Back with another Pittsburgh Steelers’ “What they look for” study and how it applies to the 2023 NFL Draft. Today, we’re breaking down the Steelers’ wide receivers, a position they’ve drafted more than any over the course of the Mike Tomlin era. We’ll try to use that data to see which 2023 prospects best fit them.
Before getting into the history, a quick recap of how we’re expanding the data this year to make this project as worthwhile as possible.
“There’s one other change too. In past years, I focused largely on Combine workout numbers, only using Pro Days for objective testing, things like vertical and broad jump in which two scouts wouldn’t have two different numbers like they could with a 40 time or three-cone. But given the rise in players simply opting out of Combine testing, especially the cones (short shuttle and three-cone), I am including those numbers in our criteria. I’m still only looking at prospects invited to the Combine but if they didn’t test at Indy, I will consider their Pro Day figures. It isn’t ideal, there’s more gray area here, but it’s the smart thing to do.”
That said, the history of receivers taken in the Tomlin era below.
2022: GEORGE PICKENS
Height: 6032
Weight: 200
40 Time: 4.47
Vertical: 34.5
Broad: 10’5″
Short Shuttle: DNP
Three-Cone: DNP
Bench: DNP
Hand Size: 9 3/8″
2022: CALVIN AUSTIN III
Height: 5076
Weight: 170
40 Time: 4.32
Vertical: 39
Broad: 11’3″
Short Shuttle: 4.07
Three-Cone: 6.65
Bench: 11
Hand Size: 9 1/4
2020: CHASE CLAYPOOL
Height: 6042
Weight: 238
40 Time: 4.42
Vertical: 40.5″
Broad: 10’6″
Short Shuttle: DNP
Three-Cone: DNP
Bench: 19
Hand Size: 9 7/8″
2019: DIONTAE JOHNSON
Height: 5104
Weight: 183
40 Time: 4.53
Vertical: 33.5″
Broad: 10’3″
Short Shuttle: 4.45
Three-Cone: 7.09
Bench: 15
Hand Size: 9″
2018: JAMES WASHINGTON
Height: 5110
Weight: 213
40 Time: 4.54
Vertical: 34.5″
Broad: 10’0″
Short Shuttle: 4.32
Three-Cone: 7.11
Bench: 14
Hand Size: 9 3/4″
2017: JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER
Height: 6012
Weight: 215
40 Time: 4.54
Vertical: 33.5″
Broad: 10’3″
Short Shuttle: N/A
Three-Cone: N/A
Bench: 15
Hand Size: 10 1/2″
2016: DEMARCUS AYERS
Height: 5093
Weight: 182
40 Time: 4.72
Vertical: 35″
Broad: 10’3”
Short Shuttle N/A
Three-Cone: N/A
Bench: N/A
Hand Size: 9 1/4″
2015: SAMMIE COATES
Height: 6012
Weight: 212
40 Time: 4.43
Vertical: 41.5″
Broad: 10’11”
Short Shuttle 4.06
Three-Cone: 6.98
Bench: 23
Hand Size: 9 3/8″
2014: MARTAVIS BRYANT
Height: 6036
Weight: 211
40 Time: 4.42
Vertical: 39″
Broad: 10’4″
Short Shuttle 4.15
Three-Cone: 7.18
Bench: 16
Hand Size: 9 1/2″
2013: MARKUS WHEATON
Height: 5110
Weight: 189
40 Time: 4.45
Vertical: 37″
Broad: 10’0″
Short Shuttle 4.02
Three-Cone: 6.80
Bench: 20
Hand Size: 9 1/8″
JUSTIN BROWN
Height: 6031
Weight: 207
40 Time: 4.60
Vertical: 30.5″
Broad: 9’9″
Short Shuttle N/A
Three-Cone: N/A
Bench: 8
Hand Size: 9 5/8″
2012: TONEY CLEMONS
Height: 6021
Weight: 210
40 Time: 4.40
Vertical: 36″
Broad: 10’8″
Short Shuttle N/A
Three-Cone: N/A
Bench: 11
Hand Size: 9 1/2″
2010: EMMANUEL SANDERS
