The 2025 NFL season has officially drawn to a close, and with it, the offseason has begun for all 32 teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have yet to solve their lingering wide receiver issues from years past. Dating back to when Diontae Johnson was traded to the Carolina Panthers for cornerback Donte Jackson, the team has not found an adequate replacement to this day. While D.K. Metcalf was acquired via trade last offseason, the potential duo between him and former Steelers wide receiver George Pickens lasted very little time, if any at all, as the latter was dealt to the Dallas Cowboys about a month later. From trade talks and rumors for Brandon Aiyuk, Jaylen Waddle, Christian Kirk, amongst others, Pittsburgh continued to come up empty-handed.
Free Agent Wide Receivers The Steelers Should Pursue
As the free agency window opens up in less than a month, there will be a handful of young, promising wideouts worth pursuing, despite the market being headlined by bigger and more established names such as Mike Evans, Tyreek Hill, Deebo Samuel, and Christian Kirk. With a new head coach in Mike McCarthy, who is offensive-minded, the Steelers will want their wide receiver room to look drastically different before Week 1 of the regular season in September. If the goal is to sign players who will be long-term solutions and not short-term stopgaps, then these five unrestricted free agents should be high on everyone’s lists.
Option #1: Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts
Originally drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft second round out of the University of Cincinnati, Pierce broke out onto the scene in 2025, notching a career high 1,003 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. The year prior, he put up 824 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. This all was done in an offense that already boasted Josh Downs, Michael Pittman Jr., Tyler Warren, Jonathan Taylor, and three different quarterbacks over the last two seasons in Anthony Richardson, Joe Flacco, and Daniel Jones.
Known as a great deep-threat with physicality, a 6’3 frame good for contesting catches, vertical speed, improved route running over his four-year career so far, high-point ability down the boundaries, good blocking, and ranking near the top for yards per reception, Pierce will receive a significant pay raise as he continues his ascent as an up-and-coming pass catcher.
Option #2: Juan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers
If you need a reliable blocker downfield and red zone threat, Jennings might be your guy, who’s coming off a career high nine touchdown catches in 2025, and 975 receiving yards in 2024. He is also big-bodied, standing tall at 6’3, which has made him a very good target on third downs and on contested catches. The Tennessee alumn thrive on boxing out defenders, possessing strong hands in traffic, and run-blocking for elite rushing attacks such as San Francisco’s.
Jennings is a quarterback’s favorite go-to receiver when near the goal line, as he’s accumulated 15 touchdowns over the last two seasons. Not to mention he amassed 77 receptions the same year he produced nearly a thousand yards through the air. A well-rounded receiver who can be a formidable second option alongside a bona fide WR1 for a high-octane offense.
Option #3: Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers
Not often do you see premier NFL wideouts come out of the University of Nevada, but Romeo Doubs just so happened to be the exception, producing a career-high 724 receiving yards in 2025. On top of that, he averaged 13.2 yards per reception, and 74.6% of his catches resulted in a first down. In the NFC Wild Card game, Doubs put together 124 receiving yards and a touchdown against the Chicago Bears. being a reliable chain mover on third downs, possessing good body control, and tracking the ball at a high-end level.
Often viewed as a security blanket in crucial game situations, the fourth-year player is capable of winning downfield and intermediate, which allowed him to be Green Bay’s leader in receiving yards and tied for receiving touchdowns in six. If you want a solid catch radius and possession receiver, Doubs is what you’re looking for.