Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
After adding linebacker Jarvis Jones and running back Le’Veon Bell to their roster, the Pittsburgh Steelers have now addressed their thin wide receiving corps and drafted Markus Wheaton out of Oregon State. With the departure of wide receiver Mike Wallace, Wheaton will be a welcomed addition to the Steelers’ offense.
I thought someone like Wheaton would be taken by Pittsburgh in the second round, but as crazy as this draft has been thus far, it doesn’t surprise me that something like this has happened.
Wheaton earned First-Team All Pac 12 honors in 2012 with 91 receptions, 1,244 yards and 11 touchdowns. He should be a good weapon for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the slot. In addition to playing in the slot, Wheaton can also play out wide, and has enough speed to beat defenders downfield, as well as the ability to be a possession receiver over the middle. His presence should also substitute for the possible loss of tight end Heath Miller in the beginning of the 2013 regular season.
Pittsburgh’s depth at wide receiver is looking much better now that they have Wheaton, Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders. Even though the Steelers have veterans Jericho Cotchery and Plaxico Burress still on the roster, I don’t think it will hurt for the organization to target another receiver in the later rounds during the final day of the draft.
In my opinion, this has the makings to be one of the best drafts the Steelers have had in recent history. Now that the second day of the draft has come to a close for Pittsburgh, all of Steeler Nation can wait to see what is in store for the team’s final five picks of the draft.
Clyde A. Speller is an NFL writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ClydeASpeller, or add him to your network on Google
