Former Pitt star WR Jordan Addison has message for Steelers: 'Come get me'

Kenny Pickett hasn’t been shy about his desire to reunite with former Pitt teammate Jordan Addison.

On Friday, Addison returned the favor.

Speaking at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, the 6-foot, 175-pound wide receiver and 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner said he would welcome a return to Pittsburgh and catch some more passes from Pickett, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ second-year quarterback.

“If we reunite, that would be good. That would be real cool,” Addison said. “Real easy transition. Come get me.”

That, of course, is up to the Steelers, who hold the No. 17 overall pick as well as the first pick of the second round in the draft. Addison, who transferred to USC after his breakout 2021 season at Pitt, is graded as a first-round talent.

After using a high draft pick on a wide receiver in five of the past six years, the Steelers might not be inclined to go after another, particularly with areas on the offensive and defensive lines as well as cornerback and inside linebacker to address. The Steelers also have starters in Diontae Johnson and George Pickens.

Still, they are doing their due diligence with Addison. He said the Steelers were one of the first teams he conducted an interview with at the combine. And the Steelers undoubtedly have picked Pickett’s brain about Addison.

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“He’s a talented guy, one of the best I’ve been around,” Pickett said on Pat McAfee’s show in January. “I’m excited to see where he ends up, hopefully, in the black and gold.”

From a familiarity standpoint — as well as one based on production — Addison and Pickett rekindling their relationship on a football field makes sense. During their two seasons together at Pitt, Addison caught 160 passes for 2,259 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Much of the damage came in 2021 when Addison compiled 1,593 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns on a school-record 100 catches. His single-year receiving yardage and touchdown numbers ranked second in school history to Larry Fitzgerald’s 2003 season.

Addison became the third Pitt player to win the Biletnikoff Award as college football’s top receiver, joining Fitzgerald and Antonio Bryant (2000). But while Pickett moved next door to the Steelers, Addison headed to the West Coast, taking advantage of transfer rules and a remunerative NIL deal that was highly publicized (and criticized by Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi).

Although his numbers dropped to 59 receptions, 875 yards and eight touchdowns at USC, Addison doesn’t second-guess his decision.

“Anything I do, I always live and learn from it,” he said. “I learned a lot from it, so I don’t ever have any regrets. I always think everything through, all of my decisions.”

Addison reported to the NFL Combine trying to separate himself as the top receiver in his class. Others considered worthy of being the first receiver off the board are Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, TCU’s Quentin Johnson, Boston College’s Zay Flowers and Tennessee’s Jalin Hyatt.

NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah has those five receivers going in the first round of his latest mock draft, with Addison being the only one selected in the top half, going to Houston at No. 12.

“I don’t think it’s a great receiver draft, but I really do like Jordan Addison,” Jeremiah said. “I think he is a complete route runner. I think he gives you bursts and explosiveness to make plays over the top, and I think he has outstanding hands.”

At the combine, Addison hopes Saturday to erase any questions that might exist about his speed.

“I feel like I’m doubted with my speed a little bit,” he said. “I’m just going to show everybody what I can do.”

Pickett, as he said on McAfee’s show, isn’t concerned.

“His speed will surprise people,” he said. “I don’t think people give him enough credit for his speed.”

A good showing in the 40-yard dash could increase Addison’s draft stock as well as the likelihood he won’t be on the board when the Steelers take their turn at No. 17. Still, Addison is holding out hope he somehow will end up playing again with his former Pitt teammate.

“That would help the transition a lot,” he said. “Just having your former quarterback, you’ve already got a relationship, No. 1. And then that trust factor.”