Steelers Rumors: Van Jefferson Signs 1-Year Contract After Diontae Johnson Trade

The Pittsburgh Steelers are using free agency to build wide receiver depth behind George Pickens.

Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the franchise had signed Van Jefferson to a one-year deal. Jefferson split the 2023 season with the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Rams after originally being a second round pick of the Rams.

This move comes just days after the Steelers dealt wide receiver Diontae Johnson and also signed quarterback Russell Wilson.

Jefferson won Super Bowl LVI with the Rams and has 1,600 career receiving yards with 10 touchdowns. He had a difficult 2023 campaign, only recording 20 catches for 209 total yards in 17 games while failing to record a touchdown. Twelve of those games were spent with the Falcons, while the first five were with the Rams.

The Steelers are banking on Jefferson hitting the potential that saw him go 57th overall in 2020. He did show that promise during the 2021 season, when he caught 50 passes for 802 yards and six touchdowns.

Pickens is the only starting-caliber receiver remaining for Pittsburgh. Calvin Austin is the only other remaining wide receiver who had more than 100 yards for the team in 2023. While Jefferson's production wasn't too much higher, he did spend the majority of the season on a Falcons team that finished 22nd in passing yards.

Pittsburgh went 10-7 in 2023 and lost in the Wild Card Round.