I will be going through each position group to determine where that group was at in 2021, and where they currently sit going into 2022.
As it stands today, the Steelers are expected to have ~$42.7 million in cap space based on a projected $208.2 million 2022 NFL salary cap figure. That leaves them with the most cap room heading into an off-season in over a decade, and is the 9th most in the NFL.
I took a look at the offensive line and quarterbacks already (links to the other position groups will be at the bottom of each article), so now it is a time to look at the one position group that might be getting overlooked heading into the off-season, and that is the wide receivers.
Starters: Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, JuJu Smith-Schuster
Key Reserves: James Washington, Ray-Ray McCloud
Depth: Cody White, Anthony Miller
There were some pretty high expectations for this group heading into the season. Johnson appeared to be a budding star, Claypool had a very good rookie campaign in which he produced a lot of explosive plays, and Smith-Schuster was re-signed to operate as a physical presence over the middle of the field. Pair that with some solid depth in Washington and McCloud making it very understandable why fans were excited to see this group take the field together.
However, most people in Steeler Nation would say they probably are disappointed with how this group performed as a whole. Claypool was inconsistent all year long and showed some immaturity/mental mistakes like young players can. Smith-Schuster got injured in Week 5 and didn’t return until the playoffs, and Washington barely saw the field.
Even with some disappointments, there were definitely some bright spots. Johnson appeared to fix his drop issues throughout much of the year, even though they did creep up late, and ended up topping 100 receptions and 1,000 yards on the season. In addition to Johnson, McCloud also had a solid season as both a receiver and a returner. He probably got as much criticism as anybody on the team, but he definitely was an unsung hero for the Steelers which I mention in an article a couple weeks ago.
This group didn’t reach the highs they were expected to this season, partially on them and partially on their situations, but they did continue to show the flashes that created the hype around them. More consistency from the group is the biggest thing they needed throughout the season.
Under Contract: Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, Cody White
Futures Contracts: Rico Bussey Jr., Anthony Miller, Tyler Vaughns, Steve Sims Jr.
Free Agents: JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington, Ray-Ray McCloud
Well then. It is a pretty thin WR room heading into the off-season in terms of production. Take away Johnson’s 254 catches across his three-year career and you’re left with a total of 321 catches between the other six names on this list.
In theory, the Steelers should have their two primary outside receivers in Johnson and Claypool, but who becomes the slot receiver? The answer likely isn’t under contract with the team currently. There are some intriguing names on the roster however behind these two. Miller has some solid experience as a #2/#3 receiver during his time with the Chicago Bears and many around the league thought he could be someone to eventually turn into a #1 receiver for a team.
Both Sims Jr. and White have primarily been special teams players throughout their careers with White operating on the majority of coverage units for the Steelers and Sims Jr. doing some decent return work with the Washington Football Team before he joined the Steelers. The other names on the list in Bussey Jr. and Vaughns have yet to see an NFL field in the regular season, but definitely have had some hype around them at times during the off-season.
Overall this group will be a fun one to follow as Johnson is poised to continue developing and destined to be a Pro Bowl WR in the near future as long as he polishes up some fine details. Him and Claypool should be able to pair together to be a very solid 1/2 combo on the outside, but what production comes from the rest of the group is still very speculative at this point.
There is a chance that some of the Steelers’ free agents are brought back such as Smith-Schuster or McCloud, but Washington is all but gone after getting very little play time this past season. With that said, I don’t think you’ll hear anyone complaining if the team brought in some serious talent to this group to help out the rest of the offense.
There are some solid names to consider up and down the free agent list of wide receivers this season, including many of which thrive in the slot and that is where the Steelers currently have their biggest hole in the group. However, it wouldn’t hurt for them to add an experienced name that can consistently threaten teams deep either, as both Johnson and Claypool aren’t players who will blow by people deep with regularity.
There are also some very intriguing names near the top of this year’s draft class as well that I don’t think the Steelers should ignore if available to them in the early rounds. This is one of the better draft classes at the top in recent years and it has some serious game-changing players. With that said, the middle and late rounds are a little thinner than they were in years past, which may make it a little more difficult to find true contributors as the draft goes on.
High Dollar: Christian Kirk, Cedrick Wilson, Allen Robinson II
Non-High Dollar: Will Fuller, Rashard Higgins, Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Early Picks: Jameson Williams (Alabama), Jahan Dotson (Penn State), Jalen Tolbert (Southern Alabama)
Late Picks: Charleston Rambo (Miami), Reggie Roberson Jr. (SMU), Justyn Ross (Clemson)
There is no denying the Steelers have some talent in their wide receiver room at the top with Johnson and Claypool, but both have been inconsistent at times and there is very little behind them. The Steelers shouldn’t hesitate to add at least one splash player to this position group whether it be with a solid free agent signing or an early draft pick, as I mentioned earlier they have the luxury of having more money to play with than usual.
I know wide receiver might not be the number one issue on this team, but with the little depth they have, it is an area of definite need this off-season. Personally I’d spend the money in free agency elsewhere, such as the offensive line and secondary, while leaving the draft to focus on positions like wide receiver. There are a lot of very good options in the first two rounds that can make immediate impacts in my opinion, and there is a strong tendency to overpay top wide receivers at times in free agency.
Let us know below what you think of the Steelers wide receiver room as we head into the 2022 off-season!
