The Pittsburgh Steelers’ pursuit of a star receiver has been the story of their offseason. Thus far unfulfilled, Pittsburgh is staring down a marathon of a season with one legitimate starter and several question marks out wide, adding uncertainty to an already fragile passing attack.
As the search for a star receiver continues, each day feels like it lessens the likelihood of a fruitful endeavor, forcing the Steelers’ hand next offseason.
Could the 2025 NFL Draft give Pittsburgh the receiver it so desperately needs?
Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) gets ready for a play in the first half against the Oklahoma Sooners.
Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
In ESPN’s recent mock draft , the Steelers pick 13th, well in range for a high-level prospect. There, they take Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan.
“As evidenced by the Steelers' pursuit of Brandon Aiyuk, wide receiver is a position to further bolster in Pittsburgh,” Field Yates wrote. “And while the team's track record with non-Round 1 wideouts is solid, McMillan is far too good to pass on. He has rare 6-5 size and power, and the way he snares everything within arm's reach jumps out on tape.”
McMillan may not be the clear-cut best receiver in his class, but his profile is worthy of top-10 consideration, making him a strong value in the immediate aftermath.
There’s some overlapping skill set with George Pickens, who makes his living making explosive plays downfield – particularly at the catch point – McMillan is better developed underneath and as a natural separator. While the two would create a formidable duo on the boundary, this selection would also give Pittsburgh the ability to pivot off of Pickens if need be during contract negotiations.
“McMillan is a good route runner, he's strong after the catch and he has the physicality to post up defenders to win on contested catches,” Yates wrote. “McMillan -- who had 90 catches for 1,402 yards and 10 scores last season -- could boost the Steelers' offense opposite George Pickens.”
For an offense that lacks after-the-catch threats from the outside, McMillan makes the Steelers offense more lethal downfield while making the unit more well-rounded.
Much of Pittsburgh’s offense is unstable, and while the quarterback situation remains fluid, adding a top-15 pick out wide is an easy way to boost the surrounding cast for whoever ends up under center .
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Comments / 0