{"id":182742,"date":"2025-07-05T06:28:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-05T06:28:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/182742\/"},"modified":"2025-07-05T06:28:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-05T06:28:10","slug":"calvin-austin-iii-named-steelers-biggest-spring-surprise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/182742\/","title":{"rendered":"Calvin Austin III Named Steelers’ Biggest Spring Surprise"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wide receiver Calvin Austin III is carrying over a breakout fall into a buzz-worthy spring. In a recent exercise naming one surprise player of spring OTA and minicamp practices,<\/a> ESPN\u2019s Brooke Pryor gave Austin the top nod for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Citing a stamp of approval from WRs Coach Zach Azzanni, Pryor noted Austin\u2019s playmaking he showed last season continued during the team\u2019s first practices of 2025.<\/p>\n

\u201cAustin still has to build chemistry with quarterback Aaron Rodgers<\/a>, but he made plays throughout the Steelers\u2019 OTAs and minicamp with\u00a0Mason Rudolph<\/a>,\u00a0Skylar Thompson<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Will Howard<\/a> throwing him the football,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, Pryor\u2019s information was light on details and didn\u2019t fully capture the spirit of the exercise. Other team\u2019s selections highlighted true sleeper-worthy players or rookies turning heads early. Austin broke out in 2024. Healthy and better used under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, he caught 36 passes for 548 yards and five touchdowns. Four of his scores were from 20-plus yards. Only a handful of elite receivers had more than that, all on a far larger number of targets than Austin\u2019s 58.<\/p>\n

List of WRs with more 20+ yard TDs than Calvin Austin (4) last season:<\/p>\n

\u2013 Ja’Marr Chase
\u2013 Jameson Williams
\u2013 DK Metcalf
\u2013 Devonta Smith
\u2013 Amon-Ra St. Brown<\/p>\n

Austin finished with only 36 receptions. Made his catches count. #Steelers<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) June 25, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Austin also impacted special teams. With a 73-yard runback against the New York Giants, recorded the team\u2019s first punt return touchdown since 2019. He finished the year with a 10.3-yard average, good enough for fifth-best league-wide.<\/p>\n

To Pryor\u2019s point, Calvin Austin is taking advantage of getting reps with Aaron Rodgers. He joined several teammates in Malibu<\/a> to work out with Rodgers earlier this week.<\/p>\n

During minicamp, Azzanni declared Austin the team\u2019s No. 2 receiver<\/a> ahead of Roman Wilson. Pittsburgh could add a wide receiver and change those plans but with TE Jonnu Smith\u2019s addition, the team may be less likely to make a splash move for a wide receiver. Instead, Austin could battle Roman Wilson for snaps.<\/p>\n

Austin\u2019s skillset makes him, at worst, a No. 3 receiver. A speedster who is efficient and makes opportunities count, the question is if he can increase his volume similar to a No. 2 receiver able to make more than the occasional big play. Volume isn\u2019t easy to find in Arthur Smith\u2019s spread-the-ball-around system but Austin should be aiming for a 50-reception type of season. If so, he\u2019ll enter free agency next year ready to cash in.<\/p>\n