The receiver position has been a major talking point for the Steelers dating back to well before the start of the current campaign. D.K. Metcalf has performed well to date, but the matter of depth could prove to be an issue as the season progresses. 
Pittsburgh was heavily linked to Brandon Aiyuk last summer before he ultimately inked a 49ers extension. The Steelers were then close to a Christian Kirk acquisition before the 2024 trade deadline, but his season-ending injury made that a moot point. Once again, it appears the team will be one to watch on the trade front at the receiver position.
Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show “fully anticipates” the Steelers engaging in conversations about all available wideouts between now and the November 4 trade deadline. Metcalf is under contract for the foreseeable future, but Calvin Austin is attached to the final year of his rookie deal and no new commitment on the team’s part is expected at this point. Austin is expected to miss time coming off the bye, although Kaboly adds his injury is not believed to be serious.
That should open the door for Roman Wilson to take on an expanded role in the passing game. The 2024 third-rounder was limited to just one game as a rookie, though, and he has recorded only one catch so far in 2025. Per Kaboly, the underlying cause behind Wilson’s ineffective performances and low usage rate is unclear at this point. Barring an uptick in his role, the Michigan product could remain a minor figure on offense moving forward; that will especially be true if a trade acquisition is to be made in the near future.
Once Pittsburgh had Aaron Rodgers in place, Allen Lazard was named as a potential trade target. No deal was made, but Lazard is a pending free agent attached to a base salary of just $1.75MM thanks to the pay cut agreement he reached with the Jets this offseason. New York sits at 0-5 on the year, and a seller’s approach ahead of the deadline is expected. It will be interesting to see if that includes a willingness to move Lazard to a contender.
The Steelers’ Dublin win moved them to 3-1 heading into their bye week. Things could change quickly, but wins against the team’s next two opponents (the Browns and Bengals) would solidify Pittsburgh’s status as a buyer. General manager Omar Khan has shown a willingness to be aggressive ahead of this season, which is believed to the final one of Rodgers’ career. It would come as little surprise if – at a minimum – a repeat of last year’s Mike Williams acquisition were to take place.
Almost like they should’ve kept Pickens. Here he is with 5 TDs already.
I’m eagerly waiting for the next update where Rodgers will throw a tantrum because his vast experience as a GM was not put to use.
Adam – it’s Mike Willams not Mike Wallace. Wallace was a man a lot of fans got upset the FO let walk not knowing AB was gonna be who he was (on the field).
Rashid Shaheed and Jakobi Meyers are both pending free agents on non-contending teams, so I could see them fitting. Dyami Brown is only on a one year deal and seems like Jacksonville’s fourth favorite wideout. Lazard is hurt at the moment, but he has a whopping six targets on a team with one good receiver. I’m sure he can be had for the price of a phone call.
Meyers would be pretty interesting for Rodgers to throw to. Shaheed can stretch the field. Of the two, I like Meyers with a smart QB taking advantage of his route running. I think that Brown still has a lot of potential, but the Steelers may as well swing for a player who’s used to catching volume passes in my opinion, since he’ll need to get up to speed right away. I like the idea of Meyers and Shaheed for that reason, but the Packers also have a couple of options that Rodgers even has a little experience with to boot. If New Orleans wants to deal Olave, that’s also a good option, but I doubt that they send both him and Shaheed out the door.
The Steelers desperately, desperately, need a second receiver, especially someone to get separation downfield. The line still isn’t that good, and the run game is too reliant on Jaylen Warren being elusive to get out of tough situations. I’d hate to add yet another outside addition if I’m Pittsburgh, but their pass catching corps is in a dire state. Metcalf is a legitimate threat, but he’s had too many drops to carry the offense without a second reliable target. He’s got great ability, but Pittsburgh is still missing that explosive element from the offense that could take it over the top. Is that because Metcalf is being relied on too much to carry the receiving corps? Maybe, but in any case, the Steelers absolutely need someone who can consistently get open opposite of him.
Agreed all around, though I think the Packers likely don’t want to deal from their receiver corps with some of the injuries they’ve dealt with. But maybe Golden takes off coming out of the bye. I do think Meyers makes sense when they already have Metcalf. Very different, complementary skill sets.
Yeah, I actually made the comment that a Doubs trade may not happen this year due to the injury depth blanket that he provides, and the potential of a compensatory pick anyway when he gets an inevitable free agent contract next year. Of course, if the Packers don’t think that they’ll get a good compensatory pick for him, they could take something now, but I agree that he’s good insurance. Still, as far as the Steelers are concerned, it makes sense to call. I agree 100% about Meyers complementing Metcalf skill-wise.
Meyers is a sold fit. Maybe try to sell a couple cows to get another wideout too
Call Tyreke!
Olave trade?
No.
…He will be a Bill!
….wishing to existence….
They’ll probably find another version of last year’s Mike Williams, but…
What could they get if they offered up Highsmith in trade?
Herbig should start. Turn that depth into the WR you need.
Bears need to offer DJ Moore for a 4th. That contract is going to become untradeable in about 3 weeks
TJ Watt for AJ Brown