The Steelers' wide receivers room is going to look different in 2024, especially after the team dealt Diontae Johnson to Carolina. George Pickens will be expected to shoulder the load of being the No. 1 receiver that many believe he is capable of being. Calvin Austin III is expected to take a leap in his second full season. Roman Wilson was drafted on Day 2 and should fulfill the slot receiver position. The Steelers made many more depth adds that have the ability to contribute.
But, a move that might have gone under the radar and will benefit the offense this season is the addition of Van Jefferson. His familiarity with Arthur Smith's offense from his 12 games in Atlanta last season brings value in and of itself, but the 27-year old has some post-hype sleeper potential that could benefit the Steelers if Smith can bring it out of him.
While getting his start at Steelers OTAs, Jefferson is embracing the new opportunity.
"Just making the most of my opportunity, what ever that might be," Jefferson said. "That's my mindset. ... That's always the main goal, to come in and have that mindset. I'm just trying to come in and work and be the best player I can be and earn the trust of quarterbacks and earn the trust of coaches and make the most of the opportunity."
The Steelers took a chance on Jefferson in free agency at a one-year, $1.125 million price tag. The Falcons acquired Jefferson from the Rams in early October in a pick swap. He was more productive with the Rams in Sean McVay's potent offense as he caught eight passes for 108 yards in five games as a Ram in 2023. In 12 games with Atlanta, Jefferson caught 12 passes for 101 yards.
He essentially fills a void left from Allen Robinson's departure, but he brings some more speed than Robinson did.
"Van is a technician," Austin said. "He's always had great routes, even in college, Senior Bowl, all of that, he had crazy routes. He's been in the 'big game' before, won the 'big game,' so he brings tons of experience and he's still younger but a veteran type of presence."
A second-round pick in 2020, Jefferson is two full seasons removed from his most productive one. In the Rams' Super Bowl championship 2021 season, Jefferson set career highs in targets (89), receptions (50), yards (802) and touchdowns (six) while being a deep weapon for McVay. More than half of his receptions (32) resulted in first downs and his 16.0 yards per reception were his career best in that season.
In Super Bowl LVI against the Bengals, Jefferson had four receptions for 23 yards. Russell Wilson, a Super Bowl champion in his own right, appreciates Jefferson's championship pedigree.
"I think, first of all, he's a champion," Wilson said. "His work ethic -- he has champion habits and mentality and that's the best thing about him. The love for the game, you recognize that. He has such tremendous ability and I've got so much confidence in him."
The Steelers added Scotty Miller, Quez Watkins, Marquez Callaway and Denzel Mims over the offseason, but neither option is likely to contend for Jefferson's current spot opposite Pickens. The Steelers are widely considered as a candidate to make a move for a top-of-the-line and more-proven wide receiver to start opposite Pickens in this latest round of cuts that began June 1. Those cuts are meant to help teams parse that player's cap hit over the next two seasons rather than absorbing it all in the current season.
If that happens, then Jefferson's role will obviously change.
"Obviously I have a lot of confidence in myself," Jefferson said. "I think I can do those things. But at the end of the day I've got to put in the work and earn the opportunity to do that. Nothing is given, nothing's going to be handed to me so at the end of the day I've got to work for that spot and I'm comfortable doing it."
It's situated as it is under Smith, who Jefferson referred to as an "amazing coach."
"I got traded in the middle of the season so I wasn't perfect with the offense, so now I've got a full offseason under my belt to learn this offense," Jefferson said. "It's been helpful ... I think (Smith) still has that personality. Just get going. He wants everything to be perfect. He wants the guys to work hard and I think he had that mentality in (Atlanta) and I think he's bringing that to Pittsburgh."
Jefferson feels he can put up 1,000 yards in this offense.
"Oh, yeah, you always think highly of yourself, always think you can do those things," Jefferson said. "I definitely think I can do that but at the same time you've got to put the work in now in order to get that result. At the end of the day, taking it one day at a time, being where my feet are, enjoying the moment now and let the results take care of themselves."
