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Now that the Pittsburgh Steelers have an offensive-minded head coach, they are beginning to shift their focus toward strength by adjusting their investment strategy. One thing Mike Tomlin neglected to do in recent years was properly invest in his wide receiving corps, which proved to be costly. Mike McCarthy quickly fixed that issue, as the franchise traded for Michael Pittman Jr. back in march. The front office then doubled down in the NFL Draft on the room by selecting Germie Bernard in the second round. These moves gave the Steelers almost a completely new look going into 2026.
The new-look wide receiver room should be a big help to Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf, who both struggled in 2025. The lack of weaponry drew tons of attention to Metcalf, often leading to double coverages and him being neutralized in games. Rodgers was still able to produce and lead the Steelers to a division title, but it was clear his supporting cast was not good enough.
While the room appears to be a lot better entering 2026 training camp, it still could use another depth piece. There are still tons of veteran free-agent wide receivers available that could step in and be that final piece, with Stefon Diggs, DeAndre Hopkins, and Keenan Allen still looking for new homes.
While they were all great players in their respective primes, none are likely realistic options, but there is one former All-Pro play-maker who has been named a potential option for the Steelers.
Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox recently wrote an article about the 10 best remaining free agents heading into the preseason. One of those guys was Deebo Samuel, who just had 727 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 2026; he is heading into the twilight of his career, but he can still be a reliable depth piece for a team looking to contend. Knox named the Steelers as a logical landing spot for Samuel, as they fit the mold of a team that could use Samuel's services.
"Samuel logged 802 scrimmage yards while averaging nine yards per touch this past season with the Washington Commanders. He did it while playing much of the season without standout quarterback Jayden Daniels in a Commanders offense that ranked just 24th in passing and 22nd overall," Knox wrote. "Though he's never been a true No. 1 receiver, Samuel has been consistently productive when healthy. Even at 30, he can still be a quality contributor as a receiver and change-of-pace backfield option. Samuel would make the most sense for a potential playoff contender that needs receiver depth and is looking to lead with its ground game."
Samuel has been on an obvious decline over the years and has also struggled to stay healthy, but he is still a reliable player when on the field. Pittman and Metcalf will be the top two targets in the wide receiver room, and Bernard is likely to earn the third spot considering Rodgers' apparent disapproval of Roman Wilson. Perhaps adding Samuel to the group could be the finishing touch that the offense needs.
Samuel's best trait has always been his versatility, as he can line up anywhere on the offense. The Steelers have had a player like that in the past, when they signed Cordarrelle Patterson in 2024. Patterson was a wide receiver who switched to running back, but he wasn't very effective. Patterson was 33 when he played for Pittsburgh and had no gas left in the tank. Samuel could play a similar utility role to the one Patterson attempted; this time, it's someone who's only 30.
Steeler Signing Deebo Samuel Would Be Low-Risk High-Reward
Every team in the NFL has a utility player, and right now, Bernard would likely be that role. The Steelers could go out and sign Samuel to serve as the fourth wide receiver and utility knife, playing on special teams and in the offense.
Samuel proved he still has good years left in him in 2025, and maybe the Steelers could squeeze out whatever he has left.
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