The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to focus on adding a wide receiver during the upcoming offseason, as the team struggled with consistent receiving options outside of George Pickens in 2024. General manager Omar Khan may address this need either through the draft or by pursuing free agents. One player on the Steelers’ radar is DeAndre Hopkins, a five-time All-Pro wide receiver who is predicted to join Pittsburgh on a $28 million deal, according to Marcus Mosher of The 33rd Team.
The Steelers have been actively looking for reliable wide receivers for several years, and they are likely to be aggressive in free agency. Although Hopkins will be turning 33 before the 2025 season, he remains a viable outside receiver. While his ability to create separation has diminished over time, Hopkins could still provide a significant upgrade over the likes of Van Jefferson, Mike Williams, and Calvin Austin.
Hopkins’ performance in 2024 has been somewhat disappointing. After being traded from the Tennessee Titans to the Kansas City Chiefs on October 23, he has not been a major contributor to the Chiefs’ offense. In ten regular season games, Hopkins caught just 41 passes for 437 yards and four touchdowns. In total, he finished the season with 610 yards.
Hopkins has also struggled in the postseason, catching just one pass for 11 yards on three targets. His lack of involvement has been evident, as he has played a total of only 28 snaps over two playoff games. Despite this down year, Hopkins’ previous seasons demonstrate that he still has potential to be a productive player.
The 32-year-old receiver is coming off a solid 2023 campaign with the Titans, where he recorded 75 catches for 1,057 yards and eight touchdowns. His strong performance the year before shows that he can still be a reliable asset, even though his 2024 season has been less impressive.
The Steelers could greatly benefit from adding an experienced wide receiver like Hopkins to their roster. His addition would complement George Pickens, who has shown promise but is still developing. Hopkins’ ability as a polished route runner would also provide Pittsburgh’s quarterbacks with a reliable target and a solid safety net.
In terms of financial flexibility, the Steelers are expected to have around $40 million in cap space heading into the offseason. This ample amount of cap space should allow them to not only sign Hopkins but also address other areas of need on the team. The potential signing of Hopkins could play a pivotal role in improving Pittsburgh’s offensive depth.
Although Hopkins is no longer the elite player he once was, he would still be a valuable addition to the Steelers’ offense. The former first-round pick of the Houston Texans still has a lot left to offer, and his leadership and experience would be invaluable for mentoring Pickens and strengthening Pittsburgh’s wide receiver corps moving forward.
