Welcome to Brian Batko’s Steelers mailbag. You’re more than welcome to email him at bbatko@post-gazette.com, tweet him @BrianBatko or slide into his DMs to inquire about the Steelers, NFL or anything out of bounds.
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Sunner in Orlando: Will the Steelers pick up a receiver late in the draft to replace JuJu or will they pick up a free agent who is affordable?
Brian: Fun fact, the Steelers have drafted a wide receiver nine years in a row. Not always high, and actually never in the first round during that span, but they pretty much always want to supplement that position. And who could blame them, given their track record? Seems like just about any wideout they draft has a solid chance of turning into a star.
So, as for whether they’ll do so late, it probably depends on if JuJu Smith-Schuster returns (and, to a lesser extent, Ray-Ray McCloud). If he doesn’t, and the critical consensus seems to be that he won't, you could argue for another receiver as soon as the third round. First or second seems too high, considering the needs in the backfield and on the offensive line, not to mention tight end and maybe cornerback, but a “best player available” approach could make it tough to pass on a stud pass-catcher.
Now, regardless of if they draft a Smith-Schuster replacement in the second round or seventh round, another question is what kind of player will they target at that position? Smith-Schuster played a league-high 82.2% of his snaps in the slot last year, according to playerprofiler.com. But in today’s era of position-less offensive football, any or all of Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool and James Washington might have the skill set needed to be a “slot receiver.”
But given how those three have been used to this point, what we know is the Steelers don’t have a huge need for another outside receiver. Claypool has the size, Johnson has the always-open shiftiness and Washington, well, perhaps call him a jack of all trades but master of none. The type of playmaker who could really upgrade this offense could be a Tyreek Hill-style prospect, someone to take jet sweep handoffs in Matt Canada’s scheme and be the kind of home-run hitter the Steelers don’t exactly have.
Last year, those guys were your Jalen Reagors and KJ Hamlers and Devin Duvernays. This year, there seems to be even more game-breaker types. Kadarius Toney of Florida may end up a first-rounder, but other names with more speed than size include Marquez Stevenson of Houston, Tutu Atwell of Louisville, Rondale Moore of Purdue and Elijah Moore of Mississippi (no relation).
All those guys could be fun arrows in Canada’s quiver. You know what wasn’t fun? The last time the Steelers tried to address receiver through free agency rather than the draft. Fortunately for them, they followed the Donte Moncrief signing with the Johnson draft pick.
Doyle37: If the Steelers draft Harris, do they issue him #32 ? I don't think Franco would mind. I like it. Bring out the old jerseys. What do you think ?
Brian: I think it’s a splendid idea, Doyle. But I don’t know if Franco Harris would sign off on it. Not sure I would if I were him. Even if Najee Harris is the white knight needed to save this running game, the nature of the position means he probably won’t be an all-time Steeler. He probably won’t even be here more than five years, max.
Another question is would Najee Harris want that? Would the Steelers want that? That would be a lofty expectation to set for a rookie, and the past couple years, there was speculation that Claypool and Zach Gentry both were discouraged from donning Heath Miller’s No. 83 (the college number for each of them).
But hey, I’m all for outside-the-box thoughts on how to honor the past and, especially from a practical standpoint, for how to free up some jersey number real estate for the Steelers. Double numbers in training camp/preseason are a real chore for hacks like me.
Titan in Charlotte: Why did McFarland not get a fighting chance to showcase his potential on a team that desperately needed it? Is there any hope we see his speed next year?
Brian: Because this team was pot committed to James Conner and Benny Snell, right or wrong. It might not have mattered with the way the offensive line was run-blocking — or, not run-blocking — but I was a proponent of at least seeing what you have in Anthony McFarland early in the season when the stakes were fairly low (rather than when they were at their highest against Washington).
That didn’t happen, but to go back to the Canada well, a post-rookie breakout season could still be in the cards for him. Canada knew how to utilize him and did it well in 2018, when McFarland became a star for Maryland. And to tie this into my first answer, maybe you don’t need a big-play threat at receiver if you believe McFarland can be used in that role in a creative way.
Gerry Dulac wrote in his Wednesday chat that Snell will not be the featured back, and I’ll take his word on that. If it’s not a rookie, it’ll be a free agent or McFarland, who was drafted to be much more change-of-pace than bell-cow. Nothing needs more of a chance of pace than the Steelers’ ground game these days.
Brian Batko: bbatko@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrianBatko.
First Published: February 18, 2021, 2:59 p.m.