The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering an offseason loaded with more questions than answers. With how the team was unable to perform in critical situations on the offensive side of the ball in 2025, changes need to be made more than ever. The Steelers should be looking to completely retool their offensive game plan under new head coach Mike McCarthy, and free agency is going to be the first area where they can begin making some changes. However, with the expectations being placed on McCarthy right out of the gate, the Steelers might look to take huge risks or aggressive approaches to reap huge rewards.
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Steelers’ new head coach Mike McCarthy and General Manager Omar Khan during the 2026 offseason.
There are a lot of ways that the Steelers could look to revitalize their broken offense for the 2026 NFL season. With all the options that exist to the team, most of these are safe bets that would likely pay out well. However, one option exists that carries a huge risk to the team, but should the circumstances pan out in the right way, the Steelers could end up massively upgrading the offense and potentially becoming true contenders in the NFL.
Mike Florio recently reacted to the release of wide receiver Tyreek Hill earlier on Monday. He had plenty of things to say about what his departure means for the teams that could be looking to acquire Hill’s services, urging clubs to take the chance.
“Even with the knee injury, even with the birthday that’s coming up, he’s still dangerous,” Florio said. “And, again, we expected this. This is not a surprise. This has been coming. But now it’s here. Tyreek Hill will be, I believe, in demand. Because if someone can get Tyreek Hill and he’s healthy, Tyreek Hill can make a difference for plenty of teams out there that have had something less than Tyreek Hill at the receiver position in recent years, and he could end up being a difference maker in 2026.”
Florio seems to believe that Hill’s recovery from the devastating injuries he suffered on the field during the 2025 NFL season will be full, and that he’ll be on the field for someone who needs a solution at wide receiver in 2026. He lists off a number of teams that could benefit from signing Hill to their roster, and in an interesting twist, Florio made a comment regarding the Steelers.
“The Steelers could be in play,” Florio said. “They’ve got DK Metcalf and, what, Calvin Austin III? No offense, he’s not Tyreek Hill.”
While Florio is statistically correct that Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III is not on the same level that Hill is, there’s one major difference that needs to be remembered. Austin is fully healthy and not recovering from injuries so horrible that he won’t play a portion of the season. Even with Hill being available as a free agent for the first time in his career, why should the Steelers end up taking a risk on a player who likely won’t be the same player he was before the injuries that won’t possibly play for a portion of the season?
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Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (19) during a regular season matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.
It has been reported that the Steelers could take a more aggressive approach to fixing the wide receiver room prior to the 2026 season, and Florio’s remarks about how the Steelers should consider signing Hill would absolutely fit the bill. While the upsides to signing Hill could be substantial, the Steelers shouldn’t be so keen to make this signing, especially given the players they already have in-house.
Steelers Should Keep Current Free Agent Offensive Skill Players
Austin is a perfectly capable receiver that has been a huge benefit to the Steelers’ offense. With an improved game plan on offense, Austin should see more opportunities to prove himself and prove that the Steelers made the right decision by keeping him in house. He shouldn’t be cast out in hopes of acquiring Hill’s services, but rather, given an opportunity that he can make the most of on the field.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (19) during a regular season matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts.
What did you think about Florio’s praise for Hill’s abilities and his urging the Steelers to sign him?
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