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Packers and Steelers look to rebuild wide receiving corps

By Russell S. Baxter

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 09: Chase Claypool #11 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is tackled by Chuck Clark #36 of the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on January 09, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 09: Chase Claypool #11 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is tackled by Chuck Clark #36 of the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on January 09, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 05: Diontae Johnson #18 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field on December 5, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 05: Diontae Johnson #18 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field on December 5, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

Pittsburgh Steelers

There’s a new quarterback in town in the form of five-year pro Mitch Trubisky. But he joins a team that has seen three wide receivers leave via free agency this month.

Ray-Ray McCloud had a career-high 39 catches for 277 yards this past season. But he’s now a member of the San Francisco 49ers. James Washington totaled 24 receptions for 285 yards and two touchdowns in 2021. And fifth-year pro Juju Smith-Schuster inked a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Now the cupboard is hardly bare for a franchise that has done well drafting wide receivers for a number of years. Diontae Johnson has seen his production increase each year since being a third-round draft choice in 2019. He comes off a year in which he totaled career-bests in receptions (107), receiving yards (1,161), and touchdown grabs (8).

Two-year pro Chase Claypool was limited to only two scores in 2021 but was second on the team with 860 receiving yards and led the Steelers in yards per reception (14.6).

The free-agent addition of Gunner Olszewski (Patriots) was a move designed to address the special teams. He’s caught just nine passes in three season. So could the Steelers use a first-round draft choice on a wide receiver for the first time since 2006 (Santonio Holmes)?

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