With DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr., it’s fair to say the Steelers have a type at wide receiver: big and tall. Both receivers are big boys, 6-4 and north of 220 pounds, and they’ll lean into that. Even more so this year, after playing through last season with only Metcalf and no effective complement.
“If he’s getting a double team, then there should be two other wide receivers that are going to get open, or even a tight end”, WR coach Adam Henry told the Steelers’ website about DK Metcalf. That was an issue they had last season—few to make plays when Metcalf could not due to the defense. They believe Pittman can provide that—and rookie Germie Bernard, too, who is no homunculus.
“Big is always open,” Henry said about the Steelers’ sizeable wide receivers. And that should be especially true when you have a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers. Among the most precise passers in the history of the game, he could thrive again back in Mike McCarthy’s timing-based West Coast offense. Frankly, Pittman might be better at timing than Metcalf.
“When a quarterback is throwing to a big guy, even though you have guys draped on them, those guys always appear open. It’s the contested catches. It’s the physicality of it”, Henry said. “Also, being able to initiate themselves, insert themselves into the run game. That also helps, because we’re going to run the ball, and that is a focus for us. Because when we run the ball, we can throw the ball. So that plays hand in hand”.
The Steelers not only have a hefty pair of receivers but also some large, powerful running backs. Both Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle can carry the load and run through tackles. But if they can get some big-bodied receivers out in front of them, they could do some damage at the second and third level more frequently than Pittsburgh has managed in recent years.
In his first season as the Steelers’ top wide receiver, DK Metcalf caught 59 passes for 850 yards and 6 touchdowns. He served a two-game suspension at the end of the year, preventing him from adding to his total. But even considering that, many viewed his 2025 season as underwhelming.
Outside of Metcalf, the Steelers didn’t have another wide receiver crack 400 yards. Michael Pittman should easily remedy that. At the very least, Aaron Rodgers will have his choice to throw to if one or the other is drawing extra attention. And if their height and size give him a greater margin for error, all the better.
Of course, not all of the Steelers’ wide receivers measure up—literally or symbolically. While rookie Germie Bernard is 6’1″, Roman Wilson is 5’10”, and Kaden Wetjen is 5’9″. While Ben Skowronek is 6’3″ (and Rodgers’ good friend), I don’t know that he’ll see much offensive playing time.
