JUST IN: In a trade proposal, the Pittsburgh Steelers acquire the NFC’s number one wide receiver.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a big need to fill at wide receiver.
The team traded Dionte Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, and with Russell Wilson now confirmed as the team’s starting quarterback in 2024, it will be vital to surround him with as many weapons as possible to set the offense up for success.
While the Steelers had acquired Van Jefferson and added Quez Watkins since dealing away Johnson, those two wide receivers combined for only 351 receiving yards in 2023.
Aside from George Pickens, the Pittsburgh Steelers do not have a wide receiver contracted for 2024 who had more than 209 receiving yards last season.
There were rumblings the Pittsburgh brass was engaged in talks to possibly land Bengals’ free agent Tyler Boyd, but recent reports said that talks between both sides broke down.
There have also been significant rumors linking the Pittsburgh Steelers to San Francisco 49ers All-Pro Brandon Aiyuk, who has been vocal about his frustration with his current contract. While it’s been reported the Steelers brass has reached out about Aiyuk, as of now, the 49ers are claiming they have no interest in dealing him.
In 2023, the 49ers star posted career highs with 1,342 receiving yards and 17.9 yards per reception. He also has 75 receptions and seven touchdowns.
However, acquiring Aiyuk would be more than just costly in terms of draft capital. Spotrac estimated Aiyuk’s deal value at $96.1 million over four years. Such a deal would pay the 26-year-old receiver an average annual salary of more than $24 million.
There have also been rumors that Pittsburgh is interested in acquiring Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton, but a deal does not appear to be imminent.
Pittsburgh Steelers Land New York Giants WR Darius Slayton In Trade Proposal
If the Steelers’ brass is unable to sign a great wide receiver like Aiyuk or Sutton, there is a second group of viable candidates to fill the No. 2 place opposite George Pickens.
Steelers Now’s Nick Farabaugh revealed a new trade target for Pittsburgh: New York Giants wideout Darius Slayton.
Farabaugh proposed that the Pittsburgh Steelers pursue Slayton to start alongside rising star 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,” he wrote. “Slayton is still on a good deal, and a new contract won’t 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.”
Slayton hasn’t dominated as the Giants’ top receiver, but he’s put up solid numbers. He has surpassed 700 yards in four of his five seasons and scored 19 touchdowns.
Slayton will be eligible for a new contract after the season, but it will be a reasonable one that will not break the bank for Pittsburgh.
Why the Pittsburgh Steelers might want Darius Slayton.
The Steelers are in desperate need of help at the wide receiver position and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they added one through free agency and also acquired a potential starting wideout in the draft.
The void left by Dionte Johnson must be filled if Pittsburgh is going to have offensive success with Wilson under center.
Without Johnson, the Pittsburgh Steelers have only one receiver on its current roster that had more than 209 receiving yards last season.
Slayton would be an instant upgrade for the Steelers offense so this trade makes sense.
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