Stop me if you've heard this before. The Pittsburgh Steelers need a wide receiver. That's been the case since the team traded Diontae Johnson away last spring, and at this point, they might need two or three.
The Steelers enter the 2025 offseason with just three wide receivers under contract that finished the season on an NFL 53-man roster: George Pickens , Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson .
Pickens is entering the last year of his rookie contract, and with multiple on- and off-the-field issues over his first three seasons, it's hard to see them opening up the checkbook for a long-term deal at this point. If Pickens is displeased with that news, he could engineer his own exit from Pittsburgh this offseason.
Wilson played a total of five snaps as a rookie while dealing with hamstring and ankle injuries and an inability to get back into the rotation in the rare times when he was healthy. He remains a total wild card.
Austin is the closest thing the Steelers have to a sure thing, as he seems to have established himself as a solid No. 3/4 receiver, particularly when he can be used in the slot, and also as a punt returner. But even Austin is set to be an unrestricted free agent in 2026 and has a less-than-certain future.
The Steelers could very well need to find three or four receivers between free agency and the trade market between now and the start of the 2025 season, especially if they intend to move on from Pickens.
We'll get to the draft class later in the offseason, but for now, here's a primer of the top 18 players likely to be available via free agency, release or trade, when the new league year kicks off on March 12.
Note: Players are listed in descending order of 2024 receiving yards.
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson covers Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins on Dec. 1, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
2024 stats: 12 games, 73 receptions, 911 yards, 10 touchdowns
The holy grail of this year's free agent market. The Steelers love him. Mike Tomlin compared him to Shaq . He's absolutely tormented them in almost every game he's played against them . They'd be poaching from a division rival, getting the best player available in the market, and getting someone whose playing style fits theirs perfectly.
Of course, he's also going to cost well north of $30 million per year. The Steelers offered very nearly that to Brandon Aiyuk last year. But Higgins has a lengthy injury history that will make that investment a bit more risky.
The bigger problem might be that Higgins genuinely seems to want to stay in Cincinnati and his franchise tag amount will actually be a bargain compared to what he could make on the open market. Even if the Bengals decide the $26 million tag amount is too rich for their blood, they would likely have many suitors in a tag and trade scenario. They could even trade him for practically nothing, just to keep him from landing in Pittsburgh or Baltimore .
PITTSBURGH, PA -DECEMBER 02: Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joe Haden (23) during the NFL football game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 02, 2018 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire)
2024 stats: 15 games, 70 receptions, 744 yards, 7 touchdowns
Boy does the big-name cachet of this list take a tumble from the first spot to the second spot. Allen was fine in Chicago this year, working with rookie Caleb Williams , but he has spent more than half his time in the slot for seven straight seasons now, and that's not exactly what the Steelers need. He's also 32 years old and hasn't played a full season's worth of games since 2019.
Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 8, 2023. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
2024 stats: 16 games, 56 receptions, 610 yards, 5 touchdowns
Hopkins had a 1,000-yard season despite very questionable quarterback play with the Tennessee Titans in 2023, so it's not implausible to think a bounce-back year to something approaching that form is possible.
He was much better in his 10 games with the Chiefs than his six games with the Titans this season, which is also heartening. Of course, the Steelers don't have a Patrick Mahomes to throw him passes.
CHARLOTTE, NC – JANUARY 07: Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (14) during an NFL football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers on January 7, 2024 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire)
2024 stats: 7 games, 50 receptions, 576 yards, 5 touchdowns
After Higgins, Godwin is undoubtedly the second-biggest fish in the free agent pond, but he comes with significantly more risk. The soon-to-be 29-year old suffered a major ankle injury last year and may not even be ready for the start of the season.
But that injury interrupted what had been one of the most prolific seasons of his career. Godwin averaged 85.2 yards per game over his six games before he was injured, that's the second-best mark of his career. Yes, Liam Coen proved to be a good playcaller, but Baker Mayfield is not an All-Pro. It's easy to see that production being transferred to a place like Pittsburgh .
Darius Slayton, Alexander Jonesi
2024 stats: 16 games, 39 receptions, 573 yards, 2 touchdowns
One of the few players on this list that you can likely say would be coming to a better quarterback situation in Pittsburgh, Slayton had a downturn in 2024 after two very solid years in 2022-23. He went from catching 63.3% of his passes to 54.9%, and his drop rate increased from 3.8% in 2023 to 5.6% in 2024 — a concerning trend.
If you can convince yourself that all of Slayton's issues were because of the motley crew of Giants quarterback, he could be a free agent steal.
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) catches a pass during an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Pittsburgh, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
2024 stats: 14 games, 44 receptions, 547 yards, 4 touchdowns
Amari Cooper broke a string of five straight seasons with at least 850 yards — and four of them over 1,100 — with an absolute stinker of a 2024. In six games with the moribund Browns, he managed 41.7 yards per game, well off his recent pace but someone understandable considering the disaster of the Cleveland offense he was playing in.
Then Cooper got traded to the Bills and did worse, averaging 37.1 yards per game in eight games in Buffalo. The Steelers don't have a Josh Allen . There's still talent there, but it comes with big question marks unless a team can figure out what went wrong in 2024 and how to fix it in 2025.
Nick Westbrook-Ihkine
2024 stats: 17 games, 39 receptions, 497 yards, 9 touchdowns
This relatively pedestrian receiving total represents a career high for Westbrook-Ikhine, who first joined the Titans as an undrafted free agent under Arthur Smith in 2020. Having previously played for Arthur Smith has been a good way to get a job with the Steelers in the last year. Westbrook-Ikhine is a solid No. 3/4, but not much more, and at 28 next season, it's not as if he comes with upside.
