Steelers 'Love' Athletic Day 2 Receiver

When the Pittsburgh Steelers traded for Seattle Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf, they immediately improved their receiving corps. They also made it far more complicated.

Metcalf will join the Steelers as their presumed top target, dethroning George Pickens, who stood alone as a star in Pittsburgh’s receiver room. There may be some consternation as to which receiver is in fact better, but one just signed a $150 contract – Metcalf will get priority in the passing game.

However, both Metcalf and Pickens do their best work as field-stretching boundary receivers, making this offense explosive, but unsteady underneath.

That renders Pickens, entering a contract year, expendable. With the 2025 NFL Draft coming up, Pittsburgh could find his long-term replacement.

According to James Palmer, the Steelers “love” one of Iowa State’s Day 2 receiver prospects, Jayden Higgins.

"There's a lot of people who believe George Pickens' time is limited," Palmer said. "It's why they did the DK deal. It's why they paid DK what they did. You don't pay both of them that. Do they look for a high-volume No. 2 guy like a Jayden Higgins? Man, would they love to have him. I know they would love to have him."

There are certainly parts of Higgins’ game that lend themselves to upside and make him a viable Day 2 pick. A sub-4.50 40-yard dash at 6-4 is impressive in itself, his jumps suggest he has elite explosiveness, and – like Pickens – he consistently wins above the rim.

However, those attributes make him someone the Steelers shouldn’t target. Operating under the assumption that Pickens hits free agency or is traded by 2026, the offense will still have its big-bodied X receiver. A more versatile Z receiver who can win underneath and make plays after the catch, perhaps offering more finesse than physicality, makes more sense. Higgins’ teammate, Jaylin Noel, is a cleaner fit in this regard.

The Metcalf trade may have taken a Round 1 receiver off the board for Pittsburgh, but it’s clear that interest still remains as the front office looks to backfill next year’s passing offense with Day 2 talent.