Who Should I Start? Ben Skowronek or Jordan Watkins

Friday, March 14, 3:59 PM

The Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to re-sign wide receiver Ben Skowronek to an undisclosed deal. The NFL's Ian Rapoport reported the news. The wideout found his way onto Pittsburgh's roster in mid-September after failing to become a member of the Texans' 53-man squad, but an early-season shoulder injury forced him to injured reserve, and he missed six games. Upon his return in Week 10, Skowronek surpassed 20 snaps in a single contest on just one occasion, totaling five catches and 69 yards in ten appearances. The Notre Dame product will serve as roster padding in the Steelers' WR corps, though he's likely to play a role on special teams. Additionally, Skowronek has experience as a fullback from his time spent with Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams, providing a versatile roster piece for Pittsburgh.

Friday, June 13, 12:31 PM

San Francisco 49ers rookie fourth-round wide receiver Jordan Watkins hasn't been perfect in offseason workouts this spring, but The Athletic's Matt Barrows writes that he has stood out in the way that Ricky Pearsall (hamstring) did a year ago. He took a number of snaps with the first-team offense with Pearsall, Brandon Aiyuk (knee) and Jauan Jennings (calf) sidelined, showcasing his speed and fluidity in routes. Watkins doesn't break stride when catching the ball, which makes him an asset on crossing routes that are such a big part of head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense. The 23-year-old also has thick legs and a big lower body, which should help him break tackles and pick up yards after the catch. Watkins had nine total touchdowns at Ole Miss in 2024, and while he probably won't get on the field much in his rookie season, he could be an immediate factor on special teams.