Before I start off, let me once again express my fandom for Martavis Bryant. I believe wholeheartedly that Bryant will be suited up and eligible for the 2017 season. He clearly has turned his life around and has refocused himself for the better. (check his Instagram) Martavis has nothing to do with this post except the fact that he too plays wide receiver.

With that being said, the Steelers could definitely still select a wide out at some point in the draft. In this article, I will be highlighting seven different wide receiver prospects from this upcoming 2017 NFL draft; one for each round in which the Steelers could be targeting him.

Round 1

Corey Davis (Western Michigan)

In most, if not all opinions, there are three receivers who could/should be picked in the first round. Those men are Mike Williams (Clemson) Corey Davis (Western Michigan) and John Ross (Washington). Mike Williams has the mouth watering size that you want in your number one wide receiver (6’4 /218 lbs), and the athleticism to match. John Ross became famous overnight after beating Chris Johnson‘s 40-yard dash record at the NFL Scouting Combine that stood since 2007 (4.22)!

The NFL values size and speed at a higher rate than any other attributes. Therefore, by the process of elimination, Corey Davis is the most realistic option for the Steelers at pick 30.

By all means, a talent like Davis could go top 20, but in the eyes of NFL executives, you can’t teach size or speed.

They aren’t wrong. Davis isn’t short: he measures in at 6’3, but again, not as tall as Clemson’s Mike Williams. However, Corey Davis and his four-year production-filled pedigree would be a perfect match alongside fellow MAC alumni, Antonio Brown, and a different Clemson alumni, Martavis Bryant.

Round 2

Chris Godwin (Penn State)

He’s been killing the pre-draft process since the Rose Bowl, (career high 187 yards) and there might not be a receiver who’s stock has risen more this whole time.

Godwin has seen playing time at PSU since his freshman year, improving his play and production with each passing season. Todd Haley, the Steelers offensive coordinator, and known wide receiver lover was spotted front and center at Chris Godwin’s pro day. The prospect has also made the trip to Pittsburgh for an official visit.

Godwin could very well be gone by pick #62 overall (the Steelers 2nd round pick) but if he’s not, best believe the front office and Tomlin strongly consider.

Round 3

JuJu Smith-Schuster (USC)

Opinions on Smith-Schuster are everywhere.

Before the start of the 2016 season, JuJu was thought of to be one of the nation’s top wide receivers, if not the top wide receiver. He was a first team all-conference receiver at USC as a sophomore. All signs were pointing to the next big thing.

Unfortunately, injuries have plagued this man throughout a large majority of his football career. However, Smith-Schuster has more than enough reason to be a third round value pick, in my eyes. He has the size and the pedigree, when healthy. The major knock on him, besides durability, is his speed. But if JuJu is used the right way in the right system, his 4.51 speed is just fine. He’s not going to blow the top off of NFL defenses, but he can be plenty productive.

One of my favorite traits of his is the lack of fear to run routes over the middle of the field: slant routes, in routes, dig routes, screens, etc. A lot of wide receivers have a hard time doing this, and given JuJu’s lengthy injury filled past, you would think he’d be timider to do so. Although this is not the case, and the receiver displays admirable toughness more often than not. He’s so tough, he has drawn comparisons to Anquan Boldin. (who broke his face in a 2008 NFL game… and still plays to this day.)

Tough wide receiver? Sign the Steelers up! (Wink wink Hines Ward.)

Round 4

Amara Darboh (Michigan)

Unlike my previous picks, Amara Darboh is a name not being spat out on every single NFL draft television show.

Darboh is a case I have been following for a couple months now. He measured in at 6’2″ 214 lbs. at the combine, and that size originally had scouts curious of his speed. Well, the young man answered any questions about that after posting a 4.45 forty yard dash.

It’s not just the size and speed that draws me to Darboh. His ability to play anywhere in the offense does. Coming from a pro-style offense at Michigan, he was moved all around and has experience playing outside and slot. If you want to come away impressed, wait until you see a speed out from this man on tape. It’s his best route and he runs it to perfection. Ben Roethlisberger makes that throw quite often, for whatever that’s worth.

And the Steelers were represented at Michigan pro day.

Round 5

Ryan Switzer (North Carolina)

I won’t beat around the bush: I love me some Ryan Switzer. He doesn’t get enough hype in my opinion, at all.

The kid has been (like my other picks) seeing serious playing time since freshman year and the production from him while at Chapel Hill is off the charts. Although unlikely to be demoted, Antonio Brown could actually be taken off punt returns if Ryan Switzer comes to town because he has a record of five returned for touchdowns in a single season.

Even if his punt returning skills prove pointless, the addition of another slot receiver is welcomed. Eli Rogers showed some real flashes last year of being an elite slot receiver, but after Eli, who do the Steelers have?

AB can’t run exclusively from the slot (or it would be a waste) and DeMarcus Ayers is still a work in progress. Realistically, Pittsburgh is one injury away from being slim at the position.

Scouts seem to view Switzer as a “poor man’s” Julian Edleman/Wes Welker. I’m here to say I believe he can be just as good if not better; especially in regards to Welker. Like Darboh and Godwin, the Steelers were at Switzer’s pro day too.

Round 6

Kenny Golladay (Northern Illinois)

Another “height/weight/speed” guy, Golladay may have one of the highest ceilings in the draft. Clocking in at 4.5 flat, I’m not sure if Golladay qualifies as a “field stretcher” like Martavis, but his game speed says otherwise.

Golladay displays the subtle nuances of the position that help him get open deep. Even with 4.5 speed, Golladay’s hand-fighting and release off the line are rather impressive. His 6″4 frame also makes him a long strider, meaning he has build-up speed. The talent is there, the instincts are there, and the size is there. Golladay might not even make it to round six.

But seeing his name come off the board to Pittsburgh in the 6th round would make me (and I’m sure others) a happy camper. He might not be a “day one contributor” but Pittsburgh wide receivers rarely ever are. (Including Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant.)

Round 7

Billy Brown (Shepherd)

Before you send your “WHO?” tweets, the Steelers have had a player from Shepherd (a Division 2 powerhouse) on the roster before. Howard Jones, a pass rusher, almost made the Steelers final 53-man roster in 2015. Long story short he didn’t, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked him up shortly after.

Why does this matter? Because it shows the Steelers don’t care where you came from, as long as you can play. That’s especially true in the latest rounds. This kid can play, so he might get a look.

Not to toot my own horn, but I have a “source” close to the situation. A good friend of mine plays linebacker at Charleston University (another Division 2 powerhouse) and he told me last year to be on the look out for this monstrosity, his team had to play against, who couldn’t be stopped.

That man was Billy Brown.

Billy Brown is one of the more intriguing prospects in the draft. He barley even qualifies for this list but his position says wide receiver so, I’m clear!

Weighing in at 255 lbs, the 6″4 receiver clocked a 4.7 flat 40-yard dash at the combine. That’s ideal speed for a player playing at his size, especially if he was a tight end. That’s where I’m going with this. Maybe not change his position outright, but to have a versatile player like that can only lead to mismatches. (See Aaron Hernandez, Jordan Reed, and Tim Wright.)