Steelers Will Take Wait-And-See Approach At Wide Receiver Before Seeking Reinforcement, Fittipaldo Believes

The Steelers will be in no rush to seek help at wide receiver, Ray Fittipaldo believes. At least not before seeing what they have. This offseason, they have already added three to the group, though one requires a bit of a caveat. Fourth-round rookie Kaden Wetjen isn’t much of a receiver, but veteran Michael Pittman Jr. and second-rounder Germie Bernard certainly are.

DK Metcalf and Pittman are the Steelers’ clear top wide receivers, and the only ones of any meaningful accomplishment. But Bernard is obviously a young, high-pedigreed player, and the new coaching staff believes it can get more out of third-year Roman Wilson. At the very least, Ray Fittipaldo believes they want to give it a go before seeking reinforcements.

“You could argue they might need a wide receiver”, the Steelers beat writer said on the North Shore Drive podcast, “but to me, I think they want to see how this competition between Germie Bernard and Roman Wilson shakes out on camp before you would make any move”.

The Steelers have traded for wide receivers each of the past two seasons, including Metcalf last year. That was a huge splash, Pittman somewhat less so. But despite the moves, there remains concern about the quality and depth of the group. After all, not even Metcalf hit 900 yards, and he’s the only one how hit even 500.

The Steelers need much more from their wide receivers than they got last season. That was partly due to the design of the offense a year ago, but also due to the talent. On paper, they have more of that this year, but is it enough? Especially in Mike McCarthy’s offense, which is quite different from Arthur Smith’s.

Fittipaldo later named wide receiver as the one position he saw the Steelers potentially addressing, but reiterated his belief that they would wait before making any moves. “I think they’re really gonna see how that competition plays out in training camp, and then after the third preseason game, say, ‘Okay, is Germie Bernard ready? Okay, if Bernard is ready, we’re set, 1-2-3’”, he said.

“There is some question marks in my mind after you get past the top three, so that is one question I could see them addressing. Even with a trade, say in mid-to-late August, or after the final cuts are made”.

There was a period during which it was common practice to see the Steelers make at least one trade of some significance during training camp. Granted, they have been more of the Malik Reed variety, but Vance McDonald was a late-August trade acquisition, too.

Of course, if the Steelers are trading for a wide receiver in late August, then it’s a bad sign. Ideally, Germie Bernard and Roman Wilson will make them feel very comfortable with what they already have. Or at least what they could have, assuming Bernard continues to develop throughout his rookie season.