Height: 5107
Weight: 186
40 Time: 4.41
Vertical: 39.5″
Broad: 10’6″
Short Shuttle 4.10
Three-Cone: 6.64
Bench: 12
Hand Size: 9 1/4″
ANTONIO BROWN
Height: 5101
Weight: 186
40 Time: 4.57
Vertical: 33.5″
Broad: 8’9″
Short Shuttle 4.18
Three-Cone: 6.98
Bench: 13
Hand Size: 9″
2009: MIKE WALLACE
Height: 6003
Weight: 199
40 Time: 4.33
Vertical: 40″
Broad: 10’9″
Short Shuttle 4.27
Three-Cone: 6.90
Bench: 14
Hand Size: 9″
2008: LIMAS SWEED
Height: 6037
Weight: 215
40 Time: 4.55
Vertical: 37.5″
Broad: 10’8″
Short Shuttle N/A
Three-Cone: N/A
Bench: N/A
Hand Size: 9 1/2″
2007: DALLAS BAKER
Height: 6031
Weight: 208
40 Time: 4.49
Vertical: 36″
Broad: 10’9″
Short Shuttle 4.19
Three-Cone: 6.69
Bench: N/A
Hand Size: 10 1/8″
With George Pickens and Calvin Austin added, there is one new change to our criteria, albeit a slight one. The 40 time has been reduced from 4.57 to 4.55. Everything else remains the same.
Height: 5’10+ (15 of 17 players drafted)
Weight: 180+ (16 of 17)
Hand Size: 9+ (17 of 17)
Bench: 10+ (12 of 13)
40 Time: 4.55 (14 of 17)
Vert: 33+(16 of 17)
Broad: 10+ (15 of 17)
Short Shuttle: 4.30 or better (8 of 10)
Three-Cone: 7.10 or better (8 of 10)
The 2023 Combine-invited receivers who check every box are:
| Name/School | Height | Weight | Hand Size | Bench | 40 Time | Vert | Broad | SS | 3-Cone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ronnie Bell/Michigan | 5115 | 191 | 9 1/2 | 14 | 4.54 | 38.5 | 10’0″ | 4.04 | 6.62 |
| Jonathan Mingo/Ole Miss | 6016 | 220 | 10 3/8 | 22 | 4.46 | 39.5 | 10’9” | 4.25 | 7.04 |
Only two, a couple fewer than I thought there’d be. But the two here are notable. Bell hasn’t gotten much attention in the pre-draft process, but coming from a big-time school he feels like a good fit for the Steelers. Mingo was brought in for a pre-draft visit and would be a big slot weapon in this offense. Of course, this was pre-Allen Robinson trade and the odds of them taking a receiver in the mid-rounds have fallen.
Here are the receivers who were just one box shy.
One Box Away
Bryce Ford-Wheaton/West Virginia – Bench (DNP)
Antoine Green/North Carolina – Bench (DNP)
Elijah Higgins/Stanford – Short Shuttle (4.50)
Andrei Iosivas/Princeton – Hand (8 3/4)
Charlie Jones/Purdue – Weight (176)
Joseph Ngata/Clemson – Three-Cone (7.29)
Jayden Reed/Michigan State – Three-Cone (DNP)
Rashee Rice/SMU – Bench (DNP)
Tyler Scott/Cincinnati – Weight (177)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba/Ohio State – Bench (DNP)
Michael Wilson/Stanford – 40 Time (4.58)
An extremely long list of players just missing out. And for a variety of reasons. Most due to bench but some due to weight, shuttle, three-cone, hand, and even a 40 time. Three pre-draft visitors are on here in Jones, Ford-Wheaton, and Reed, the last of whom I think is a great fit for the Steelers. Smith-Njigba only missed on the bench while Rice is underrated and Green can play big. Iosivas is a top FCS prospect and someone, who like Scott, shouldn’t be overlooked either.
Previous ‘Look For’ Studies
