As the Steelers have climbed to 6-2, they have seen Russell Wilson deliver two promising starts in wins over the Jets and Giants. Those conquests still do not appear to have moved the AFC North leaders out of a wide receiver market they have populated for months.
The Steelers have been tied to Davante Adams, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Mike Williams at points this year. Cooper Kupp also came up in conversations. Pittsburgh’s interest in Williams remains, with the team joining the Chargers and Saints (and probably others) as clubs looking into a player the Jets continue to shop. Considering Pittsburgh’s need, it also should not surprise the team is being linked to two trade-block regulars.
Courtland Sutton and Darius Slayton are believed to join Williams on the Steelers’ radar, according to Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline, who indicates a hierarchy exists here. The Steelers are believed to have plenty of interest in prying Sutton from Denver, though Pauline adds the Broncos — as they have for years — are setting a high asking price on one of this NFL period’s trade-rumor mainstays.
Sutton’s name, despite the Broncos’ 5-3 record, came up recently — yet again. Sutton, 29, has been mentioned at just about every NFL trade window since the 2022 deadline. The Broncos then set a second-round asking price on the 6-foot-4 wideout during the 2023 offseason, seeing him usurp Jerry Jeudy as Wilson’s top target. Wilson and Sutton formed a rapport, one that produced a few acrobatic catches from the former second-round pick, last season. As a result, it would not surprise if the Steelers were one of the teams in on Sutton this offseason.
Sean Payton confirmed several clubs called about Sutton this year, doing so after the Broncos unloaded Jeudy for fifth- and sixth-round picks. The most notable 2024 Sutton “what if?” came in August, when the 49ers offered a third-round pick to the Broncos in what would have been a three-team deal that sent Sutton to Denver and Aiyuk to Pittsburgh. The Steelers’ trade framework with the 49ers for Aiyuk did not turn out to be enough, as the now-high-priced veteran recommitted to San Francisco — weeks before sustaining a season-ending injury.
It would represent odd timing for the Broncos to finally part with Sutton, as their WR corps is thin — especially after Josh Reynolds landed on IR and then suffered injuries in a recent shooting — beyond the seventh-year vet. Second-rounder Marvin Mims has not developed as the Broncos hoped, and the team is otherwise reliant on fourth- and seventh-round rookies (Troy Franklin, Devaughn Vele). Trading Sutton now would stand to affect Bo Nix‘s development, hence the high price the Broncos are again setting.
As Sutton is tied to a four-year, $60MM deal that features no guarantees in 2025 — the contract’s final year — Slayton is winding down a two-year, $12MM accord. The Giants wide receiver has started strong this season, becoming a nice complementary piece alongside fast-emerging rookie Malik Nabers. The latter is New York’s future at the position, with Slayton — a Dave Gettleman-era draftee who has come up in trade rumors at multiple points — a player the Giants will undoubtedly consider moving before the Nov. 5 deadline.
The Giants are also setting a notable price on their WR trade chip, as both Slayton and Azeez Ojulari have drawn interest but are not locks to move. Though, the Giants’ 2-6 record — ahead of a Commanders matchup — may carry the day. Slayton appears a Sutton backup plan, per Pauline, but probably will be easier to obtain at this point.
The Steelers have sought a George Pickens complement for months, having traded Diontae Johnson during the legal tampering period in March. Slot player Calvin Austin has become Pittsburgh’s de facto WR2, with 257 yards, but given their hot start, the Steelers figure to make a final push to help Wilson before the deadline.
Sutton to Steelers or Bengals could do damage. Also Slayton to Niners or Raiders could help a ton
“…the 49ers offered a third-round pick to the Broncos in what would have been a three-team deal that sent Sutton to Denver and Aiyuk to Pittsburgh.”
Fix this.
Everybody is on the Steelers radar. But after seeing what they are doing with The Justin Fields trade who wants to deal with them? They want everybody until it comes time to pay up. When they crash and burn I’ll be laughing.
Are you implying they benched Justin Fields to lower the compensation they pay the Bears? I can guarantee that was not a factor in the decision.
That’s exactly what I’m saying. Tons of teams bench their QB’s who have a 4-2 record. Happens every day.
Hate to break it to you but Fields just isnt that good. Inserting Russ literally made their yards per game as a team go up by 100. Defense carried them to 4-2, Tomlins simply smart and gutsy enough to recognize Russ is the better QB on the roster and not get too lost in the record.
That’s ridiculous, Mike
Tomlin uses double speak a lot to defend decisions but his comment that they got Wilson to be the starter here this year was truth. National media tried to stir the pot
What’s funny is watching all those who said Russ was washed kind of take a seat over in the corner
It’s going to be interesting what happens with the QB situation in the off season, that’s for sure
As for Sutton and Slayton, they need someone who’ll make better defenses pay for double teaming Pickens. Not sure they have that in Austin or Jefferson
Another easy mute. Laugh away.
Steelers would have to massively overpay to pry away Sutton at this point, so Slayton or WR to be named likely remain the most likely option. They have to make a move even with the recent success of the passing game. It’s been against two pass defenses that couldn’t stop a lame duck with a phalanx ciws (google for a laugh)
Yeah, there are a ton of options. Honestly, with D.K. Metcalf possibly being on the radar, it just seems to make too much sense to give Seattle a call.
Denver would be pretty dumb to trade Sutton at this point, in my opinion. The Broncos are 5-3, but Nix still isn’t really playing well exactly. At the very least, he’s definitely still developing. Taking away his best receiver, especially in a year where the team is surprisingly contending for the division, seems ridiculous.
I’m not sure what an extra, say, third round pick is going to do to help that process in lieu of a reliable number one target with size. If Denver had another good receiver or a quarterback who was reliably humming along, it could make more sense, but even then, a reliable big target is more important to the QB than second or third day draft capitol.
Contending for the division? Really? So far they’ve done it with smoke and mirrors and Nix has been below average to average at best. They’re not competing with the Chiefs and the Chargers are probably better on paper than them. That’s pretty far out there.
They’re 5-3. I actually agree with you regarding Denver not being as good as their record, but as it stands, they’re in second place. I don’t think that Nix is playing well, actually. I do have to acknowledge that they’re winning games, though.
The one thing that Denver undoubtedly has is elite defense. They might have the best defense in the league, in fact. For that reason, they’re not completely smoke and mirrors. And, outside of Nix, the offense isn’t as bad as people think.
I wouldn’t say elite D yet, they’ve played CAR, LVR, and NO who was playing QB3 with 3 starting OL out. LAC aren’t exactly an offensive juggernaut either.
The defense still looks elite to me. In comparison to other units in the NFL, it’s quite understandable to consider them together. Denver’s defensive rhythm has predated this season as well, going back to last season.
Nix has outplayed Williams and was the best rookie qb this past month? He’s been way above average. And by reading your earlier comments, you made it sound like Fields was actually a good qb. Which makes this comment even more hilarious.
I assume that was directed at unclemike?
Yeah Ak, it was directed at uncle Mike. I usually agree with everything you write lol
Now the next thing I write is going to be just wildly off haha. I appreciate it though.
I can’t seem to reason why the broncos would want to trade Sutton. But if he’s available, the Steelers should make every effort to get him. Now is the future with the Steelers. Not tomorrow. Some of the stars are getting older. Kahn get it done
Ak mentioned D.K.Metcalf above. That’s a very nice dream and he’d be at the top of my list. Just pay the price
But since Seattle is in the thick of a race any team can win in that division, I’m trying to understand how they’d make such a trade