NFC No. 1 WR Is Acquired By Pittsburgh Steelers In Trade Proposal
Wide receiver is a position that the Pittsburgh Steelers need to address with urgency.
With Russell Wilson confirmed as the team’s starting quarterback through 2024 with the trade of Dionte Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, it will be imperative to surround him with as many weapons as possible to build up the offense for success.
After dealing for Johnson, the Steelers acquired Van Jefferson and Quez Watkins; but, in 2023, the two wide receivers combined for just 351 receiving yards.
The Pittsburgh Steelers do not have a wide receiver signed to their 2024 roster who recorded more than 209 receiving yards in the previous season, other from George Pickens.
There were rumors that the Pittsburgh executives were in negotiations to sign free agent Tyler Boyd of the Bengals, but more recent sources said that the talks had broken down.
Significant speculations have also connected San Francisco 49ers All-Pro Brandon Aiyuk, who has expressed dissatisfaction with his present contract, to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 49ers are saying they have no interest in trading for Aiyuk, despite reports that the Steelers brass has contacted them about him.
In 2023, the 49ers standout recorded career highs of 1,342 receiving yards and 17.9 yards per catch. In addition, he has 7 touchdowns and 75 catches.
But, acquiring Aiyuk would be expensive in terms of draft capital as well. Aiyuk was estimated by Spotrac to be worth
on a four-year contract, around $96.1 million. The 26-year-old receiver would make an average yearly salary of more than $24 million under such a contract.
Although there have been rumors that Pittsburgh is interested in trading for Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton, a deal doesn’t appear likely at this time.
There is another class of possible wide receivers to take George Pickens’ No. 2 place if the Steelers brass is unable to get a top player like Aiyuk or Sutton.
Wide receiver Darius Slayton of the New York Giants is a new trade target that Pittsburgh may pursue, according to Steelers Now’s Nick Farabaugh.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, Farabaugh said, may start pursuing Slayton in addition to emerging star receiver George Pickens.
Ezoic
“If the Steelers were ready to cough up some draft cash, this could be an underappreciated strong move,” Farabaugh wrote. “Slayton still has a reasonable contract in place, and getting a new one won’t break the bank.
“Even in the case of a new contract, Slayton’s contract does not prevent the team from paying George Pickens after this season, as per theory.”
As the Giants’ top wide receiver, Slayton hasn’t exactly dominated, but he has put up respectable stats. In four of his five seasons, he has surpassed the 700-yard threshold and has 19 touchdowns.
After the season, Slayton will be eligible for a new contract, but it will be reasonably priced and won’t put Pittsburgh in debt.
