Will Steelers Rookie Wilson Start Week 1?
The Pittsburgh Steelers have several decisions looming in the receiver room, none bigger than who will start on the boundary opposite star George Pickens.
However, finding a starter in the slot may be more complicated than initially anticipated. While many have assumed third-round rookie receiver Roman Wilson will fill the vacancy inside, performing like a viable starter from the jump was always an ambitious expectation, especially for a Day 2 pick.
Wilson may very well be the second-most talented target on the roster, but is he guaranteed to start versus the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1?
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According to Ray Fittipaldo, the collective assumption that he’d have an immediate impact may deserve a second look.
“People keep asking me about Roman Wilson,” he told 93.7 The Fan on Thursday. “Roman Wilson has to fill out a lot. I don’t know what they list him at in his weight, but he’s one of the thinnest receivers I’ve seen in quite some time. He’s not a big guy, so we’ll see about him.”
The Steelers’ roster has him at 5-foot-10, 186 pounds—bigger than fellow receivers Calvin Austin III and Scotty Miller.
Adding weight and filling out one’s frame is a common aspect of the transition to the NFL, but how quickly he bulks up could be a factor in his early-season playing time. With Austin and Miller pushing for snaps in the slot, it’s possible Wilson temporarily falls down the pecking order as he adjusts to the league’s physicality.
Where this may play a bigger role in Pittsburgh’s quest to expand his game toward the outside. As a Z receiver, he wouldn’t see as much press as, say, Pickens, but it’s generally a more demanding spot than the slot. While kicking him outside on occasion opens the door for other playmakers to play inside—and gets him on the field in 12 personnel—that may be an option the Steelers pursue down the road.
Wilson’s size is something to monitor, but until proven otherwise, the talent across the rest of the receiving room will be the biggest factor in how many snaps the Michigan product sees as a rookie.