#SteelerNation
Offensive Line Review
Quarterbacks Review
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As it stands today, the Steelers are expected to have ~$42.7 million in cap space based on a projected $208.2 million 2022 NFL salary cap figure. That leaves them with the most cap room heading into an off-season in over a decade, and is the 9th most in the NFL.
I took a look at the offensive line and quarterbacks already (links to the other position groups will be at the bottom of each article), so now it is a time to look at the one position group that might be getting overlooked heading into the off-season, and that is the wide receivers.
Steelers 2021 Wide Receivers
Starters: Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, JuJu Smith-Schuster
Key Reserves: James Washington, Ray-Ray McCloud
Depth: Cody White, Anthony Miller
2021 Review
There were some pretty high expectations for this group heading into the season. Johnson appeared to be a budding star, Claypool had a very good rookie campaign in which he produced a lot of explosive plays, and Smith-Schuster was re-signed to operate as a physical presence over the middle of the field. Pair that with some solid depth in Washington and McCloud making it very understandable why fans were excited to see this group take the field together.
However, most people in Steeler Nation would say they probably are disappointed with how this group performed as a whole. Claypool was inconsistent all year long and showed some immaturity/mental mistakes like young players can. Smith-Schuster got injured in Week 5 and didn’t return until the playoffs, and Washington barely saw the field.
Even with some disappointments, there were definitely some bright spots. Johnson appeared to fix his drop issues throughout much of the year, even though they did creep up late, and ended up topping 100 receptions and 1,000 yards on the season. In addition to Johnson, McCloud also had a solid season as both a receiver and a returner. He probably got as much criticism as anybody on the team, but he definitely was an unsung hero for the Steelers which I mention in an article a couple weeks ago.
This group didn’t reach the highs they were expected to this season, partially on them and partially on their situations, but they did continue to show the flashes that created the hype around them. More consistency from the group is the biggest thing they needed throughout the season.
2022 Outlook
Under Contract: Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, Cody White
Futures Contracts: Rico Bussey Jr., Anthony Miller, Tyler Vaughns, Steve Sims Jr.
Free Agents: JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington, Ray-Ray McCloud
Well then. It is a pretty thin WR room heading into the off-season in terms of production. Take away Johnson’s 254 catches across his three-year career and you’re left with a total of 321 catches between the other six names on this list.
In theory, the Steelers should have their two primary outside receivers in Johnson and Claypool, but who becomes the slot receiver? The answer likely isn’t under contract with the team currently. There are some intriguing names on the roster however behind these two. Miller has some solid experience as a #2/#3 receiver during his time with the Chicago Bears and many around the league thought he could be someone to eventually turn into a #1 receiver for a team.
Both Sims Jr. and White have primarily been special teams players throughout their careers with White operating on the majority of coverage units for the Steelers and Sims Jr. doing some decent return work with the Washington Football Team before he joined the Steelers. The other names on the list in Bussey Jr. and Vaughns have yet to see an NFL field in the regular season, but definitely have had some hype around them at times during the off-season.
Overall this group will be a fun one to follow as Johnson is poised to continue developing and destined to be a Pro Bowl WR in the near future as long as he polishes up some fine details. Him and Claypool should be able to pair together to be a very solid 1/2 combo on the outside, but what production comes from the rest of the group is still very speculative at this point.
NFL Draft and Free Agency
There is a chance that some of the Steelers’ free agents are brought back such as Smith-Schuster or McCloud, but Washington is all but gone after getting very little play time this past season. With that said, I don’t think you’ll hear anyone complaining if the team brought in some serious talent to this group to help out the rest of the offense.
There are some solid names to consider up and down the free agent list of wide receivers this season, including many of which thrive in the slot and that is where the Steelers currently have their biggest hole in the group. However, it wouldn’t hurt for them to add an experienced name that can consistently threaten teams deep either, as both Johnson and Claypool aren’t players who will blow by people deep with regularity.
There are also some very intriguing names near the top of this year’s draft class as well that I don’t think the Steelers should ignore if available to them in the early rounds. This is one of the better draft classes at the top in recent years and it has some serious game-changing players. With that said, the middle and late rounds are a little thinner than they were in years past, which may make it a little more difficult to find true contributors as the draft goes on.
Potential Free Agent Targets
High Dollar: Christian Kirk, Cedrick Wilson, Allen Robinson II
Non-High Dollar: Will Fuller, Rashard Higgins, Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Potential Draft Targets
Early Picks: Jameson Williams (Alabama), Jahan Dotson (Penn State), Jalen Tolbert (Southern Alabama)
Late Picks: Charleston Rambo (Miami), Reggie Roberson Jr. (SMU), Justyn Ross (Clemson)
Final Thoughts
There is no denying the Steelers have some talent in their wide receiver room at the top with Johnson and Claypool, but both have been inconsistent at times and there is very little behind them. The Steelers shouldn’t hesitate to add at least one splash player to this position group whether it be with a solid free agent signing or an early draft pick, as I mentioned earlier they have the luxury of having more money to play with than usual.
I know wide receiver might not be the number one issue on this team, but with the little depth they have, it is an area of definite need this off-season. Personally I’d spend the money in free agency elsewhere, such as the offensive line and secondary, while leaving the draft to focus on positions like wide receiver. There are a lot of very good options in the first two rounds that can make immediate impacts in my opinion, and there is a strong tendency to overpay top wide receivers at times in free agency.
Let us know below what you think of the Steelers wide receiver room as we head into the 2022 off-season!
#SteelerNation
Offensive Line Review
Quarterbacks Review
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
