PITTSBURGH — The depth of the Steelers’ receiving corps, or lack thereof, has been a point of contention since March 12, 2024.

That was the day general manager Omar Khan traded receiver Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. While it was a necessary move to shake up some locker-room dynamics and part with a challenging personality, the other shoe never dropped. Khan never added another proven receiver to round out that room. During the subsequent season, the depth chart at the position looked like George Pickens … a huge gap … and then everyone else.

Many wondered who would fill the void at WR2. The real concern, though, was what happens if Pickens gets hurt?

That worst-case scenario came to fruition at the worst time, when Pickens pulled his hamstring that December. His ensuing absence coincided directly with the Steelers’ late-season tailspin. Pickens missed a Week 15 loss in Philadelphia and a Week 16 game in Baltimore, when the Steelers had a chance to clinch the AFC North. Even after Pickens returned, the Steelers never recovered.

Rather than learn from history, Khan and the Steelers repeated it. This offseason, the Steelers reshuffled their deck. They acquired DK Metcalf in a blockbuster trade and then, shortly after, dealt Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. The receiver room looked different, sure, but the dynamic was awfully familiar. Pittsburgh had one star receiver at the top of the depth chart … a big gap … and then a lot of question marks.

At least that’s how most people who follow the Steelers saw it. Well, everyone except the person most responsible for putting the team together.

“We wouldn’t have done this if we didn’t feel good about the receiver situation (and) about our depth there,” Khan said shortly after trading Pickens. “I know people make a comparison about last year. It’s not even close to being the same.”

What’s the difference?

“Well, obviously, we made the investment with DK,” Khan said. “We’ve had another year with some of the young guys and gotten to know them and watch them develop. We added Robert Woods. Roman (Wilson’s) healthy.”

The fact that Woods was part of Khan’s answer tells you everything you need to know about how the Steelers have evaluated the wide receiver position.

Woods, if you even remember his Steelers tenure, was cut at the end of training camp and spent a week on the practice squad before being released. No offense to Woods, who he put together a solid 12-year career, but the fact that a 33-year-old in his 13th season was supposed to help provide depth at a critical position is almost laughable. None of the other 31 teams were willing to take the same gamble, as Woods’ career effectively ended when he was released.

At the same time, the “young guys” Khan mentioned — Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson — have failed to take the anticipated step forward.

Austin looked like he was on a positive trajectory in 2024, when he caught 36 passes for 548 yards and four touchdowns. His production should have improved significantly this year, given that he was handed the WR2 role in camp. Instead, the 5-9, 162-pound receiver endured an oblique injury in camp that prevented him from developing chemistry with Rodgers, suffered a shoulder injury in Dublin in Week 4 that kept him out a month and now is recovering from a hamstring injury. For those who doubt Austin can thrive in the NFL at his size, his injury-marred season has done little to quell those concerns.