Solution To Solve Steelers' Wide Receiving Depth Flagged For Major Problem 1 Month Before NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2026 offseason has been nothing short of hectic. The team is forging ahead and working to round out its roster and fill positional needs where it sees fit. One need heading into the offseason was at wide receiver. In a trade with the Indianapolis Colts, the team helped that area by acquiring Michael Pittman Jr. However, the franchise may not be done filling out the wide receiver room. With acquiring Pittman to help out DK Metcalf, some collegiate prospects may not be what the depth chart needs.

Someone like Zachariah Branch from the Georgia Bulldogs may not be as attractive for them now. On Saturday's episode of the North Shore Drive Podcast, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Steelers reporter Chris Carter was on the show and discussed what Branch brings to the table. 

While Branch does have some desirable traits, Carter mentioned some areas he is lacking in. Because of these issues, Pittsburgh drafting him to help out the 2026 team may not be worth it. The trade to acquire Pittman also has influenced things, as the team now has two big, physical receivers so they may look more at a slot type of wide receiver in the draft.

"I like the speed of Zachariah Branch," Carter said. "I like when the ball is in his hands, but I want if I'm the Steelers, I want to get a receiver that separates, a guy that wins downfield, that gets open, you know with the way that he runs routes. And Branch doesn't do that a whole lot."

Branch fits the profile of a slot wide receiver, standing at 5'10". However, the issue with Branch being drafted by Pittsburgh is that he does not tend to get open or win routes, as Carter eluded to. The team had a similar slot receiver in Calvin Austin III, who had an underwhelming 2025 campaign. Austin caught just 31 passes for 372 yards and three touchdowns in 2025. 

Branch would seemingly bring much of the same and the team does not seem to be interested in being complacent with that kind of production. This was apparent when it did not make an effort to retain Austin and he signed with the New York Giants. 

The organization also made this apparent by trading for Pittman. It had had a different approach in a couple of ways during the 2026 offseason. It has not just been complacent, but rather have aggressive, and the front office has gone out and gotten younger replacements at positions of need.

Steelers Changed Approach Can Benefit Them In 2026 And Beyond

The organization's changed approach has many buzzing around the moves that it has made. The team has made it clear that it wants to work on having the best roster possible and have worked on doing so proactively. In 2025, the team played the waiting game with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who did not make his final decision until June of 2025.

While the organization is still awaiting Rodgers' decision on 2026, this offseason feels different. The team has been proactive rather than reactive and is working to round out its roster by filling positions of need quickly. This type of approach gives the feel that the team is ready to move forward in 2026 under new Head Coach Mike McCarthy with or without Rodgers at quarterback.

With the depth at the wide receiver position in the 2026 NFL Draft, Pittsburgh would benefit from getting a slot receiver that checks off most or all of the boxes that they need. While Branch is most likely not that guy, the draft capital the organization holds gives them the flexibility to wait on looking for that need. The team has needs at offensive line and linebacker, which gives it little reason to select Branch and all the more reason to look elsewhere in a deep wide receiver class.

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