Steelers Named Perfect Day 2 Fit For Speedy Michigan Wide Receiver Roman Wilson

Most of the fan base has not forgiven PFF for their contribution to robbing TJ Watt of a second Defensive Player of the Year Award. Still, Dalton Wasserman's selection of the National Championship Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Wilson in their Day 2 Fits For All 32 Teams, is one small step toward healing the rift. 

PFF ranks Wilson as the eighth-best wide receiver available in the 2024 draft. Fox Sports agrees and also has him ranked as the eighth-best wide receiver, but other publications like The Sporting News, College Football News, and CBS Sports do not place him in the top ten. In fact, CBS Sports has him ranked 18th among the wide receiver prospects behind Western Kentucky's Malachi Corley and the Virginia Cavaliers' Malik Washington. 

Wilson is 5'11" and posted a 4.39-second 40-yard dash in Indianapolis at the NFL Combine. He does not have the prototypical height of a typical Arthur Smith featured receiver, but George Pickens does, and he is already on the roster. Wilson is not undersized and, like Pickens, was the best wide receiver on a National Championship team. He is also a bona fide downfield threat and thrives in intermediate and deep routes. 

The Second Team All-Big Ten wide receiver used his speed to thrive against man coverage in 2023, but at times, struggled against press coverage. Pittsburgh's running attack in 2024 could force teams into playing more man coverage, and defensive coordinators could choose to double-team Pickens. According to his NFL.com draft profile, that could spell trouble for opponents if Wilson is on the opposite side.

"I don't think most people realize what he would have done in a wide-open offense like Ohio State or Washington," the NFC scout said. "He's got rare speed, and you will see it more in the NFL when he is a bigger part of the passing game."

Wilson could thrive in one-on-one coverage on the opposite side of Pickens. This could also open the field for quarterback Russell Wilson to finally exploit Pat Freiermuth in the middle of the field. He is not a finished product by any means, but Roman Wilson has a championship pedigree in a run-first offense and tantalizing speed. 

Steelers Could Prioritize Speedy Wide Receiver Opposite George Pickens 

Selecting Roman Wilson could give the Steelers' offense an added dimension they were hoping to get from the diminutive Calvin Austin III when they drafted him in 2022. Austin did not play in his rookie season because of a foot injury and was confined mostly to gadget plays and punt return duties in 2023. Speed kills on the football field and Roman Wilson just might be the one who provides it for Arthur Smith's offense.