The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into a pivotal offseason, and the decisions made in the coming months could shape the trajectory of the franchise for years to come. With Mike McCarthy stepping in as head coach and Omar Khan continuing to lead the front office, the Steelers are positioned to be one of the more intriguing teams to watch – especially when it comes to how they approach free agency.

Now, Pittsburgh isn’t exactly swimming in cap space, but with nearly $45 million available before any restructures or potential cap casualties, there’s room to make moves. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned about Khan, it’s that he’s not afraid to be aggressive when the right opportunity presents itself. That mindset might come into play again, particularly at wide receiver – a position that’s been a sore spot since the departure of Diontae Johnson.

Enter Alec Pierce.

The Colts receiver is set to hit the open market, and he checks a lot of boxes for what Pittsburgh needs. He’s young, talented, and still developing – the kind of player who could grow into a major role rather than just fill a gap.

Pierce was a second-round pick back in 2022, and it’s worth noting the Steelers showed real interest in him during the pre-draft process. That kind of familiarity matters.

Pittsburgh has a history of circling back to players they liked coming out of college, and Pierce fits that mold.

But here’s the catch – and it’s a big one. Pierce is going to have options. A lot of them.

According to Spotrac, his projected market value sits at a four-year deal worth just under $81 million. That’s a serious investment, especially for a team that already has money tied up in DK Metcalf. So the question becomes: is it worth doubling down?

If you’re the Steelers, the answer might be yes.

Let’s be honest – the receiver room has been underwhelming. George Pickens has flashed WR1 potential, but the supporting cast hasn’t held up its end of the bargain.

Relying on one guy to carry the passing game is a risky formula, and it showed last season. Defenses keyed in on Pickens, and the offense struggled to find rhythm or consistency.

Adding someone like Pierce could change that dynamic in a big way.

He’s not just a complementary piece – he’s a legitimate threat who can stretch the field, win contested catches, and create separation. Pairing him with Pickens would give the Steelers a much more balanced and dangerous receiving corps, something they’ve been missing for a while now.

Of course, pulling this off won’t be easy. With 27 in-house free agents to consider and other roster holes to patch, Pittsburgh will have to be strategic.

But if Khan can maneuver the cap – and he’s shown he can – there’s a real path to making this kind of splash. And with McCarthy now in the building, don’t rule out a more aggressive offensive approach that prioritizes weapons on the outside.

Pierce won’t come cheap, and the Steelers will have competition. But if they want to give their offense a jolt and finally stabilize the receiver position, this is the kind of move that could pay off in a big way.