Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan at a press conference to introduce head coach Mike McCarthy on Jan. 27, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
James Harrison believes the Pittsburgh Steelers have learned their lesson. It only took so many tantrums for them to realize a certain brand of receiver isn’t for them.
New head coach Mike McCarthy and other Steelers decision-makers met with a plethora of wideouts at last week’s NFL Scouting Combine, readying to potentially add one to go with DK Metcalf in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Considering recent history, the groundwork of getting to know the pass-catching prospects is a crucial step, Harrison believes.
“What they’re doing now is called homework, people,” Harrison said Tuesday on the “Deebo & Joe” podcast. “You do the interviews. They’re looking at all the guys they believe can go in the first or second round, whatever that may be. Why are they so focused on this need? … How many times has a lineman — offensive, defensive lineman — caused division in the locker room, that you know of?
“How many times has a corner caused division in the locker room? Matter of fact, let’s do this, how many times has anybody that wasn’t a wide receiver or a quarterback caused division in the locker room? It’s not that many in the NFL, is it?”
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy during his introductory press conference on Jan. 27, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The Steelers have drafted five receivers in the first two rounds since 2017. Diontae Johnson signed a rookie extension in 2022, but was traded away by 2024. JuJu Smith-Schuster re-signed with the Steelers as a free agent in 2021, but was gone the season after. George Pickens and Chase Claypool had louder exits than James Washington.
“We are looking for a receiver to come into the locker room and add to the rest,” Harrison said. “Now, we’ve had five receivers now that we’ve drafted in that time period, at the position. None of them received long-term deals with the Steelers, and most of it was due to maturity issues, right? So what they are doing is digging into the person that is the receiver that they want so that they know that, ‘You know what, this is a person that fits the Steelers Way.’
“They’re not going to get a player and just hope, ‘You know, he plays great. He’s good.’ And just hope they can mold him into what it is that we need in the locker room, because it hasn’t worked.”
The Steelers have formally met with Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, Clemson’s Antonio Williams, Indiana’s Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper, USC’s Makai Lemon, Georgia Zachariah Branch, Washington’s Denzel Boston, Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion, Alabama’s Germie Bernard and Notre Dame’s Malachi Fields.
“You wanna get the best receiver, obviously, but the receiver that’s good for your franchise, that’s bringing that energy every single day,” said Harrison’s co-host, former Steelers coverman Joe Haden. “And it’s not about the dough and he’s not gonna … bring no off-the-field issues. And (it’s about) doing the research and knowing the person. Seeing who they hang out with, what’s their crew. Do they have a crew? What do they like to do? Do they like to go out? Do they like to party?”
The Steelers own the No. 21 overall pick in April’s draft.
Mentioned In This Article: James Harrison Joe Haden Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers