He Was Called a Bust — Now This Steelers WR Is Embarrassing First-Team Defenders

Pittsburgh, PA – July 5, 2025

The spotlight usually chases the big-money names — but sometimes, it’s the rookies quietly grinding who end up stealing the stage. While fans focus on Russell Wilson’s arrival and the dynamic duo of George Pickens and DK Metcalf, one newcomer is forcing everyone at Steelers camp to stop and pay attention.

Roman Wilson was never supposed to be that guy. Pick 84 in the 2025 NFL Draft, slot receiver from Michigan, quietly added to a stacked receiver room. No headlines. No expectations. But after just a few days at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Wilson is making it very clear: he didn’t come here to sit.

“He just dusted me off the line,” one veteran defensive back was overheard saying after Wilson turned him inside out on a whip route during red zone drills. It wasn’t the only time. Whether it’s slants, outs, or option routes from the slot, Wilson has become a problem — and Steelers DBs are scrambling for answers.

This is the same Roman Wilson who, despite shining in the College Football Playoff and posting elite combine numbers, fell to Round 3. Critics said he was too small, didn’t face enough press coverage, wouldn’t translate to the pro game. But now, under the watchful eye of Arthur Smith, he’s rewriting that script with every rep.

Even DK Metcalf, known for his swagger and high standards, took notice. “He’s got juice, man. Real separator. I like watching him work,” Metcalf told reporters after practice. Coming from a $100 million receiver, that’s no small praise.

The Steelers aren’t asking Roman Wilson to be their WR1. Not yet. But they are asking him to be ready — and if early signs are any indication, he might be ready for a much bigger role than expected.

If he keeps this up through camp and into the preseason, don’t be shocked if Roman Wilson becomes this year’s breakout weapon — another mid-round gem that Pittsburgh turns into a Sunday nightmare for defenses.

Stay tuned to ESPN.