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ESPN's Bill Barnwell called receiver Michael Pittman Jr. a bad match for Mike McCarthy's offense with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Pittsburgh Steelers added a few playmakers to their offense, particularly at wide receiver, this offseason. But not every pundit is on board that all the new parts will fit greatly in Mike McCarthy’s system.
On Thursday, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell ranked the NFL’s skilled-position players on each team from No. 32-1. Despite their additions, the Steelers came in at the same spot as last summer — No. 21.
Most notably, Barnwell argued wideout Michael Pittman Jr. won’t fit well in McCarthy’s offense.
“Another offseason brought another trade for an expensive wide receiver by an organization that had developed a reputation for finding its own in the middle rounds of the draft,” wrote Barnwell. “Michael Pittman Jr. is a good fit for what Aaron Rodgers wants to do (get the ball out quickly for short completions) but a bad fit for what the Steelers need (a wide receiver who can stretch teams downfield).
“Second-round pick Germie Bernard should be an upgrade on Calvin Austin III, and it’s fair to pin the problems creating big plays on the quarterback and his desire to stay clean, but the Steelers need to find a way to create explosive plays in 2026.”
The Steelers acquired Pittman and a 2026 seventh-round pick from the Indianapolis Colts on March 9. In exchange, the Steelers sent a 2026 sixth-rounder to Indianapolis.
After the trade, the Steelers signed Pittman to a 2-year, $35 million extension.
Last season, Pittman posted 80 receptions, 784 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 17 games.
Dave Holcomb is a sports reporter covering the NFL and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers and a variety of other NFL teams. Originally from Pittsburgh, Holcomb has covered college and professional sports for outlets including FanSided, Rotowire and Yardbarker. More about Dave Holcomb