A transition at quarterback was always going to impact production in the Steelers' passing game. A big part of that was the new signal caller needing to establish a rapport with the receiving corps. That take time.
However, all things considered, the 2022 season was a disappointment at receiver. But, there was enough evidence for serious potential in 2023.
Welcome to the third edition of our 2023 Steelers positional preview, in which we will break down and preview each position on the roster to get you ready for that wonderful first training camp practice at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe.
Throughout this series, we'll take a look back at how each position fared in 2022, how that position was addressed in the offseason and wrap up with how it looks heading into 2023. Of course, the roster can still go through some changes between now and when the roster is cut down to 53 players. But, this will help give you a better understanding of how the team is shaping up heading into the season and how realistic it is for them to get back to a playoff chase or maybe even a division title.
We've already covered the quarterbacks and running backs in the first two parts of this series. Now, we're going to round out the skill positions on offense with a deep dive into the receivers and tight ends.
2022 IN REVIEW
The Steelers' passing game ranked 24th in the NFL last year. That falls on several variables, including Matt Canada, multiple changes at quarterback and the receivers needing to gel with two different passers. However, we'll really try to isolate just the receivers and tight ends here. The Canada criticism has been written about ad nauseam and we've already reviewed the quarterbacks.
The most criticized receiver was far and away Diontae Johnson, as expectations rose when he inked a two-year, $36.71-million extension to keep him in a Steelers uniform through the 2024 season. After becoming the fourth receiver in franchise history to record at least 100 catches and 1,000 yards in a season in 2021, Johnson's stats regressed in several categories last season. He only caught 86 passes for 882 yards and, most notably, didn't score a single touchdown.
But, if not scoring a touchdown was Johnson's biggest criticism, then his running backward after the catch was right up there with it:
I've broken down Johnson's 2022 season in a thorough analysis, so I won't rewrite what's already been written. The short version of a long story is that Johnson didn't produce nearly enough. However, there is enough data to support that he can be an effective and productive receiver in 2023 (we'll get to that soon enough).
While Johnson earned heaps of criticism, rookie George Pickens earned loads of hype, and for good reason. Pickens seemed like a steal in the second round of the 2022 draft, and he showed everyone why early on in the season. It was very clear early on and throughout the course of the 2022 season that the Steelers not only had a human highlight reel on their hands, but a potential superstar at wide receiver:
I mean ... come on. That's just special.
Though, Pickens went through his share of growing pains, as rookies do. He was limited in his routes and struggled against zone coverages, though he was dominant against man coverage. All in all, Pickens hauled in 52 passes for 801 yards and a team-high four touchdowns.
Solely at receiver, the drop off in pure production after Johnson and Pickens was massive. The receiver with the third-highest total of receiving yards was Chase Claypool (331), who was traded during the bye in Week 9. Steven Sims became a nice third option at receiver down the stretch, both as a receiver and in the jet sweep game. But, his production was still very minimal, catching 14 total passes for 104 yards. As for the trio of Gunner Olszewski, Miles Boykin and Cody White -- the only other receivers that caught at least one pass in 2022 -- they combined for 66 yards on eight receptions.
Of course, the tight ends played a role in the passing game, and Pat Freiermuth showed everyone why he's one of the up-and-coming tight ends in the league. He was second on the team with 98 targets and 63 receptions, and finished third on the team with 731 yards. His two touchdown receptions was also second to Pickens among the team's receivers and tight ends.
But, Freiermuth's value was clear in becoming a vital piece of the passing game when it came to moving the chains. Nearly 59 percent of his receptions converted first downs. Giving a rookie quarterback such as Kenny Pickett a security blanket for leverage downs is something the Steelers desperately needed, and Freiermuth provided that.
Rookie Connor Heyward grew into a nice role throughout the course of the season, becoming much more involved in the final few games of the season. Heyward caught 12 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown, emerging as the secondary target among the tight end group. Zach Gentry maintained his similar role as a block-first tight end, contributing 19 catches for only 132 yards.
One intriguing player that missed out on the growth that took place in 2022 was Calvin Austin III, who flashed captivating quickness and speed during training camp. But, he suffered a Lisfranc injury the day before the first preseason game and wound up not playing a single down. It was an unfortunate blow because he figured to be the most ideal candidate for Canada's jet sweeps, and he could have potentially been a firecracker out of the slot that opened things up on the outside for Johnson and Pickens.
THE OFFSEASON
Omar Khan had bigger fish to fry in free agency and the draft than receiver, though it was a position that needed some sort of attention. The drop off after Johnson and Pickens in production is not something that could be ignored, especially after restricted free agent Sims -- probably the most qualified third guy on the roster -- joined the Texans after the Steelers decided to not tender him a qualifying offer.
The most significant addition to receiver was through a trade with the Rams that brought Allen Robinson to Pittsburgh. All the Steelers parted with in the trade was moving down in the seventh round as the teams swapped picks, and the Rams ate $10.25 million of Robinson's remaining salary to clear their own cap space. The Steelers benefit from it because it gives the receiver room another veteran presence, and one who can play in the slot.
