The Pittsburgh Steelers and General Manager Omar Khan have had a busy offseason in 2024. There has been many blockbuster moves made by Khan, with one of the biggest being trading Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. Johnson was Pittsburgh's best route runner, and he was a good complementary receiver to George Pickens. Now, Khan and the rest of the Steelers front office are looking for a way to fill the shoes of Johnson and take some of the pressure off of Pickens at the receiver position.
The Steelers fulfilled a need at cornerback when they received Donte Jackson in the deal that sent Johnson to Carolina, but the hole at receiver has made the Steelers a part of a lot of trade rumors for some of the best receivers throughout the league. It's unlikely the Steelers bring in one of the best receivers in the league, but there is no denying that Pittsburgh needs to address the receiver position via trade and through the 2024 NFL Draft. Realistically, there are about five good options that the Steelers could trade for before the 2024 season.
1. Brandon Aiyuk
Brandon Aiyuk is a name that has been connected to the Steelers since the 2023 season ended. There have been countless reports of him being unhappy with his contract with the San Francisco 49ers. Aiyuk is certainly the most expensive option on this list, it would cost a good amount of draft capital to acquire him, and Pittsburgh would likely need to sign him to a contract extension shortly after his arrival in Pittsburgh. Aiyuk is coming off of his best season in the NFL, and a trade for him would definitely be worth it, but the Steelers would need to forfeit a lot of draft picks and cap space.
2. Courtland Sutton
Courtland Sutton is one of the more underrated receivers in the league. When healthy he is extremely productive, and he was Russell Wilson's favorite target during his time with the Denver Broncos. Sutton caught 10 touchdowns during the 2023 season, and he had his best year in 2019 when he eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards while catching 72 passes. If the Steelers did pull off a trade for Sutton, they would need to take on his contract which he is signed to through the 2025 season.
3. John Metchie III
John Metchie III was once a very exciting prospect, the Houston Texans selected him in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He was unable to make it onto the field during his rookie season after he was diagnosed with Leukemia. He debuted in 2023 and finished the season with 16 receptions for 158 yards. Metchie III certainly has the potential to be a great weapon in the NFL, but he is now buried in a crowded receivers room in Houston. It wouldn't be unreasonable for him to want a change of scenery after everything he has been through.
4. Tee Higgins
The Cincinnati Bengals trading a player of Tee Higgins' caliber within the division is a long shot, but he didn't appreciate being franchise tagged for the 2024 season and requested a trade. The Steelers are one of the most receiver-needy teams in the NFL, so Higgins in Pittsburgh makes a lot of sense. Higgins is similar to Aiyuk, where Pittsburgh would likely need to extend him immediately which would be quite expensive.
Steelers Will Likely Also Address The Receiver Position In The 2024 NFL Draft
The Steelers have a couple roster holes that stand out that absolutely need to be addressed in the 2024 NFL Draft. Receiver, center, and tackle are the biggest needs for the team. It is looking like Pittsburgh will address the offensive line in the first round, but they should have plenty of options at receiver when they make their second selection with the 51st overall pick. Names that have been mentioned include Ricky Pearsall, Xavier Legette, and Roman Wilson. The Steelers expect to get an instant contributor at receiver through the draft.
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