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs during a playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 15, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
2024 stats: 8 games, 47 receptions, 496 yards, 3 touchdowns
Stefon Diggs has the triple whammy. He's getting older and will be 32 next season, he's coming off a major injury that limited him to eight games in 2024, and his numbers took a downturn the last few seasons, going from 89.3 yards per game in 2022 to 69.2 in 2023 to 62 in 2024.
Yes, he went from being the primary focus of Allen's Buffalo passing attack to one of several options with the Texans. Yes, there probably is still a useful player there — and a far sight better than the likes of what the Steelers used that for that role in 2024. It's just a very risky pickup at this point.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson against the Buffalo Bills, Jan. 15, 2024 – Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
2024 stats: 12 games, 33 receptions, 375 yards, 3 touchdowns
If you've gotten this far, you know this isn't going to happen.
Wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown at the 2019 NFL Combine. — Alan Saunders / Steelers Now
2024 stats: 2 games, 9 receptions, 91 yards
Another player coming off a major injury, Brown at least returned to full health in-season. He's never really lived up to his draft pick, with just one 1,000-yard season to his credit, and he's been injured in three straight campaigns, but this is at least a player that looks like he could still be better in the future than he has been in the past.
The free agent options are bleak, but there are some more interesting options if Steelers general manager Omar Khan can swing a trade. That's the good news. The bad news is that Khan spent most of last offseason and even into last season trying to do exactly that, and all he was able to come up with was Mike Williams .
Will he have more success this time around? In addition to trade candidates, this list also includes players that are likely to be cut by their current teams.
New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 21, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
2024 stats: 17 games, 101 receptions, 1,104 yards, 7 touchdowns
The Jets have said they're not bringing Aaron Rodgers back, and that appears to have been the big hang-up with Wilson returning. It's hard to see him being moved this offseason.
New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 20, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
2024 stats: 14 games, 85 receptions, 1,063 yards, 8 touchdowns
His contract with the Jets will almost certainly be torn up, but it has been reported that if Adams is not going to play with Aaron Rodgers again this year, he'd rather play on the West Coast. Maybe the Steelers can dangle enough dollar bills in his face to change his mind, but the Chargers, Raiders and Rams all need receivers, too. Of course, maybe the Steelers will sign Rodgers and get the package deal.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf warms up before a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 18, 2021. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
2024 stats: 15 games, 66 receptions, 992 yards, 5 touchdowns
Metcalf has a big cap number, but it's hard to see the Seahawks moving on from their biggest offensive weapon. It's far likelier that Tyler Lockett will be made available instead. That being said, if someone else wants to be stupid, try to be the team they're being stupid with.
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp in a game against the Washington Football Team at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. Oct. 11, 2020 — All-Pro Reels Photography
2024 stats: 12 games, 67 receptions, 710 yards, 6 touchdowns
Kupp will be expensive, thought the Rams may be willing to eat some of his contract . He's also also going to be 32. He's injury prone, having missed 18 games over the last three seasons, and has not come close to living up to the season he had in 2021, when he was an All-Pro. He's also coming from one of the world's most prolific passing environments, and it's hard to imagine Arthur Smith getting the same production out of him that Sean McVay has.
San Francisco 49ers wid receiver Deebo Samuel against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sept. 12, 2023. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
2024 stats: 15 games, 51 receptions, 670 yards, 3 touchdowns
This is mostly the same story as Kupp, except Samuel is three years younger and has not missed as much time recently. He also plays a tougher, more physical game that is a double-edged sword when it comes to how he might age: he doesn't need elite quickness to be effective and bigger, stronger players usually age more gracefully. But he also puts himself in position to take a lot more hits.
But the 49ers appear to be basically done with him, appear to be motivated sellers , and Samuel is tailor-made for Smith's offensive scheme with his run-pass versatility. He's basically the world's best version of Ben Skowronek , who got a ton of playing tine for the Steelers in 2024 despite being very limited as a receiver.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen in a game against the Washington Redskins on Nov. 12, 2017.
2024 stats: 10 games, 48 receptions, 615 yards, 5 touchdowns
Thielen will be 35 next season, but has somehow remained more productive than most guys on this list, despite playing in the grease fire that has been known as the Carolina Panthers offense. But most of that has come in the slot, the one place the Steelers already have adequate depth.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) is introduced before an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
2024 stats: 17 games, 49 receptions, 600 yards, 2 touchdowns
Another aging slot receiver, Lockett will almost certainly be released as the Seahawks badly need the $17 million in cap savings it would provide . If the Steelers go with Russell Wilson , it might make sense to bring Lockett in, with their previous experience with one another. Otherwise, there seem to be better options.
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 30, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
2024 stats: 8 games, 27 receptions, 379 yards, 1 touchdown
The Steelers almost traded for Kirk in 2024 before a collarbone injury prematurely ended his season. He's set to make $16.5 million in 2025 and a new regime in Jacksonville might prefer a fresh start.
Kirk is another player that has played primarily in the slot — over 80% for the first time in his career in 2o24. It's possible he could go back to playing outside as he did earlier in his career with the Cardinals, especially with the tight spits offered by Smith's scheme. The Jaguars might have to be willing to eat some of his $16.5 million salary to make this work.
More must-reads:
