The Pittsburgh Steelers have been insanely busy in the 2026 offseason. After a busy January in which they hired new head coach Mike McCarthy, free agency started in early March and kept things busy for the Black and Gold as they worked to fill some holes on the roster ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. The team acquired Michael Pittman Jr. from the Indianapolis Colts to provide wide receiver help for DK Metcalf, and the organization is believed to target another wide receiver next month.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf celebrating a first down with teammates in the 2025 season during a home game at Acrisure Stadium.

On Tuesday, local insider Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette had his weekly chat and was asked specifically about the future of Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson. While Wilson has underwhelmed so far in his NFL career, Fittipaldo believes that the 24-year old will be given a chance to develop more in 2026, despite the organization likely going after another wideout in the Draft. With a more rounded out and talented wide receiver room, Wilson needs to step up and prove himself this upcoming season.

“Yes, Roman Wilson will make the team this year. The coaches want to develop him,” Fittipaldo explained.

One positive note for the outlook of Wilson’s future in Pittsburgh is that McCarthy is an offensive-minded head coach. Should Fittipaldo’s feel on the situation be accurate and the team does want to develop Wilson, this may be the best chance the young WR has to do so. Pittman and Metcalf are two big-bodied offensive playmakers that will command a lot of attention from opposing defenses. This could open the door for Wilson to finally have a breakout season in Pittsburgh.

Wilson was a third-round pick from the University of Michigan by the organization in the 2024 NFL Draft. Wilson’s 2025 season was extremely limited in terms of production, as has been his career thus far overall as mentioned. He had 12 receptions for 166 yards and two touchdowns in 2025. With the added talent in the wide receiver room, and the potential for the team to add a prospect from the Draft, it could be now or never for Wilson in the Steel City.

Steelers’ Roman Wilson leaps over two Bengals defensive players with the football during a game in the 2025 season.

In Wilson’s final season in Ann Arbor, he collected 48 receptions for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns with the Wolverines. That 2023 season led to a National Championship for Wilson in his final collegiate campaign. Perhaps it was that 2023 senior year that stuck out when the organization decided to select Wilson in the 2024 Draft. However, his NFL career has been met with injuries and his true potential has yet to be shown.

Steelers Have Perfect Chance To Develop Wilson

The 2026 season presents the team with a great chance to truly try to develop Wilson. With Wilson standing just a bit under six feet tall, he profiles well as a slot wide receiver, which is something the team is believed to have on their list of needs as they approach the Draft. However, even if the team should select a slot wide receiver, Wilson can very much still fit into their plans to be developed as Fittipaldo eluded to.

With a surplus of third-round picks to Pittsburgh’s name, having three in total, they may choose to wait until that round to look to get their slot wide receiver to round out their wide receiver room. Another factor in play in that situation is that if they do decide to go with a wide receiver in the third round or later, it would ease the pressure on that prospect with the focus being mainly on developing Wilson. This gives the Black and Gold a perfect chance, barring any injuries or setbacks, to develop Wilson into what they thought they may have had when they drafted him in 2024.

Steelers’ Roman Wilson catches a ball during warmups ahead of a home game against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2025.

While the NFL playing time and production has been disappointing for Wilson, the scenario could play out perfectly for him and the team. It is also possible that Wilson is a late bloomer in the NFL and he does start to find some traction as a solidified slot wide receiver for Pittsburgh in 2026.