Pittsburgh Steelers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

The Pittsburgh Steelers are counting on wide receiver Roman Wilson to take a Year 2 jump after trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Wilson has looked like a different player this offseason than what he looked like in his injury-riddled rookie campaign in 2024. Pittsburgh selected the 23-year-old in the third round (84th overall) last year out of Michigan, but he played in just one game due to ankle and hamstring injuries and didn't record a single catch. In his final season with the Wolverines in college, Wilson produced 49 catches for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns. If he can get past the injuries that plagued him in his first NFL season, Wilson is fully expected to be the No. 2 wideout behind DK Metcalf, albeit in a run-first offense that currently has Mason Rudolph as the projected starting quarterback.

The Pittsburgh Steelers remain in contact with free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers and are hopeful that he will eventually sign with them, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. As things currently stand, Mason Rudolph is the projected starting QB for Pittsburgh, with rookie Will Howard backing him up and Skylar Thompson also in the QB room. Rodgers, who isn't in a rush to sign this offseason, said he's willing to play for $10 million in 2025. The Steelers' offense just got worse after trading receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday, so Rodgers would be working with DK Metcalf and Roman Wilson as his top wideouts if he were to head to the Steel City. After disappointing with the New York Jets while working with pass-catchers Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson in 2024, fantasy managers shouldn't suddenly expect a rebound in 2025 in what will likely be a run-first offense.

The Athletic's Mike DeFabo writes that Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III has the inside track to win the starting job in the slot in 2025, with DK Metcalf and George Pickens locked in to start on the outside. However, Roman Wilson will challenge Austin for playing time in training camp this summer after missing virtually his entire rookie season due to multiple injuries. Metcalf, Pickens, Austin and Wilson are probably locks for the 53-man roster, with Ben Skowronek the most likely candidate for the fifth spot because of his value on special teams as a gunner. The Steelers could also elect to take newcomer Robert Woods as a big-bodied slot receiver and willing blocker. With questions at quarterback in Pittsburgh, it's hard to get excited about anyone in fantasy beyond Metcalf and Pickens for the 2025 season.

The Athletic's Mike DeFabo lists Pittsburgh Steelers rookie third-round running back Kaleb Johnson as a co-starter with Jaylen Warren in an early look at the team's positional battles this offseason. Johnson, who stands at 6-foot-1, 224 pounds, is a physical back that is built to carry the load. It remains to be seen how the Steelers will divvy up the touches in their backfield in 2025, but it's widely believed that Johnson was taken with the 83rd overall pick to essentially replace Najee Harris, who signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency. The 21-year-old had 240 carries for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns for Iowa in 2024 and also caught 22 passes for 188 yards and two more TDs. Warren starred in a third-down role for Pittsburgh his first three years and will take valuable touches away from Johnson in his rookie campaign, even if Johnson is the go-to guy on early downs.

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed veteran free-agent wide receiver Robert Woods to a one-year, $2 million deal on Monday, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Woods will give the Steelers a new target and a strong locker-room presence for whoever end up being their starting quarterback in 2025. The 33-year-old former Super Bowl champion will be competing for a roster spot in training camp this summer as receiving depth behind starters DK Metcalf and George Pickens. Even if Woods were able to somehow beat out the likes of Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson for the WR3 job in Pittsburgh, he's probably not going to be attractive in most fantasy leagues given the team's QB situation. The former second-rounder by the Buffalo Bills in 2013 out of USC only mustered 20 catches for 203 yards and no touchdowns in 15 games (four starts) for the Houston Texans in 2024.