(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Kevin Colbert told reporters last week that he believes the Steelers currently have starting-caliber players for 24 of 25 positions. The lone vacancy is at strong safety, as Terrell Edmunds is still unsigned and the Steelers are not going to chase him with contract offers, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. However, you can also add the slot receiver position, as the Steelers have just two starting receivers returning from last year in Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool. JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington and Ray-Ray McCloud all left in free agency.
With a void to fill at receiver, two recent mock drafts have the Steelers selecting a receiver in the first round. Bucky Brooks of NFL.com has the Steelers selecting Jahan Dotson out of Penn State and Matt Williamson of Steelers.com has the Steelers picking Jameson Williams out of Alabama.
"The spectacular catch-and-run specialist is a big-play weapon with polished route-running skills and strong hands," Brooks said of Dotson, who averaged 15.1 yards per reception on 183 receptions for 2,757 yards and 25 touchdowns in his career at Penn State.
Dotson or Williams would be an ideal fit in Matt Canada's offense, as the Steelers desperately need a receiver who can take the top off on defenses, as Diontae Johnson was the only receiver who created separation consistently in 2021. With coming off knee surgery, Williams didn't run the 40-yard dash at either the NFL Scouting Combine or his pro day, but he's been reportedly timed at 4.39. Dotson ran a 4.43 at the Combine.
"The Steelers are light on depth at wide receiver. Williams is coming off a major injury, but he also is quite possibly the best player at his position injury aside," Williamson said. "Getting even four and a half years of his services on a rookie contract is extremely alluring."
In his three-year college career, two at Ohio State and one at Alabama, Williams averaged 19.9 yards per reception on 94 receptions for 1,838 yards and 18 touchdowns. However, nearly all of that production came at Alabama last year, as Williams had a breakout season with 79 receptions for 1,572 yards (19.9 average) and 15 touchdowns.
This year's receiver class is loaded with talent, as Brooks has six receivers going in the first round. The Steelers have a great track record of drafting receivers, so maybe they'll wait until the second round to get their guy, but it will be pretty tempting if Dotson and Williams are still on the board at 20th overall. Interestingly, Brooks has the Steelers passing on Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis and has him falling to the Cardinals at No. 23. With the uncertainty of Stephon Tuitt's playing status and the defensive line aging, Davis would be hard to pass on.