​If there’s one area the Pittsburgh Steelers have drawn criticism for in recent seasons, it’s their wide receiver corps. That perception appears to be easing as the team heads into the 2026 season, with plans to bolster the position rather than merely relying on the status quo. The Steelers will not only bring back DK Metcalf, but they’ll also add offseason trade acquisition Michael Pittman Jr. and the team’s second-round pick Germie Bernard to the mix, creating a more formidable group.
Not long ago, though, the receiver room looked far less promising, a fact underscored by commentary from CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles during the 2024 NFL Draft cycle. Pereles suggested that Pittsburgh should have pursued a different strategy that year, pointing out that the Steelers used their first-round pick at No. 20 to select offensive lineman Troy Fautanu. That pick, while perhaps unsurprising given the franchise’s recent tendencies, reflected a heavier emphasis on protection than playmaking.
In Pereles’ 2024 NFL re-draft, he argued the Steelers would have been better off targeting a dynamic receiver to inject electricity into the offense, rather than doubling down on line protection. He proposed selecting wide receiver Rome Odunze, a prospect whose blend of size, physicality, and playmaking potential could have complemented Pickens and the rest of Pittsburgh’s pass-catching options. Pereles noted that behind the charismatic George Pickens, Pittsburgh’s receiving corps didn’t boast much returning talent entering the 2024 draft, a problem that persisted throughout the season. He observed that after Pickens, Calvin Austin III was the next-leading wideout, with no other pass-catcher surpassing 300 receiving yards. Odunze, in his view, would have given the Steelers a big, physical option who has shown flashes of elite talent when healthy.
Odunze eventually went much higher than Pittsburgh held the opportunity to draft him, selected by the Chicago Bears with the No. 9 overall pick—one of their two first-round selections, after they had already taken quarterback Caleb Williams first overall. Even so, acquiring Odunze would have likely required sacrificing a substantial amount of draft capital in a trade, given his top-10 status and standing as the third wide receiver off the board. Pittsburgh, however, did have additional chances to address the position later in the draft, as four more receivers were selected after the Steelers’ pick.
In the two seasons since, Odunze has accumulated 1,395 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 14.2 yards per catch. His 2025 campaign was interrupted by injuries, causing him to miss five games. For Pittsburgh, Fautanu has proven to be an increasingly valuable asset as the 2026 season approaches. The third-year tackle starter may well be asked to assume the left tackle duties, after spending the past two seasons on the right side. Fautanu’s transition to left tackle is not surprising, given that it was his college position, while the Steelers have also faced uncertainty around Broderick Jones’ return from spinal fusion surgery, potentially accelerating Fautanu’s path to the blind side.
Despite featuring only one game as a rookie due to a knee injury, Fautanu recovered well in 2025, starting all 17 games at right tackle. According to Next Gen Stats, his pass-blocking pressure rate of 6.1% ranked fifth among right tackles with at least 200 pass-blocking snaps, underscoring his proficiency in protecting the quarterback. As the Steelers prepare for the 2026 campaign, Fautanu’s versatility and steady improvement could help stabilize the line, while the wider receiver room aims to provide more top-end explosiveness and reliability, complementing Metcalf, Pittman, and Bernard.