Steelers A to Z: Van Jefferson in pole position to serve as WR2

Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2024 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with at least two players each day between June 14 and July 25. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

WR VAN JEFFERSON

Experience/age: 5^th season, turns 28 later this month

Contract status: $1.153 million cap hit on a one-year deal in 2024

The past: The son of 13-year NFL wide receiver and longtime league assistant coach Shawn Jefferson, Van Jefferson began his college career at Ole Miss and finished it at Florida. The Gators’ top wide receiver for two seasons, Jefferson was a second-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 2020. The 12^th receiver drafted that year (the Steelers’ Chase Claypool was No. 11), Jefferson was a WR4 most of his rookie season before a then career-high seven catches with a touchdown in an NFC divisional playoff game in Green Bay. The following season after the Rams acquired quarterback Matthew Stafford, Jefferson became the Rams’ second option among a wide receivers corps that featured record-setting Cooper Kupp. Jefferson earned a Super Bowl ring when Los Angeles beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.

A knee injury contributed to limiting Jefferson to 11 games and 24 catches in 2022 and by early last season the emergence of star rookie Puka Nacua made him expendable. The Rams on Oct. 10 dealt him to the Falcons in a swap of late-round draft picks. But Jefferson never gained traction in regards to production in Atlanta, amassing just 12 catches on 28 targets for 101 yards and no touchdowns in 12 games. Arthur Smith was the head coach and play caller for that team, and after Smith was fired by the Falcons he was hired as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator in 2024.

Van Jefferson arguably has the most accomplished resume of any receiver currently on the #Steelers' roster: 61 career NFL games, 35 starts, 113 catches, 1,600 yards, 10 touchdowns.https://t.co/hgz7Yv3bp6

— Tribune-Review Sports (@TribSports) June 5, 2024

2024 outlook: Jefferson was just one of the several former Falcons position players the Steelers acquired after bringing on Smith. Following the March trade of Diontae Johnson, the Steelers have thus far gone the quantity route over perceived quality in filling the hole at No. 2 WR across from George Pickens. Jefferson, as things stand now, is the most likely candidate to fill that role. He has the most accomplished pro résumé. At 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, Jefferson has extensive pro experience both as an outside receiver and from the slot. That adds some flexibility to Smith’s scheme.

The Steelers still are seeking an external upgrade at wide receiver. But, if that never materializes Jefferson is among a group of fellow 2024 veteran acquisitions Scotty Miller, Quez Watkins and Marquez Callaway competing to be in the hierarchy of gameday-activated WRs. Third-round pick Roman Wilson and speedy third-year returnee Calvin Austin III also figure into a mix that will sort itself out throughout training camp and the preseason. A lot can happen between now and when the season opens Sept. 8, but Jefferson is the proverbial leader in the clubhouse to be a so-called “starting” receiver for the Steelers in 2024.