Due to his high salary cap number in 2024, veteran wide receiver Allen Robinson of the Pittsburgh Steelers will probably soon be
released. That means that the newly appointed offensive coordinator for the Steelers, Arthur Smith, will probably add a receiver who is
accustomed to his scheme to fill the role of WR3, a position that is unlikely to see a lot of targets and will be primarily used for
blocking.
Unfortunately, at 5’9″ and 162 pounds, current Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin Jr. is too small to box out defenders; he
will not be able to win the line of scrimmage. Although he makes an attempt, asking him to play safety or linebacker is simply too
much.
Not every receiver can square up and successfully block a defender; some will only obstruct the path. But, in order to convert those
spectacular 20-yard run plays into 40-yard or even 60-yard runs, the downfield blocking of the receivers will need to significantly
improve for a club like Pittsburgh that aspires to be run-dominant.
The Steelers may want to take a look at a few affordable receivers with a focus on blocking that are scheduled to become free agents
this offseason. Unless they want to resign Allen Robinson to a lesser deal. The following free agents, who have worked under Arthur
Smith at his most recent NFL trips, are ones the Steelers could want to pursue in free agency at a cost commensurate with their
expectations.
The NFL journeyman Mack Hollins’ career averages of 21.8 receptions and 281.8 yards per season clearly indicate that he is not much
of a receiving threat. But he’s precisely the type of receiver you want to use in the blocking game to fill in for injured tight ends on
occasion. But Hollins still has to be taken into consideration in the receiving game so that when he’s out there, a running play doesn’t
seem to be approaching.
Hollins is a more experienced wide receiver than Allen Robinson, therefore they shouldn’t spend a lot of money on him. If forced to
choose between the two, he is a much better blocker than Robinson.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, a wide receiver with the Tennessee Titans, is a younger bigger-body blocking option than Allen Robinson and
Mack Hollins. Compared to Hollins, who hasn’t produced much as a receiver outside of one season, Westbrook-Ikhine may have more
receiving potential. In each of his last three seasons, Westbrook-Ikhine has recorded 370+ receiving yards and three or more
touchdowns.
The Steelers are more likely to want to sign him to a lengthier contract than they would an older player since he is a younger
alternative. Similar to Hollins, Westbrook-Ikhine is a reliable blocker when it comes to the running game.
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