"I feel like for me, being in that role a lot, I feel like being around younger receivers keeps me young," Robinson said during his introductory press conference. "This will actually be the first time in my career that I'll be the oldest receiver in the room. I'm still 29, and I'm still learning some things myself. But, I'm looking forward to it. It's a great group. Even from watching these guys from afar, there's a lot of talent in that room."
The Steelers kept Boykin and White in the fold, and also added several names to the group for competition during training camp. Hakeem Butler highlights that group, coming off a standout performance in the XFL in which he caught 59 passes for 599 yards and eight touchdowns. At 6-5 and 227 pounds with near 4.4 speed, he's an intriguing name to watch when the Steelers open camp in Latrobe.
In addition, Olszewski has a little bit of competition in camp as the return specialist. Austin will compete for that role, along with undrafted free agent Jordan Byrd, who possesses dynamite quickness and speed.
At tight end, Khan brought back Gentry via free agency, then really overloaded the tight end room by selecting Darnell Washington out of Georgia in the third round of the draft. At 6-7 and 264 pounds, Washington is a mammoth human being that's already an accomplished run blocker. He flashed some receiving skills in college, though those opportunities were few and far between with the Bulldogs.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2023
As mentioned earlier, Johnson possesses a lot of the same analytics that -- despite a dip in production -- suggests he's the same receiver that he was in 2021 (seriously, the deep dive on Johnson is worth the read). He's going to get every chance to prove why he's the top guy in the room and in the depth chart. And, Pickett is confident that Johnson will be a productive, go-to weapon for him.
"We're going to get him the ball, he's going to do his thing," Pickett said this week on Cam Heyward's Not Just Football podcast. "I'm excited for him to have a big year. He's going to have a bounce back year. I know he's putting a lot of work in."
Pickens is the clear No. 2, and everything about his game suggests that he can take another step forward as a potential impact receiver. He ranked among the very best in the NFL in contested catches, which is a wonderful tool for Pickett to use when options run out. If Pickens in is one-on-one coverage, just give him a chance. And, with (hopefully) a more complex route tree, Pickens could find his way to more targets and yards.
Robinson stands a real chance of being a difference maker. Maybe or maybe not in terms of actual production, but being a dangerous enough weapon out of the slot to open things up for Johnson and Pickens. As a veteran receiver, he knows where to find soft spots in zone defenses, which gives Pickett an easy layup if the opposition is zeroed in on neutralizing Johnson and Pickens on the outside and taking away Freiermuth at tight end.
Routes such as these often go unnoticed, but are run by only receivers that can execute them well by finding the exact spot to go:
Austin is intriguing just because of his speed and quickness alone. However, there's a real chance that he becomes only a gadget/jet sweep specialist if he doesn't excel as a route runner and pass catcher. And, since he's never even logged a preseason snap in the NFL, he's about as unpredictable as anyone we're talking about here.
The sky's the limit for Freiermuth. He's already a reliable option in leverage downs, and he's only going to mature as a route runner and pass catcher. As he and Pickett continue to grow together, it could be really dangerous. Maybe not quite as dynamic as Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, but still formidable enough to be one of the better duos in the league, especially in the red zone.
I'd expect Washington's contributions early on to be more in run blocking rather than pass catching. He's already accomplished in this area, and the Steelers are inevitably a run-first team. This gives Canada the ability to run more two tight end sets, both to establish the run and set up the play-action. Washington is still very raw as a receiver, so I'd expect to see a slow progression in that area throughout the season, similar to what we witnessed with Heyward last season.
Speaking of Heyward, I truly anticipate him more in a tight end/fullback hybrid role. He grew as a receiver last year, and the Steelers should still use him in that capacity. But, with Derek Watt now gone, Heyward could do more as a blocker and runner in that role.
Here are two examples of how Heyward can make an impact as a blocker (notice the shrewd, last millisecond adjustment to neutralize the inside linebacker) ...
... and as a runner:
This entire group gives Pickett and Canada a lot of options to open things up through the air, especially if the running game is successful as it was down the stretch last season. Most important, there are plenty of options to crack the case regarding the struggles in the red zone. That is essential for the Steelers to become even a formidable offense.
PROJECTED DEPTH CHART (WIDE RECEIVER)
• Diontae Johnson
• George Pickens
• Allen Robinson
• Calvin Austin III
• Gunner Olszewski
• Miles Boykin
There are more receivers on the roster right now, but I'm keeping this to a maximum of six receivers since that will be the absolute most ever kept on a 53-man roster. Don't rule out the chances of Butler or a guy such as Ja'Marcus Bradley making a push for one of those final roster spots. Lots of things can play out in training camp and the preseason.
PROJECTED DEPTH CHART (TIGHT END)
• Pat Freiermuth
• Darnell Washington
• Connor Heyward
• Zach Gentry
Teams don't typically keep four tight ends on the roster. However, as we noted earlier, Heyward takes what's been usually a traditional fullback role here, so there is a very real scenario that all four players make the 53-man roster. Washington's run-blocking ability gives him a huge advantage in becoming the second tight end on the depth chart.
2023 STEELERS POSITIONAL PREVIEW SERIES
• Quarterback
• Running Back
• Wide Receiver/Tight End (today)
• Offensive Line (July 20)
• Defensive Line/Edge Rusher (July 21)
• Inside Linebacker (July 24)
• Secondary (July 25)
• Special Teams (July 26)
