HOT HOT: Steelers surprisingly urged to pursue longtime rival wide receiver in bold potential move that could shake up the AFC

The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially reached the “summer break.” With minicamp ending Thursday, the team won’t practice again until the final full week of July.

At minicamp, Steelers wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni expressed confidence in Calvin Austin III as the team’s WR2. But that’s not likely to stop the rumor mill from suggesting other possible outside candidates over the next several weeks.

On June 9, CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin named former Baltimore Ravens wideout Nelson Agholor one of five potential receiving additions for the Steelers this summer.

“Gone are the days of Agholor warranting a starting gig at the NFL level; he may have hit his peak as a surprise Super Bowl standout with the Philadelphia Eagles back in 2017, when he shed the label of first-round bust to carve out a solid, if unspectacular, career as a secondary option,” Benjamin wrote. “Still, he’s shown flash as a downfield threat in multiple stops and systems, and his versatility lining up both inside and outside might be of value.

“At 32, still unsigned after a full offseason in free agency, he’d represent more of a low-risk, mild-reward bet.”

Agholor has arguably played for a Steelers rival his entire career (depending on how one views the Philadelphia Eagles and Las Vegas Raiders on the Pittsburgh’s 2025 rivalry pecking order).

After five seasons with the Eagles, Agholor joined the Raiders in 2020. He then spent two seasons with the New England Patriots and a pair of years with the Baltimore Ravens.

Last season, Agholor had 14 catches with 231 receiving yards and two touchdowns in Baltimore.

WR Nelson Agholor’s Career Against Steelers

Agholor has largely experienced a disappointing career as a former first-round pick. He just celebrated his 32nd birthday.

But the veteran wideout has showed in a couple games against the Steelers over recent years why he can still be a valuable asset.

In the playoffs last season, Agholor hauled in a 25-yard catch on his only target versus the Steelers. He also averaged 16 receiving yards per reception versus Pittsburgh during Week 5 of the 2023 season.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson loved throwing the ball deep to Agholor last season. The veteran wideout averaged only one catch per game and received only 29 targets while playing 420 snaps. But he registered 16.5 yards per reception.

With the Patriots in 2022, Agholor posted six catches for 110 yards and a touchdown during Week 2 at Pittsburgh.

Could the Steelers Use WR Nelson Agholor?

It wouldn’t cost much if the Steelers want to take a flier on Agholor. He played for the Ravens last season on a one-year, $3.75 million contract.

But it’s worth asking if Agholor really moves the needle at all for the Steelers even with their need at receiver.

Pittsburgh signed veteran Robert Woods this offseason. Woods doesn’t have the same big-play potential as Agholor, but actually, for most of his career, Agholor has been more in the 12-yards per reception range.

The Steelers could view Agholor too similar to Woods, who turned 33 in April, to pursue.

Pittsburgh is set to enter training camp with DK Metcalf and Austin at the top of the receiving depth chart. Woods could compete with 2024 third-rounder Roman Wilson for the receiving opportunities behind the top two targets.

The Steelers also have Scotty Miller, Ben Skowronek, Brandon Johnson, Lance McCutcheon, Roc Taylor, Ke’Shawn Williams and Montana Lemonious-Craig at receiver on the offseason roster.