BREAKING: The Steelers Urged to Consider Targeting a Fast $12 Million Wide Receivers.
It appears that the Pittsburgh Steelers will be unable to acquire wide receiver Courtland Sutton from the Denver Broncos. But Steelers Now’s Nick Farabaugh offered a new trade possibility for Pittsburgh: New York Giants wideout Darius Slayton.
Farabaugh stated that the Steelers could pursue Slayton to start alongside rising great receiver George Pickens.
“This could be an under-the-radar strong move for the Steelers if they were willing to cough up some draft capital,” Farabaugh said in the piece. “Slayton is still on a cheap contract, and a new one will not break the bank.
“Theoretically, the team will want to pay George Pickens after this season, and Slayton’s contract does not prevent them from doing that, even in the event of a new deal.”
Farabaugh remarked that Slayton has never surpassed 800 yards in his five-year NFL career. However, he has been highly consistent, with 700 or more receiving yards in four of his five seasons.
At the 2019 NFL combine, Slayton completed the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds. Only five wideout hopefuls ran the 40-yard dash in under that time at the 2024 NFL combine.
As Farabaugh noted, Slayton needs a new contract after this season. But he will most likely be inexpensive. His current contract is a two-year deal worth $12 million. The contract included a signing bonus of $3.5 million.
Why Could the Steelers Target WR Darius Slayton?
It would not be remarkable if the Steelers drafted a receiver and signed a veteran before training camp. That’s because, based on 2023 productivity, the Steelers’ receiving corps is extremely thin.
Following Diontae Johnson’s trade in March, Pittsburgh signed veterans Van Jefferson and Quez Watkins. However, Jefferson and Watkins combined for only 351 receiving yards last season. Both have signed league-minimum contracts and are not assured to make the final roster.
Without Johnson, the Steelers’ current roster has only one receiver with more than 209 receiving yards from last season.
That was Pickens, who topped the NFL in yards per reception in 2023. That is also one of Slayton’s strengths. He’s averaging 15.1 yards per reception throughout his career. Slayton has averaged over 15 yards per catch in four of his five seasons.
Slayton had those numbers as the Giants’ top receiver. He will only gain if he can play alongside Pickens in 2024.
Steelers’ Brandon Aiyuk and Courtland Sutton Strike Out?
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac stated in a fan chat on April 17 that the Steelers have chased San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk this offseason. The Steelers have also been rumored as a potential destination for Sutton, who did not report to Denver’s voluntary offseason exercises on April 16.
However, the possibility of either receiver arriving in Pittsburgh has been eliminated in one way or another.
On March 25, 49ers general manager John Lynch informed media that the organization was actively engaging Aiyuk in contract negotiations and working toward an extension.
On April 20, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler claimed that, despite repeated trade inquiries, the Broncos “do not plan to trade” Sutton.
The Steelers need to add more receiving targets. However, obtaining either would require more draft capital than Slayton. Both Aiyuk and Sutton intend to charge more for their upcoming deals.
As a result, Slayton could really be a better alternative. With him, the Steelers may obtain a No. 2 receiver while retaining their best 2024 draft capital and remaining salary contract flexibility to sign Pickens next year.
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