Steelers Now
Originally appeared at Steelers Now: Can Steelers Get a WR Trade Done Before Season?
The Pittsburgh Steelers are talking about multiple wide receivers and trying to add help to their room after drafting Roman Wilson in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. According to Benjamin Allbright, a Broncos insider, the Steelers have called about Brandon Aiyuk, Courtland Sutton, and DK Metcalf. Still, they have been rebuffed by the 49ers and Broncos, and a Metcalf deal will not be done until at least after June 1.
That’s fine, but the Steelers have to know their timeline here. It’s not likely one of immediate gratification. If there were a move to be made around this time of year, that would have happened a week ago at the NFL Draft. Now? It might take a few months for the wheels to get set into motion.
They called about Aiyuk and Sutton and have been rebuffed, at least with opening talks. Called about DK, I don't believe a trade would get done there until after june first (if one got done at all).
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) April 30, 2024
Mike Klis, Denver’s hallmark for sourced reporting, says that Sutton is not going anywhere and that the Broncos expect to keep him around. Meanwhile, the 49ers’ general manager, John Lynch, has shut down all Aiyuk speculation, and it seems one will not happen. Then, Metcalf has not been ruled out, but it seems unlikely the team will be able to acquire him given his large dead cap hit and the overall lack of benefit for the Seahawks.
The Steelers have been in the market for a wide receiver since trading Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers in March. They’ve struck out on free agents Mike Williams and Tyler Boyd, missing on Williams, who signed with the Jets, and reaching a negotiating impasse with Boyd. The Steelers have Aiyuk, who the 49ers insist they are not trading.
The Steelers seem bent on landing veteran wide receiver help, with the first move likely being Wilson, and then a possible trade to round out the room. However, a trade has not yet materialized, and they may have to be patient. But they can not wait too long to add someone, and they may have to pivot to the free agent market at some point.
Speaking at the conclusion of the third day of the draft on Saturday, Omar Khan said that the team is in place to make a move to add to the position if it finds the right one, thanks to their recent restructuring of Alex Highsmith’s contract.
“Yeah, we’ll see,” Khan said. “I’ve said it before. If there’s ever an opportunity to improve the team, we’re going to look at it, and if makes sense, we’re gonna go after it. We restructured Alex’s deal. It puts us in a position to be flexible with some things if there’s an opportunity to do something.”
Over the last two offseasons, the...
