So while there is a high probability of the steelers spending a premium pick on a wr, lets look at some of the other options on the roster right now outside of DJ and Claypool… because at least one of them could be very likely on the active gameday roster.
The stats are the best I could find. The ages, heights and weights are from the steelers site, the speed stats are from a couple different locations… and be warned, they aren’t the end all be all for anything. Bussey, for instance was measured at 6’0 at the combine, but has since grown 2 inches, and sims had a bad 40 day and was later timed for the redskins at 3.3-3.38 … so you never go solely off of that…
For comparison here are our two starters right now
S1. Dionte Johnson-------- age 25 -- 5’10” 183 lbs --40 time: 4.53 –shuttle 4.45 ---3cone 7.09
S2. Chase Claypool---------age 24 -- 6’4” 238 lbs --40 time: 4.42 –shuttle DNR ---3cone DNR
Here are the contenders on the roster
1. Anthony Miller--------- age 27 -- 5’11” 199 lbs --40 time: 4.50 –shuttle 4.26 ---3cone 6.65
2. Steven Sims------------ age 25 -- 5’10” 176 lbs --40 time: 4.56 –shuttle 4.43 ---3cone 7.20
3. Cody White------------- age 23 -- 6’3” 215 lbs ---40 time: 4.66 --shuttle 4.52 --3cone 7.19
4. Rico Busey-------------- age 24 -- 6’ 2” 190 lbs --40 time: 4.50 –shuttle 4.26 ---3cone 7.21
5. Tyler Vaughn----------- age 24 -- 6’2” 246 lbs ---40 time: 4.69 –shuttle 4.40 ---3cone 7.15
Now we also have Gunner, but the thing with him is he is a converted DB and his wr skills are… well lets call them unproven…
** Gunner Olszewski---- age 25 -- 6’0 190 lbs-----40 time: 4.56 –shuttle 4.37 ---3cone 6.88
The Other wr's on the roster:
So there you go… its possible we aren’t quite as shallow there as some think… though I seriously believe they must add a burner to this group… I also believe that unless Gunner shows a lot at wr, we should keep an extra wr this year
The stats are the best I could find. The ages, heights and weights are from the steelers site, the speed stats are from a couple different locations… and be warned, they aren’t the end all be all for anything. Bussey, for instance was measured at 6’0 at the combine, but has since grown 2 inches, and sims had a bad 40 day and was later timed for the redskins at 3.3-3.38 … so you never go solely off of that…
For comparison here are our two starters right now
S1. Dionte Johnson-------- age 25 -- 5’10” 183 lbs --40 time: 4.53 –shuttle 4.45 ---3cone 7.09
S2. Chase Claypool---------age 24 -- 6’4” 238 lbs --40 time: 4.42 –shuttle DNR ---3cone DNR
Here are the contenders on the roster
1. Anthony Miller--------- age 27 -- 5’11” 199 lbs --40 time: 4.50 –shuttle 4.26 ---3cone 6.65
2. Steven Sims------------ age 25 -- 5’10” 176 lbs --40 time: 4.56 –shuttle 4.43 ---3cone 7.20
3. Cody White------------- age 23 -- 6’3” 215 lbs ---40 time: 4.66 --shuttle 4.52 --3cone 7.19
4. Rico Busey-------------- age 24 -- 6’ 2” 190 lbs --40 time: 4.50 –shuttle 4.26 ---3cone 7.21
5. Tyler Vaughn----------- age 24 -- 6’2” 246 lbs ---40 time: 4.69 –shuttle 4.40 ---3cone 7.15
Now we also have Gunner, but the thing with him is he is a converted DB and his wr skills are… well lets call them unproven…
** Gunner Olszewski---- age 25 -- 6’0 190 lbs-----40 time: 4.56 –shuttle 4.37 ---3cone 6.88
The Other wr's on the roster:
- Now the guy most likely to get a spot is Anthony Miller… he played his first three years in Chicago, getting 33, 52, and 49 catches over those years… he started one game for Houston last year before coming over to us… he basically didn’t play last year, spending most of his time on our PS…
For his career he has over 1500 yards and 12 tds… he has 18 career starts.
This guy has a little more speed and quickness then DJ . He is an good option as a 3rd or 4th wr.
- The other guy with some experience is Steven Sims. Sims played two years for the Redskins/WTF they are now Washington mess. In 2019 he caught the 3rd most passes (34, 2nd most for their wrs) despite having only 2 starts… in 2020 he was buried by targets going almost exclusively to mclaurin or rbs and tes… If you want a guy used to catching passes from all sorts of different QBs he is your guy… those WFT/redskins teams were a mess offensively and this guy has the ability to be a good slot type
- The third most likely addition is Cody White. He is currently the second biggest wr on the roster and the staff loves him. He caught 5 of 6 passes he was targeted with last year and while he doesn’t have that 4.5 speed a deep wr needs, his contested catch ability gives us what James Washington was supposed to as a #4 or #5 wr he could stick.
- Rico Bussey might be ready for a huge breakout camp… in 2019 he tore an acl and he looked a lot better in camp last year. All the scouting reports before the injury were about his speed and explosive acceleration. If that’s back don’t be surprise if he displaces someone to make the team
- Tyler Vaughn was a gamble based off of college production. I'm not sure he has the speed or burst to make this roster unless he developed a lot in the offseason. I think he has potential to be someone's 5wr, but frankly everyone ahead of him does something he does better or faster…
So there you go… its possible we aren’t quite as shallow there as some think… though I seriously believe they must add a burner to this group… I also believe that unless Gunner shows a lot at wr, we should keep an extra wr this year