Breakfast With Benz NFL Draft preview: 'Awesome' receiver class awaits Steelers to address significant need

I was never the world’s biggest Diontae Johnson fan. But I still wasn’t wild about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ recent trade which shipped him off to Carolina for cornerback Donte Jackson.

For all of Johnson’s inconsistencies, I still think he was a better receiver than Jackson is a corner. And, while Jackson partially aids the Steelers’ numbers at the cornerback position, dealing Johnson augments the Steelers’ lack of depth at wide receiver.

So it’s my hope that at some point between now and the end of the NFL Draft this weekend, the organization addresses that need by swinging for the fences and acquiring Brandon Aiyuk, Tee Higgins, Courtland Sutton or some other starting-caliber receiver that may be on the trade block with another team.

In Monday’s NFL Draft preview podcast, former pro and college scout Matt Williamson of Steelers Nation Radio agreed with that assessment.

“Their need there is massive,” Williamson said of the Steelers’ receiver position. “I think they have a strong No. 2 (George Pickens) that aspires to be a No. 1, and three No. 4s (Van Jefferson, Quez Watkins and Calvin Austin III). When it’s all said and done, one of them will probably be on the outside looking in. I don’t know that all three of those guys make the team. I thought, by now, that the other shoe would have dropped on the Johnson trade, and somebody would have been added that’s a legit, starting veteran wide receiver. I’m a little shocked that hasn’t (happened).”

If the Steelers do attempt to load up at receiver in the draft, though, Williamson said there are plenty of options on the table.

“This class is awesome,” Williamson said. “There’s all shapes and sizes. There’s ultimate star power at the top. There’s 25 receivers that would only be welcome additions to the Steelers in the top four rounds. It’s that good.”

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Williamson said the top three receivers in the draft — Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State), Malik Nabers (LSU) and Rome Odunze (Washington) — will likely all be gone by the time the Steelers pick at No. 20 in the first round. That’s too bad because Williamson believes that this trio is special. In fact, he likened the group to the first-round quarterback threesome of 2004.

“It might go down as the Ben (Roethlisberger), Eli (Manning) and (Philip) Rivers of the wide receiver draft history,” he said. “Any year, all three of those guys would be the first one off the board. I don’t think any of them gets out of the top 10. They might combine to go to 18 Pro Bowls between the three of them. I think they’re all superstars. And, no, I don’t think the Steelers can trade up for one because it’d be too expensive, and they have too many other needs.”

Texas’ Adonai Mitchell and LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. might be of interest to the Steelers at No. 20. But if the Steelers should lean toward taking an offensive lineman or a defensive back in the first round, Williamson said the pond will still be well stocked in Rounds 2-3.

That’s even if Georgia’s Ladd McConkey and Texas’ Xavier Worthy are also off the board by the time the Steelers second-round pick (No. 51) rolls around.

“My favorite ones are Ricky Pearsall from Florida (6-foot-1, 189 pounds),” Williamson said. “He isn’t just a slot. He does everything well. Keon Coleman (Florida State) is a little bit slower but bigger (6-foot-3, 213 pounds). I think he’s kind of a power slot, and what they wanted out of Allen Robinson III, but much more agile explosive.”

RICKY PEARSALL WITH THE GAME-WINNING TOUCHDOWN IN SOUTH CAROLINA‼️‼️@GatorsFB pic.twitter.com/yP1bLmsRq6

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) October 14, 2023

Another name Williamson brought up is Malachi Corley from Western Kentucky. He’s a player that has been a favorite connection to Pittsburgh by mock draft analysts. He’s not a blazing fast receiver (between 4.47-4.56 seconds in the 40-yard dash). But Williamson doesn’t think that should scare off teams from taking him in the second or third round.

“I don’t think speed is a problem,” Williamson said. “These comparisons get crazy because everyone is compared to Hall of Famers. But he’s a Deebo Samuel (San Francisco 49ers Pro Bowler) comparison. They’ll throw him screens. He’s really physical. He breaks tackles like a running back. He’d be a jet sweep guy. Get the ball in his hands. He’s a developing route runner. I think he’d fit in great. He blocks. He’s physical. He’s nasty. He’s certainly a name to know.”

Also in Monday’s NFL Draft preview podcast, we look at this year’s class of tight ends, why last year’s tight end class was so impactful, and draft prospects for Pitt receiver Bub Means.

Listen: Gerger Construction Draft podcast on pass catchers with Matt Williamson and Tim Benz