The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves facing a significant gap in their offensive lineup. Despite acquiring quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, the departure of Diontae Johnson through a trade has left a void to be filled. As the Steelers prepare for the upcoming draft, the consensus points towards their likely selection of a wide receiver.
What round the Steelers may take a wide receiver has sparked considerable debate. Speculation abounds, yet one individual renowned for his expertise in draft analysis, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., sheds light on the matter. In a pre-draft conference call with reporters, Kiper fielded numerous inquiries, including one regarding the Steelers' plans for a wide receiver.
Expressing his insights, Kiper highlighted the potential acquisition of Washington wide receiver Jalen McMillan, projected at 51st overall in the second round of Kiper's most recent mock draft. Despite initial setbacks due to early-season injuries, Kiper believes McMillan's talent remains under the radar and is poised to excel at the professional level.
“In the second round, you can get a wide receiver. I think an underrated player is Jalen McMillan from Washington. I loved him all along and he got a little banged up this year, but he is a sure-handed, excellent route runner. He understands the position, all the nuances of playing wide receiver, so I could see them taking a wide receiver in round two.
Kiper further elaborated on his projections for the Steelers' draft strategy. Specifically, he pinpointed that McMillan is screaming out as a guy that Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin would love to have on his team.
"The guy I gave them fits them because he's all Mike Tomlin, he screams a Mike Tomlin guy is Jalen McMillan. And that's why I gave him to Pittsburgh. He is 6-1, 197-pound receiver. You talk about speed and how it translates. This guy, you know, people thought he wasn't that [fast]. He ran 4.47, vertical 37. He's got length. So he's another deceptive player. People didn't think he would run that. 4.55, 4.58. No, 4.47. So once he did that, he's a second-rounder for me. He got a little banged up this year. He was great early and a key contributor later in the year. He’s just always open.”
Kiper explained the reasoning behind him mocking McMillan to the Steelers in his most recent mock draft. He asserts this scenario as highly plausible, citing the promising synergy and potential rapport between coach and player.
Despite sharing the field with standout talents like Rome Odunze and Ja'Lynn Polk, McMillan proved his worth in the dynamic Huskies' offense, which ranked among the most formidable in college football in 2023. Despite missing several games due to injury, as noted by Kiper, McMillan showcased his prowess in big games, amassing an impressive stat line of 45 receptions for 559 yards and five touchdowns during the season.
Steelers' George Pickens Needs A WR To Complement Him
While George Pickens has undeniably brought talent to the Steelers on the field, concerns have arisen off-field regarding his attitude and effort, prompting questions about his consistency. However, Steelers fans remain hopeful that Pickens can maintain the positive momentum and demeanor he displayed towards the end of the 2023 season.
With Johnson's departure, Pickens now requires a complementary wide receiver to bolster the offense and alleviate pressure from opposing secondaries. Despite ongoing efforts to secure a star receiver via trade, the Steelers have yet to finalize a deal. Should these endeavors prove fruitless, selecting McMillan in the second round emerges as a logical solution.
McMillan's potential impact on the Steelers' offense as a rookie is promising, reminiscent of Pickens' own emergence after joining Pittsburgh. The prospect of a receiving duo comprising McMillan and Pickens holds considerable promise, although their success ultimately hinges on on-field execution.
Anticipation runs high among Steelers fans as they eagerly await news of potential additions to the wide receiver corps, whether through trade negotiations or the upcoming draft.
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