What are the pros, cons of Steelers signing WR Tyreek Hill?

With the Pittsburgh Steelers in desperate need of help at wide receiver, it only makes sense for Pittsburgh to be linked as a possible destination for the recently released Tyreek Hill. And fans and media instantly started to speculate about the possibility of the Steelers signing Hill after the Miami Dolphins decided to make the future Hall of Famer a free agent on Monday. 

But even though the need is there and the Steelers do have financial flexibility with approximately $45M in salary cap space, it's far from a lock that Hill will end up in Pittsburgh. 

So what are the pros and cons of the Steelers signing Hill? 

Pros to Pittsburgh Steelers signing Tyreek Hill 

Obviously, if it's strictly about football and production, adding Hill seems like a no-brainer. The Steelers offense struggled mightily without enough depth behind wide receiver DK Metcalf in 2025. 

Finishing towards the bottom of the league at 25th in yards per game (305.6), Pittsburgh's offense also ranked in the bottom half in passing yards per game with at 202.4.

Metcalf needs help: Metcalf, who would often command double coverage, recorded 850 receiving yards in 15 games, and no other Steeler surpassed 500 yards. The next closest in production were tight end Pat Freiermuth and running back Kenneth Gainwell with 486 yards each. Calvin Austin III posted the second-highest total among actual receivers with 372 yards off 31 receptions. 

Hill is productive: In contrast, Hill caught 21 passes for 265 yards in just four games before suffering a season-ending torn ACL. As far as his most recent full season, Hill had 81 receptions and 959 yards for the Dolphins in 2024. 

Regardless if quarterback Aaron Rodgers returns for one more season or if new head coach Mike McCarthy can find a way to strategize a better offensive gameplay than his more defensively minded predecessor, Mike Tomlin, the Steelers will still need to improve their passing game, and that means addressing their lack of wide receiver depth above all else. 

Cons to Pittsburgh Steelers signing Tyreek Hill 

Since they have to find more production and they have the money to sign someone of Hill's caliber, what would detract the Steelers from entertaining the Super Bowl champion and five-time First-Team All-Pro?

Well, bringing in Hill could be a risk for the locker room. He's known as an outspoken player, and an older head coach like McCarthy may not want to deal with a personality like Hill. 

Off-the-field issues: But aside from just those concerns, Hill has also been involved in multiple off-the-field issues during his career.

Those include pleading guilty to domestic assault while he was playing college football and allegations of domestic violence and a child abuse investigation during his NFL career.

Hill may never get back to form: On the field, it's likely even a healthy Hill has already played his best football. 

At 31, Hill's body may never get back to where it was prior to his recent string of injuries and surgeries — he also suffered a knee injury last season. 

Hill is two years removed from his fourth of four-straight 1,000-yard seasons. He totaled a career-high 1,799 in 2023.