Steelers offseason positional outlook: Wide receivers

Editor’s note: This is Part 3 of a 12-part series breaking down the Pittsburgh Steelers at each position in the offseason. All salary cap information courtesy spotrac.com or overthecap.com:

Since the Pittsburgh Steelers played the 2016 AFC championship game with Cobi Hamilton as the No. 2 receiver and Sammie Coates, Eli Rogers and Darrius Heyward-Bey in reserve, they have made a point to fortify the position in the draft.

Even with Martavis Bryant returning the next year from suspension, the Steelers used a second-round pick on JuJu Smith-Schuster. The next year it was James Washington, also coming in the second round. Then came Diontae Johnson with a third-round pick in 2019, mitigating the trade of Antonio Brown. Last year, Chase Claypool was the chosen receiver when the Steelers, holding no first-round selection, got a turn in the second round.

The result in 2020 was arguably the deepest crop of young wide receivers in the NFL.

Although the Steelers didn’t have a 1,000-yard pass catcher for the second year in a row, they had three receivers amass at least 800 yards: Johnson (923), Claypool (873) and Smith-Schuster (831). Only the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers also had a trio of receivers collect at least 800 yards for the season.

The Steelers also became the seventh team in NFL history to have five players, including tight end Eric Ebron, catch five or more touchdown passes in a season.

The depth the Steelers have accumulated at the position could offset the potential loss of Smith-Schuster to free agency. In his fourth season, Smith-Schuster caught 97 passes and tied for the team lead with nine touchdown catches. In the wild-card playoff loss to Cleveland, Smith-Schuster had his best game of the year, catching 13 balls for 157 yards and a touchdown.

Given the Steelers’ salary-cap predicament and the amount of money Smith-Schuster can command on the open market in March as an unrestricted free agent, he isn’t expected to be back for a fifth season.

Smith-Schuster’s anticipated departure would leave James Washington as the most tenured receiver on the roster. Washington was the odd man out when the offense flourished midseason with a four-receiver, one-tight end set, but he finished strong and totaled 30 catches for 392 yards and five touchdowns.

The Steelers led the NFL with 43 dropped passes in 2020, and Johnson was responsible for 13, tops in the league. That doesn’t count the pass that hit his hands and went for an interception that helped the Browns ring up a 28-0 lead in the first quarter of the wild-card game.

Despite his drops, Johnson’s ability to make plays after the catch helped him lead the Steelers with 923 receiving yards, and he finished with 88 receptions and seven touchdowns.

As a rookie, Claypool ranked fourth among his NFL peers with 62 catches and 873 yards, and he led all rookies with nine touchdown receptions. He tied the franchise rookie record in touchdown catches and set the benchmark in receptions.

The only other holdover from the postseason roster is Ray-Ray McCloud, who played in some four-receiver sets while also handling the kickoff and punt return duties. A restricted free agent, McCloud could be retained on a low-cost deal and compete for a job as slot receiver.

Offseason outlook: WRs

Returnees

James Washington, 1 year left on contract, $1,432,247 cap hit for 2021

Diontae Johnson, 2 years left on contract, $1,167,535 cap hit for 2021

Chase Claypool, 3 years left on contract, $1,503,781 cap hit for 2021

Also under contract

Anthony Johnson, 1 year left on contract, $660,000 cap hit for 2021

Cody White, 1 year left on contract, $660,000 cap hit for 2021

Free agents

JuJu Smith-Schuster, unrestricted, $1,335,020 cap hit in 2020

Ray-Ray McCloud, restricted, $750,000 cap hit for 2020

Tomorrow: Tight ends

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