The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense has fluctuated throughout the offseason. It entered March with quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields lingering as options, but watched both depart in free agency. They traded for receiver DK Metcalf and dealt his co-star, George Pickens, away after the NFL Draft. All the while, the fate of quarterback Aaron Rodgers has left the Steelers in limbo.
After Pickens was traded to the Dallas Cowboys, it became clear that 2026 is a priority, and that 2025 will likely look an awful lot like the rest of the post-Ben Roethlisberger era. But there’s still work to do to maximize their chances this season, and as free agency slows to a crawl, a handful of veterans remain available.
Pittsburgh could use further insulation at receiver, particularly opposite Metcalf on the perimeter. On Tuesday, the front office took a step toward addressing the issue.
According to Adam Schefter, the Steelers will host potential starting receiver Gabe Davis on a free-agent visit on Thursday.
Davis is coming off the worst year of his career, which culminated in his release from the Jacksonville Jaguars with a failed physical designation. His torn meniscus limited him to just 10 games. In a rudderless Jaguars offense laden with coaching miscues and quarterback changes, Davis managed just 20 catches for 239 yards and two scores.
Still, it isn’t hard to find an optimistic outlook on Davis’ game. With the Buffalo Bills, Davis scored 27 touchdowns over the four-year duration of his rookie contract. After two 500-yard campaigns, he took a step forward and posted 836 and 746 yards in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
He did so without ever touching 50 receptions in a season. Davis does his best work as a vertical field stretcher whose frame and catch-point prowess make him a threat downfield. That is fairly synonymous with Metcalf, so it’s entirely possible that a signing would make him the backup X receiver rather than the starting Z option. Even so, if he’s healthy, there’s a reasonable chance he improves the receiving corps.
Davis’ skill set is limited. But if Pittsburgh is just asking him to play for his strengths, the occasional splash play could elevate a concerning passing offense.
Schefter also noted that the Steelers checked in on, but are not pursuing, Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith.
