When it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense in 2025, the smallest details could spell the difference between glory and despair. As Al Pacino’s Coach Tony D’Amato preached in Any Given Sunday, “The inches we need are everywhere around us… It’s the difference between winning and losing.” For the Steelers, that critical inch might lie at the third wide receiver spot, where the talent drops sharply after George Pickens and D.K. Metcalf.
Enter veteran free agent Tyler Lockett, a three-time All-Pro who could be the game-changer Pittsburgh needs to reclaim Super Bowl glory. Released by the Seattle Seahawks on March 5 after 10 seasons, Lockett posted 49 catches for 600 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2024—his lowest since 2017—but his pedigree remains undeniable.
Pro Football Focus’ Dalton Wasserman recently pegged Lockett as a “genius” fit for the Steelers, urging GM Omar Khan to pounce. With Pickens and Metcalf forming a fearsome duo, the WR3 role—currently a void after Calvin Austin III’s meager 2024 (12 catches, 148 yards)—needs a spark. Lockett’s savvy could be it.
The Steelers might also relish snatching Lockett from an AFC North rival, as Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox tagged him as a prime target for the Cincinnati Bengals. “Cincy has Ja’Marr Chase, but Tee Higgins’ injury woes linger—Lockett fits,” Knox wrote April 5. A one-year, $7 million offer—mirroring Seattle’s cap savings—could seal the deal for Pittsburgh.
Lockett’s $89 million career haul came via a $29.6 million extension in 2024, with $12.6 million guaranteed already pocketed. The ex-Kansas State star’s durability (just 3 missed games in 10 years) stands out, especially after Pickens (4 missed games) and Metcalf (2) battled injuries in 2024.
Adding Lockett could stabilize a Steelers receiving corps that leaned heavily on its stars last year. Pickens and Metcalf’s $191 million combined extensions underscore their elite status, but depth faltered—Austin’s 148 yards paled next to Lockett’s career 907-yard average.
Lockett’s consistency—four straight 1,000-yard seasons from 2019-2022 and 61 career TDs—offers a safety net for Pittsburgh’s QB, be it Aaron Rodgers or a draft pick like Jaxson Dart. The Steelers traded a 2025 third-rounder for Jahan Dotson last August, only to see him flop (19 catches, 216 yards).
If 2025 ends with a Steelers Super Bowl, nabbing Lockett looks like a masterstroke. At 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, he’s a compact dynamo who could turn inches into victories—and remind Pittsburgh why small moves win big games.
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