With the departure of Allen Robinson and Diontae Johnson from the roster, the Steelers are in need of a wide receiver. They made a significant change at quarterback today, which was resolved by the Kenny Pickett deal. There will be an ex-Robinson teammate involved.
According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the team is adding Van Jefferson. Pittsburgh has given Jefferson a one-year contract and is considering using the former second-round pick of the Rams as a depth player.
Jefferson, an NFL receiver of the second generation, is making his second team switch in as many months. Early in the 2018 campaign, the Rams traded Jefferson’s rookie contract to the Falcons; however, the trade had little effect on Atlanta, who was having trouble finding a solid backup for Drake London at the position. Between his appearances with the Rams and Falcons last year, Jefferson, 27, only caught 20 passes for 209 yards.
When Jefferson assisted a Rams squad that switched WR2s halfway in 2021, it was his most noteworthy NFL performance.Robert Woods was essentially replaced by Odell Beckham Jr. after the latter suffered an ACL tear a few days following the OBJ signing. Staying with it, Jefferson finished with 802 receiving yards and six touchdowns. In the postseason, he added nine receptions for 102 yards and shortly after that, he received a Super Bowl ring. For much of 2022, the Florida alum was sidelined due to knee surgery. For a dismal Rams squad, he gained 369 yards in 11 2022 games, including the game-winning reception in Baker Mayfield’s unforgettable debut.
George Pickens is their best wide receiver now that the Johnson trade has occurred. Although Russell Wilson, the team’s new quarterback, would benefit from his long-range work, the Steelers will add additional players here. Beyond Jefferson, only slot player Calvin Austin is a noteworthy backup option. Given the quality of this class and the franchise’s track record of adding players at this spot in the draft, that should be viewed as a dead cert.
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