Analyst Ranks Six WRs Steelers Should Trade for

The Pittsburgh Steelers have expressed significant interest in adding a wide receiver. They reportedly kicked the tires on San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel, but they couldn’t meet in the middle with San Fran on a trade.

According to Benjamin Allbright, a Broncos insider, the Steelers have called about Brandon Aiyuk, Courtland Sutton, and DK Metcalf, but they have been rebuffed by the 49ers and Broncos, and a Metcalf deal will not be done until at least after June 1.

Speaking at the conclusion of the third day of the draft on Saturday, Khan said that the team is in place that it can make a move to add to the position if it finds the right one, thanks to their recent restructuring of Alex Highsmith’s contract.

“Yeah, we’ll see,” Khan said. “I’ve said it before. If there’s ever an opportunity to improve the team, we’re going to look at it, and if makes sense, we’re gonna go after it. We restructured Alex’s deal. It puts us in a position to be flexible with some things if there’s an opportunity to do something.”

The Steelers don’t have a true No. 2 wide receiver on their roster after trading Diontae Johnson to Carolina in March. It’s certainly a significant hole that needs to be addressed.

Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report recently ranked six receivers that the Steelers should have an interest in trading for. In order it was Deebo Samuel, Brandin Cooks, Tee Higgins, Courtland Sutton, Brandon Aiyuk and DK Metcalf, who came in at No. 1.

Davenport projects a 2025 first-round pick and 2025 third-round pick as trade compensation for Aiyuk. 49ers general manager John Lynch repeatedly denies that Aiyuk or Samuel are available for a trade, however.

“I’m doing everything in my power to keep our roster together,” Lynch said on the Pat McAfee Show this past Thursday. “That’s my goal, and I don’t question that. When you talk about guys like Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo, those are guys that we drafted, and we take a lot of pride in what they’ve become and who they’ve become. We couldn’t be more proud of those guys. And so, during the course of drafts and offseasons, do conversations happen? Absolutely, they do. We’re past that now. We’re thrilled to add to that group.”

In regards to Metcalf, Davenport projects the Steelers giving up a 2025 first-round pick, a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 second-round pick. In return, Pittsburgh would get a a 2025 sixth-round pick along with Metcalf.

Davenport mentioned that the post-June 1 date that Allbright referenced is important to note, as dealing Metcalf after June 1 would save the Seahawks $17 million in cap space, with DK’s contract set to expire at the end of 2025. If a trade happens before June 1, then would save $9.5 million but incur $22.5 million in dead money over the final two seasons.

“Metcalf has yet to record fewer than 900 receiving yards in any of his five NFL seasons. He brings a built-in rapport with Russell Wilson from their time together in Seattle. His arrival would be a huge boost to the Pittsburgh offense.

“But the Seahawks didn’t act like a team preparing to trade their No. 1 wideout during the draft—so luring Metcalf away from the Pacific Northwest would probably take what amounts to a Godfather offer,” Davenport wrote.