Andrew Buller-Russ
There’s no mystery anymore. Aaron Rodgers will be back as the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ starting quarterback in 2026. He’ll have a new head coach with an offensive mind, and the best part is, there’s no question about whether he’ll fit in nicely while reuniting with Mike McCarthy.
Last year, the four-time NFL MVP QB was good enough to help the Steelers return to the postseason. But they came up short in the first battle they faced, losing to the Texans 30-6 in the Wild Card round. Pittsburgh has spent the offseason trying to patch up its roster holes ever since.
Part of that process has included boosting the supporting cast around Rodgers’ offense. That’s included investing another first-round pick in an offensive tackle. Yet, the Steelers also traded for a new starting receiver in Michael Pittman, but there’s some doubt about whether he’s the type of playmaker Pittsburgh needed to make a difference in 2026.
Recently, Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay stated a case for why the Steelers “need” to be the team that signs free agent receiver Stefon Diggs.
“Adding a proven piece like Stefon Diggs would provide a massive boost to Pittsburgh’s passing offense. Diggs is coming off a bounce-back season, one in which he reeled in 85 balls for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns while serving as the No. 1 WR on a New England Patriots team that made a Super Bowl run. With his injury woes and legal troubles now in the rear-view, Diggs is the perfect candidate to join a Steelers squad all-in on winning a Super Bowl before their window with Rodgers is slammed shut.”
It’s true that the Steelers’ wide receiving corps has room for improvement. While DK Metcalf has WR1 potential, he operated more like a WR2 in Pittsburgh’s offense last season, just as Pittman did with the Colts (though he ranked third in yards behind Alec Pierce and tight end Tyler Warren).
In essence, the Steelers may have a pair of complementary receivers, but adding a consistent 1,000-yard receiver like Diggs could indeed help elevate Pittsburgh’s scoring attack. If the Steelers are intent on not only returning to the playoffs but potentially going further, then signing Diggs could be part of the solution.
Related: 2026 NFL QB Rankings After Aaron Rodgers Re-Joins Steelers
