Known more for drafting and developing wide receivers — often from Day 2 — than trading for them, the Steelers have produced an impressive track record on this front. Over the past 15 years, Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders, Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson and George Pickens have enjoyed varying levels of success with the team despite coming off the board after Round 1.
It is arguable no team has strung together a run of homegrown WR talent like this in the modern game, but rumblings continue to emerge about the Steelers being ready to pull the trigger on a trade. A report earlier this week indicated the team had inquired about Brandon Aiyuk and was interested in trading for a wideout, and the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora submits another offering in this direction.
Rival execs view the Steelers as the team potentially the most motivated to acquire a receiver via trade. While a Tee Higgins move will not happen — unlikely to be moved, Higgins definitely would not be dealt within the division — teams certainly are monitoring the 49ers regarding an Aiyuk swap.
Although Sean Payton and Broncos GM George Paton said (via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson) he has spoken with Courtland Sutton recently, the 6-foot-4 wideout showed by far the most chemistry with Russell Wilson last season. The team currently employing Wilson may be interested in reuniting the two, as Sutton is staying away from Broncos workouts in hopes of a new contract.
The Broncos nearly traded Sutton to the Ravens last year, and after their Jerry Jeudy asking price dropped drastically (from a first-rounder to accepting fifth- and sixth-rounders from the Browns), Sutton probably will not cost a second-round pick — Denver’s hope in 2023 — entering his age-29 season. Aiyuk will be more difficult to acquire, and it is worth wondering if the Steelers would pull the trigger, given the fifth-year wideout’s extension price and the AFC North franchise’s success finding receivers in the draft.
This draft is set to produce yet another deep receiver crop, which stands to lower prices in trades. But the Steelers may need more than one starter. Dealing Johnson to Carolina in a deal that brought back cornerback Donte Jackson, Pittsburgh has little surrounding Pickens presently. A slot player and a second boundary option would stand to be in play for the Steelers. The 6-foot-4 Sutton (signed through 2025 on a $15MM-per-year deal) made some of last season’s best catches, working as a deep threat and red zone target (10 2023 TDs) for Wilson. The 6-foot Aiyuk, who is tied to a fifth-year option worth $14.1MM, has displayed a bit more versatility in Kyle Shanahan‘s system.
If the Steelers are to execute a trade, they could devote more draft resources to other positions. Pittsburgh is targeting help at center and tackle, with The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly indicating a right tackle addition is on the team’s radar (subscription required). They hosted 11 O-linemen on “30” visits, including Georgia’s Amarius Mims, Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton, Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga along with interior O-lineman Graham Barton (Duke), Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon) and Zach Frazier (West Virginia), Kaboly adds. They also met with Washington O-lineman Troy Fautanu. Daniel Jeremiah’s big board lists each of these players as top-30 talents; the Steelers pick at No. 20.
The Steelers, who cut two-year center starter Mason Cole, look to be considering moving 2023 first-rounder Broderick Jones — their primary right tackle to close the season — to the left side, where he primarily played in college. That would leave three-year LT starter Dan Moore Jr. in limbo. Pro Football Focus has not been a Moore fan, but the former fourth-round pick — who is going into a contract year — has started 49 career games. After the team drafted Jones to step in for Chukwuma Okorafor, the latter is now with the Patriots. A tackle move — one that may be definitively in the Steelers’ Round 1 plans, as this is a deep class — would stand to give Jones a long-term bookend.
Pittsburgh’s Jackson trade aside, a cornerback will also be targeted — just likely not in Round 1 — according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac. Jackson is in a contract year, while the team cut Patrick Peterson. Mike Tomlin said a Peterson reunion will be considered, but the likely Hall of Famer is going into his age-34 season.
Dulac adds the Steelers also like Missouri defensive lineman Darius Robinson, whom the Tigers used across the formation. Ranked 39th on Jeremiah’s big board, the 285-pound defender might not be available for Pittsburgh without a second-round trade-up. The Steelers hold the No. 51 overall pick. In fact, ProFootballNetwork.com’s Adam Caplan notes Robinson is expected to be off the board at some point late in the first round. The Steelers have Cameron Heyward under contract for one more season, his age-35 campaign.
