Following the release of WR Allen Robinson and the trade of Pro Bowler Diontae Johnson , the Pittsburgh Steelers WR room is suddenly a ghost town.
With George Pickens and Calvin Austin III the only real options on the team as we stand here today, WR is now a top priority for Pittsburgh.
But just because one of the best fits for Pittsburgh went off the board on Wednesday, it doesn’t mean there aren’t some good players left, including one with mutual interest between he and Pittsburgh:
Tyler Boyd to Pittsburgh?
Steelers and WR Tyler Boyd (Pitt/Clairton) have mutual interest and have had dialogue about him returning to his hometown. Nothing is imminent but there is more than just smoke with it. Steelers need a WR with Diontae Johnson traded & George Pickens only experienced WR on roster
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) March 13, 2024
Steelers and WR Tyler Boyd (Pitt/Clairton) have mutual interest and have had dialogue about him returning to his hometown. Nothing is imminent but there is more than just smoke with it. Steelers need a WR with Diontae Johnson traded & George Pickens only experienced WR on roster
-Mark Kaboly, The Athletic
Now just because Boyd has been playing for division rival Cincinnati for the past eight seasons, it doesn’t mean the Pittsburgh native and Pitt Panther great has turned his back on his fellow Yinzers, with he and the Steelers sharing similar interests.
Boyd is primarily a slot-only WR at this stage of his career, but he’s a damn good one, and more than capable of producing on a short-term contract. More importantly perhaps, he would be a leader in the locker room and provide a veteran presence that has been missing from the unit over the past few seasons.
Chargers Release Mike Williams
𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: #Chargers are releasing WR Mike Williams, per @RapSheet pic.twitter.com/6RaSbgkQiw
— A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) March 13, 2024
Mike Williams is probably the trickiest player left in free agency. If you go to YouTube and watch his highlights, you would probably think the Chargers were out of their minds for releasing him.
But when you do a little digging, you see that a Chargers team that was well over the cap, had to cut bait with Williams and his hefty contract due to lack of availability alone.
One of the best WRs in the league when on the field, Williams wins deep and in contested catch situations with the best of them.
But the talented WR has frequently played through injury during his career and was released by the Chargers with a failed physical designation following his ACL tear from last season.
So he isn’t nearly as “clean” as Boyd when it comes the durability factor, but Williams is a walking TD when healthy and would make every Steelers passing attempt must watch if paired up with George Pickens.
But unless it’s a very incentive-laden deal, I expect Pittsburgh to play it safe and go big in the draft when it comes to WR.
