Time is running out for the Pittsburgh Steelers to trade for a wide receiver before the deadline hits on November 5th. While they weren’t allowed to re-acquire Diontae Johnson, it still hurts to see him go to their hated rivals in the Baltimore Ravens, partially because that is one less receiver available on the open market for quarterback-needy teams around the league. Baltimore acquired him for basically nothing, and the Steelers still have yet to find a true starting receiver to complement George Pickens.
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Steelers’ George Pickens after a play against the Broncos in Week 2 of the 2024 season.
While making an appearance on 93.7 The Fan, Pro Football Talk‘s Mike Florio explained what is going on in the receiver market for the Steelers.
“‘Let’s just sit back and wait and see, and maybe there will be a team out there that is willing to basically hand us a guy,’ whether it’s Adam Theilen — if and when he’s healthy — and they only got five days, six days before the deadline closes, but Mike Williams’ name is still being mentioned. There’s more teams out there that should be looking for receivers and, the Steelers, since they have a bye this week, it gives them a chance to really take a strategic look at everything: not distracted by a game coming up, coaching staff can get involved, and maybe they can find somebody.”
Omar Khan has developed the nickname of “The Khan Artist” for the number of times that he has fleeced a team in a trade or signed someone for a bargain deal. However, he has not been successful in finding a good deal to bring a wide receiver into Pittsburgh to replace Johnson. Even with more receivers getting opportunities with Russell Wilson at quarterback, they could still use a more reliable option to help maximize the team’s potential.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan picks up the phone in the team’s war room during the 2023 NFL Draft weekend.
There have been cheap receiver deals happening over the last couple weeks. DeAndre Hopkins was traded for a conditional fifth-round pick that could eventually turn into a fourth. There was the aforementioned Johnson deal. Amari Cooper was shipped off for a third-round pick and a late pick swap. Other AFC teams have been getting some cheap receiver deals, but Khan has yet to find any for himself.
Steelers’ Strategy Was Once Again Taken By Rival
It was previously announced that the Ravens based their identity off of the Steelers’, and it has led them to two Super Bowls. Florio brought up how they also tend to use Pittsburgh’s philosophy on trades as well.
“The Ravens are like the Steelers: they hang around and wait for a bargain. They don’t get desperate; they don’t like to give up future assets to get a player… and I suspect the Steelers are going to look for that same kind of deal.”
For decades, the Ravens have studied the Steelers’ blueprint and have seemingly mastered their idea. The former Cleveland Browns 1.0 have dropped everything about the team and city that they abandoned and have instead looked towards their rivals from Western Pennsylvania. Instead of outright copying them, they took the Steelers’ mold and turned it into something that works well for them.
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Baltimore Ravens GM Eric DeCosta at the NFL Scouting Combine
While Khan was able to get all of the deals when he first became the general manager of the Steelers, he has yet to find the one that he desperately needs now. Eric DeCosta got exactly the kind of deal Khan is hoping for: a capable starting wide receiver in exchange for a bag of peanuts.
The options remaining for the Steelers on the trade market are dwindling. Mike Williams seems like the most likely option for them, but is he really a starting-caliber receiver anymore? As Florio mentioned, Adam Thielen is available, but he is currently injured. Maybe they can trade for him, knowing how the Carolina Panthers just got fleeced, but can he get healthy enough to produce like a starter?
