Despite not selecting a receiver in the 2023 draft for the second time in three years, the Pittsburgh Steelers had a consistent history of picking at least one wideout in the…
Despite not selecting a receiver in the 2023 draft for the second time in three years, the Pittsburgh Steelers had a consistent history of picking at least one wideout in the preceding nine drafts, with many selections occurring in the middle rounds. On February 18, Curt Popejoy from USA Today’s Steelers Wire suggested a potential mid-round receiver pick for the Steelers—Ainias Smith from Texas A&M.
Popejoy made a case for drafting Smith as a replacement for the veteran receiver Allen Robinson, highlighting Smith’s versatility as a player who excels as a wide receiver, running back, and returner. He emphasized Smith’s elite quickness, change of direction, and propensity for making significant plays.
In the 2023 season, Smith recorded 53 catches for 795 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns, maintaining an average of nearly 16 yards per reception in his final 16 college games.
While the Steelers acquired Robinson at a minimal cost last offseason by exchanging seventh-round draft picks with the Los Angeles Rams, Robinson’s underwhelming performance of only 34 catches for 280 yards in 2023 is expected to result in an approximately $11.9 million cap hit for the 2024 season.
