Player: WR Roman Wilson
Stock Value: Up
Reasoning: In the days leading up to the Steelers’ first preseason game, Roman Wilson seems to have a clear lead for the No. 3 WR role. While there’s still a long way to go, the third-year man seems to be doing everything the coaches hoped he would be doing. Not without the occasional error, but enough to keep his spot in the pecking order.
If Germie Bernard is to leapfrog Roman Wilson before the regular season begins, he needs to make his move soon. Starting tonight in the Steelers’ preseason opener would be a good idea. Based on everything we’ve seen to this point, though, it will be Wilson out there with the first-team offense.
The question is what the next step is for Wilson, because he’s done everything before in the offseason. Last year, he had a good preseason. While he didn’t play a lot, he made plays. The Steelers still started Calvin Austin III over him when the regular season rolled around, though. Germie Bernard, even as a second-round pick, is a rookie who has yet to prove himself.
Not that Roman Wilson has proven himself. But he also has a fresh start, as this is not the coaching staff that benched him last season. And Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling aren’t here anymore. Sure, they brought in Michael Pittman Jr., but Wilson isn’t competing for the No. 2 role.
This is about the No. 3 WR gig, and in Mike McCarthy’s offense, that will actually be a starting role. Most importantly, he seems to have a better relationship—likely both off and on the field—with Aaron Rodgers, which should go a long way toward him finding more success in his career.
The question is, perhaps, how long can he hold off Germie Bernard? Of course, having four quality wide receivers would be a very welcome problem for the Steelers, and one they haven’t had in a long time. They saw the talent in Wilson two years ago when they drafted him in the third round. Is this the year he finally lives up to his potential?
With the 2026 training camp here and many moves made, we have stock to take. Already promising a year of change, the Steelers have shaken things up. That is unavoidable, of course, when you gut the coaching staff. Mike Tomlin’s resignation has fundamentally changed this football team, including the players on the roster.
After a long season, the Steelers showed the ability to win the division and make the playoffs. But they also showed that their progress was minimal, since they made it no further. Two years in a row, with two different quarterbacks, they went 10-7 and lost in the Wild Card Round. The only differences are that they ended the season on a higher note and won the AFC North. But it didn’t help.