The Pittsburgh Steelers selected wide receiver Calvin Austin III in the fourth round, 138th overall, of the 2022 NFL Draft. Austin, a speedy receiver out of Memphis, arrived in Pittsburgh with a lot of excitement surrounding his blazing speed and playmaking potential. Many fans and analysts believed the Steelers got solid value in the fourth round with their selection. Unfortunately, Austin’s rookie season did not go as planned. A foot injury sidelined him for the year, ending his 2022 campaign before he could make an impact on the field.
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Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (19) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Austin returned in 2023 determined to prove his worth. Over the course of the season, he began to make several game-changing plays that showcased his speed and versatility. Fans started warming up to the idea that Austin could be a “sneaky” slot receiver and a valuable return man, and excitement grew about his long-term potential. By the 2024 season, Austin had started to truly earn the trust of the Steelers’ coaching staff, carving out a more consistent role on offense and special teams.
The 2025 season proved particularly important for Austin, as it marked the final year of his rookie contract. Steelers fans are now closely watching whether the team’s new regime under Mike McCarthy will look to bring Austin back for 2026. His market value, the level of interest he generates around the league, and his prior on-field performance will all play major roles in that decision.
Recently, Steelers insider Brian Batko shared an intriguing insight during a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette chat, hinting at potential developments regarding Austin’s future with the team. With his speed, versatility, and growing experience, many fans are hopeful that Austin could continue to be a key contributor for the Steelers in the years ahead. However, that may just not be the case now that Mike Tomlin is gone.
“I wouldn’t put it as they need to find one, but for the right price, that would give you a good buffer going into the draft,” Batko said on Monday. “Calvin Austin struck me as a great pick at the time, provided the offense would have a creative plan for how to use him. And I’m not sure the Steelers always, or often, did.”
Batko was addressing a common theme among Steeler Nation, the wide receiver room remains a big question mark. Sure, the team has DK Metcalf, but he didn’t fully excite fans during the 2025 season, struggling to create separation and make game-changing plays consistently. Beyond Metcalf, there’s Roman Wilson, but he has seen very limited game action in his first two seasons.
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Steelers WR Calvin Austin III celebrates with TE Jonnu Smith, RB Jaylen Warren, and QB Aaron Rodgers.
If McCarthy wants to make this offense truly formidable, regardless of whether Aaron Rodgers returns, the Steelers absolutely need to improve at wide receiver. How the new regime views Austin will be very telling, especially depending on how his contract negotiations unfold.
If Austin leaves in free agency, Pittsburgh’s wide receiver depth becomes an even bigger concern. Austin has shown flashes of playmaking ability and proven he can be trusted in certain situations, but at his size, many believe he isn’t enough to complement Metcalf, and the team still needs more weapons.
Steelers May Not Have Helped Calvin Austin III Enough
What’s even more interesting from Batko’s comments was his final point, the Steelers often didn’t have creative plans to utilize Austin effectively. While some of that falls on the offensive coordinators, it is also a direct critique of Tomlin. Tomlin had significant influence over Austin being drafted, his development, and the belief placed in him.
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Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (19) during a regular season matchup between the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.
Batko suggested that the lack of a clear plan may have hampered Austin’s success, which is a pointed remark at Tomlin as well as former offensive coordinators Matt Canada and Arthur Smith. In other words, the system may not have been set up to get the most out of Austin, despite his talent and potential.
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