With the 84th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Steelers selected Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson.
A nearly 5-11 and 185 pounds, Wilson projects as a slot wide receiver in the NFL. But he was Michigan's No. 1 wide receiver in 2023, catching 48 passes for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns. Of his 48 receptions, just over 37 percent went for gains of 20 or more yards, while nearly 80 percent of his receptions either went for a touchdown or a first down. His average depth of target at Michigan was 14.1 yards downfield.
Take a look at photos of Pittsburgh Steelers third-round pick, WR Roman Wilson
Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson (14) during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football semifinal playoff game against TCU, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Glendale, Arizona. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson (1) celebrates a first-down reception against Purdue in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson is pushed out of bounds by Washington cornerback Dominique Hampton during the first half of the national championship NCAA College Football Playoff game Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson is pushed out of bounds by Washington cornerback Dominique Hampton during the first half of the national championship NCAA College Football Playoff game Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson (1) runs after a catch against East Carolina in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson (1) runs with the football during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Minnesota Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson watches in the second half of an NCAA college football game against UNLV in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson reacts after scoring against Michigan State during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson (1) makes a leaping catch during the second half in the Rose Bowl CFP NCAA semifinal college football game against Alabama, Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Wilson posted a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, which Michigan used to shake him free on crossing routes. Wilson caught 71.7 percent of his passes in 2023 between the hash marks.
Wilson joins a wide receiver room that saw the Steelers trade away Diontae Johnson in the offseason to the Carolina Panthers in a package that saw them acquire cornerback Donte Jackson. The Steelers still have George Pickens and Calvin Austin from their 2023 roster, while they also have signed Quez Watkins and Van Jefferson in free agency, while also having practice squad holdovers such as Denzel Mims, Dez Fitzpatrick and Marquez Callaway who also have NFL experience.
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"He's got versatility," said Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. "The game has evolved. You do motion and it's condensed on early downs. Whether you're at the X (receiver) or the Z (receiver), it's kind of interchangeable. When you get into some of the passing situations on later downs, he's got inside-out flexibility. You like his instincts that he could play inside on obvious passing situations.
In last year's college football playoffs, Wilson had four receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown in a win over Alabama and then had three receptions for 54 yards in the national championship win over Washington.
In his career, Wilson had just one dropped pass, finishing with 107 receptions for 1,707 yards and 20 touchdowns.
He's also an established blocker coming out of Michigan's run-heavy offense.
"He's another really high-football character player," said Smith. "You could see his instincts on tape. He stepped up in the big moments. He had a great energy about him, too, when I met him in person. … He's got versatility. He's got a lot of instincts."
