Don’t Underestimate the Upside of Michael Pittman and DK Metcalf in the Steelers’ Revamped Offense

Kevin Szafraniec
March 24, 2026

Kevin Szafraniec details the upside that Michael Pittman Jr. has in Pittsburgh after the Steelers traded for the Colts’ former WR1.

Times are changing in Pittsburgh. The offseason kicked off with Mike Tomlin stepping down as head coach following a 19-year tenure with the team. Shortly after the split, the Steelers announced that former Dallas and Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy would be taking over on the sidelines.

One reason McCarthy was an attractive option is his ties to Aaron Rodgers. It is assumed that the Super Bowl-winning success the duo had together in Green Bay would help bring Rodgers back into the fold for a 22nd NFL season.

To sweeten the pot for all parties involved, the front office went out and acquired Michael Pittman Jr. and a 2026 seventh-round pick in exchange for a sixth-rounder in this year’s draft. The Steelers immediately extended Pittman’s contract at an average salary of $17.5M per year (per Spotrac), which means Pittsburgh has Pittman and DK Metcalf under contract together through 2028.

Assuming an upgraded receiving corps and familiarity with McCarthy will be enough to bring Rodgers back in 2026, is the Steelers’ passing attack a solid bet to outperform the low expectations currently placed upon it by the fantasy community?

Be sure to check out the rest of our series on the top landing spots from free agency!

Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Tight Ends

Can Isaiah Likely Rekindle His Early-Career Hype in New York?

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Keep an eye out for Volume 3, which will drop after the 2026 NFL Draft!

Steady as She Goes

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Kevin Szafraniec

Lead Writer and Full-time Cat Dad. Sneakerhead, Record Collector, Beatmaker, Lord of the Rings Superfan, and Jeopardy Enthusiast in my free time. Follow me on X and Bluesky @thecatdadff

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