“It is arguable no team has strung together a run of homegrown WR talent like this in the modern game” – How about the Packers with Greg Jennings, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and Davante Adams? It is very arguable because that Steelers group as a whole doesn’t hold a candle to that Packers group. That doesn’t even include their most recent group of homegrown WRs. I don’t think any of those Steelers WRs got a second, long-term extension from Pitt except for Brown. If they were so good, the Steelers would have locked those guys up.
The Steelers got their best prime years and moved on to new guys in the draft. Thats how they stay successful as an organization. The Packers wish they had the talented receivers the Steelers have had.
The Packers straight up did have better receivers. We aren’t talking Hines Ward here. We are talking JuJu freaking smith schuster and dionte johnson who both put up *checks stats* ONE 1,000+ yard receiving season. Packers moved on from guys at the right time, they were all just better for longer. Davante Adams is border line hall of fame. Antonio Brown is just border line personality disorder.
Great receivers, Cap, no doubt.
I have a hard time believing the Steelers brass did all they did this off season and will rely on someone from the “deep wide receiver class” to jump right in this season. For all their success, it rarely happens that way
I still they make a Minkah-like trade on draft day. I could be wrong—probably am—but if they’re really as “all in” for the current time, then they can’t be satisfied
Have you compared career numbers? You might be surprised at the disparity between the Steelers WR and the Pack. You might want to check draft capital usage as well as most of the WR You listed were 2nd round picks and only 2 of the Steelers listed were 2nd rounders. I would say that you did an excellent job of proving the author’s point. Higher draft pedigree, lower career numbers, and both Juju and Johnson got a second contract with the Steelers. There is an amazing site called Google, you would be surprised how helpful it can be.
All five of those guys played together at the same time, hard to put up #1 numbers every season when you’re sharing the rock, and they still put up better numbers. Also, he said “Day 2” picks which all of those guys were. Johnson signed an extension and then was traded for scraps a year later. JuJu signed a 1-year extension, hence “long-term”. All of those guys except Sanders where major headcases as well. I’ve googled plenty, and none of them except Brown were anything exceptional
Also to note @georob1976, those receivers beat those Steelers receivers on the biggest stage in the Super Bowl. All Mike Wallace was good at was running really fast. Sanders and Brown did nothing. Meanwhile Jordy tore up your “vaunted” secondary to a tune of 9 catches for 140 yards and a touchdown. Greg Jennings two touchdowns, and another 5 for 50 from Jones who was the #4 option on offense. I’ve compared stats and actual gameplay, and your Steelers receivers are sorely lacking.
All in the past
Is Aiyuk that good or is the SF system that good?
Expensive gamble if you find out it’s the latter.
Seems easier to just draft a T, WR and C in some order with the top picks.
According to this post, they add Dulac and Kobaly information. THEY ARE ABOUT AS INFORMATIVE AS THE ORANGE JACKAL.
Khan has proven that he has a very good poker face and that was certainly proven with Wilson and Fields coming here despite his assurances that Kenny was their man
I like Fittipaldo with the PG as his takes don’t entail some inkling that he has some inside knowledge of things. He just tells it like it is and at this time of year, provides a concise look at their needs and who fits, at least draft-wise
Kaboly seems to be consistently wrong with most of his “insider” viewpoints, that’s for sure
Me, I know no one, no friend of a friend whose nephew works the parking lot at the Steelers HQ. But if common sense means anything and if the overall view of this season indicates they’re “all in” for the coming season, I’m not sure they can address the positions of center, both lines and secondary in one draft, let alone a wideout. Have to think they’re still cooking something up
I agree with you tired…I think they will make waves at the draft in a BIG trade for a WR. then I’m going to say 2 OF lineman and a cb in the first 3 rounds.
And about local media sports coverage. THE FAN is just a steeler talk junkies addiction. For the home station of the pirates, it’s steelers talk 24/7, and all repetitive talk.
Channel 11 sports, it’s the steelers, penguins, and even pitt football spring practice, before pirate coverage, if any at all.