Report: Steelers showing interest in Rams WR Tavon Austin

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team who doesn’t have a huge need for a wide receiver, especially when compared to other NFL teams, but there is certainly a case to be made for Pittsburgh bringing in another wide receiver.

Whether the receiver is a free agent, or a draft pick, after Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and JuJu Smith-Schuster, the team has nothing but uncertainty after their top three pass-catchers.

Eli Rogers is coming off a torn ACL in the playoff loss to the Jaguars, Justin Hunter is anything but a sure-thing and Darrius Heyward-Bey might find himself on the outside looking in when the new league year begins.

With that said, the Steelers certainly could, and probably should, be looking to add to their wide receiver depth chart, and rumors are already swirling around one player who is expected to be released soon.

Per CrossingBroad.com, the Steelers have placed a call regarding Tavon Austin, who the Rams are expected to release this week.

“A league source reached out to Crossing Broad a few days after the story went up, explaining that Austin has had contact with the Texans, Steelers, Jets and Ravens.

“He would probably find success on the Steelers, though their quarterback future looks foggy.”

Austin would certainly check off several boxes for the Steelers. He is a kick returner and punt returner, a position the Steelers have struggled to fill in recent years, and can play the slot as well as in the backfield as a ball carrier.

The knock on Austin is he isn’t an every down receiver. He is more of a gimmick style player who has a package of plays which you utilize his skill set, and the price tag for such a player might not be worth the output.

These reports often come from agents, or someone close to the player, and often carry no real substance at all, but at BTSC we want to keep fans as informed as possible with the news surrounding the black-and-gold.

Stay tuned for more on this story and other free agent rumors.