Steelers WR busts after leaving Pittsburgh: Will George Pickens trade to Cowboys join Antonio Brown, others on list?

Under Mike Tomlin’s stewardship, the Steelers have achieved more success than most, collecting 12 postseason appearances, two Super Bowl berths and one Lombardi Trophy across the veteran head coach’s nearly 20-year tenure.

During that time, Pittsburgh has played host to a number of captivating talents at the wide receiver position. Turnover has been constant in the role — such is the case in the NFL. Still, the Steelers tend to impress in the area, with the well of steady pass-catchers who donned black-and-yellow continuing to churn consistently nearly two decades after Tomlin’s coaching debut.

And yet, many of these same talents have struggled to find their footing in destinations other than the Steel City. Throughout Tomlin’s career — and even before his arrival — Pittsburgh has left a trail of pass-catching mavens who look anything but in different colors.

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Here’s what you need to know.

Steelers WR busts after leaving Pittsburgh

Diontae Johnson

Johnson established himself as one of the league’s better pass-catchers during a five-year spell in Pittsburgh, posting one 1,000-yard season and three 800-yard campaigns from 2019-2023.

Johnson garnered a Pro Bowl berth in 2021 after tallying 107 receptions for 1,161 yards and eight scores across 14 starts. In 2024, he was sent to a trio of sides — Carolina, Baltimore and Houston. He struggled at all three sites, amassing just 375 yards and three touchdowns, the vast majority of which came with the Panthers.

Chase Claypool

A former second-round pick, Claypool came to Pittsburgh with hopes of establishing himself as a potential No. 1 pass-catcher. That didn’t quite happen. But he was still fairly productive in black-and-yellow, proving an effective foil to Johnson as a deep threat.

Claypool posted back-to-back 800-yard campaigns in 2020 and 2021. His numbers trailed off markedly in 2022. But his potential still attracted suitors, namely the Bears, who parted ways with a second-round pick to secure his services.

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Three years later and the Notre Dame alum has yet to reach the heights of his early-career flourish. He’s tallied just 148 yards since his Pittsburgh exit, felled by injuries and poor performance. Claypool remains unsigned ahead of the 2025 season.

Juju Smith-Schuster

Smith-Schuster represents something of an outlier on this list. While he’s fallen well short of the career-best marks he set during his time in the Steel City, he’s been a pivotal part of a championship-winning side.

Smith-Schuster collected nearly 4,000 yards during his five-year spell with the Steelers, including a mammoth 111-catch, 1,426-yard Pro Bowl display in 2018. Smith-Schuster inked a deal with the Chiefs ahead of the 2022 season and proceeded to fall just short of a 1,000-yard campaign. His performances earned him a three-year, $33 million contract with the Patriots. However, his figures tailed off mightily, leading to his release.

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Smith-Schuster returned to Kansas City in 2024. But he was far from his best, averaging just 16.5 yards a game for the Super Bowl runner-ups. He’ll be back in Chiefs red for the 2025 season, too.

Antonio Brown

Where do you begin with Antonio Brown? The gifted wideout was perhaps the sport’s finest pass-catcher during his time in Pittsburgh, nabbing four All-Pro appearances and a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-2010s team. Brown posted six straight 1,200-yard seasons, including a standout 2017 season, which saw him receive Sporting News Offensive Player of the Year honors.

After falling out with his longtime employers following the 2018 season, Brown was sent to the Raiders. Controversy marred his dwindling on-field production, with Oakland dumping him before he ever played a game. A one-game stint in New England and two-year spell in Tampa Bay followed, both ending in controversy. Brown hasn’t played in the NFL since 2021 and continues to grab headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Santonio Holmes

At his peak, Holmes was one of the NFL’s best No. 2 wideouts, proving an effective foil for the rugged play of four-time Pro Bowler Hines Ward.

Responsible for one of the greatest moments in franchise history, Holmes — the Super Bowl 43 MVP — averaged nearly 1,000 yards a season across his first four seasons, all with Pittsburgh.

In 2010, he was dealt to the Jets. He never hit the heights he produced during his time with the Steelers, seeing his production taper off precipitously over his next four seasons. After a subpar showing with the Bears in 2014, Holmes was out of the league.

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Plaxico Burress

Rounding out the list of Steelers pass-catching flameouts is Burress, a supremely talented receiver whose post-Steelers career produced plenty of peaks and troughs. Burress spent his first five seasons with the Steelers, establishing himself as one of the league’s best red zone threats.

Seeking a bigger deal, Burress agreed to a six-year, $25 million contract with the Giants in 2005. He proceeded to put up some impressive figures in his first three seasons with the organization, twice hitting the 1,000-yard mark. He also famously snagged the game-winning score in New York’s Super Bowl triumph over New England in 2008.

Burress’ career hit a snag amid contract disputes and an accidental shooting case that took away two years of his career. He returned to the field in 2011 with the Jets but was a shell of his former self. By 2012, he was out of the league.