Steelers ‘Once Again in the Market’ to Make 1 Move at NFL Trade Deadline: Report
Pundits have linked the Pittsburgh Steelers to wide receivers potentially on the NFL trade block for quite some time. That hasn’t changed even with Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers offensive excelling with a tight end-centric attack.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday the Steelers are pursuing adding a wide receiver at the league’s trade deadline.
“The Steelers are, once again, in the market for a receiver, sources say,” Rapoport wrote. “Their offense has thrived by featuring multiple tight ends, but the addition of a speed threat to pair with DK Metcalf would help Aaron Rodgers and the offense.”
Top wideout DK Metcalf leads the Steelers with 22 catches this season. However, he’s the only receiver in Pittsburgh’s offense who is ranked in the top five in receptions for the unit.
Steelers No. 2 receiver Calvin Austin III is sixth for the team with 10 catches. Roman Wilson is third among Steelers wideouts and eighth on the team with four grabs.
Of Rodgers’ 14 touchdown passes this year, only seven of them have gone to receivers.
Clearly, the Steelers could use another outside playmaker.
Steelers Pursing WR Addition for Aaron Rodgers
Part of why the Steelers don’t have a lot of production at WR2 is because Austin is currently dealing with an injury. The 26-year-old has been sidelined since the fourth quarter of Week 4 because of a shoulder ailment.
That injury, though, just highlights how little depth the Steelers have a receiver.
A former third-round pick, Wilson has come on a little the past couple games. But mostly, the Steelers passing offense is Metcalf and the team’s tight ends.
On Thursday, Rodgers threw four touchdowns, all of which went to three different tight ends.
Running backs Kenneth Gainwell and Jaylen Warren have been significant contributors to the Steelers passing game as well. Gainwell and Warren are ranked second and fourth on the team, respectively, in catches.
If the Steelers could add a wideout, then they would gain additional insurance if Austin continues to be sidelined. Should Pittsburgh acquire an experienced veteran receiver, then the offense would have the ability to play three wide receiver sets more often once Austin returns as well.
How Baker Mayfield helped struggling Buccaneers rookie WR ahead of season
Back in the spring, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver and 2025 first-round draft pick Emeka Egbuka detailed how quarterback Baker Mayfield quickly emerged as a mentor and somebody to lean on during springtime workouts.
For a piece published on Monday, ESPN's Jenna Laine expanded on Mayfield's growth as the undisputed leader of the Tampa Bay offense.
Baker Mayfield put in extra time with Tez Johnson
Per Laine, Buccaneers rookie wideout and seventh-round draft choice Tez Johnson revealed that he felt like "bullets were flying" as he attempted to learn the offense during training camp. Mayfield offered to watch film with Johnson at 5 a.m. ahead of practices.
"He was already here at 4:30," Johnson said about Mayfield. "He just gave me advice on how the league works and how I should think on certain routes, and that allowed me to know, 'All right, he believes in me, so I'm going to do my best of my ability to go out there and perform for him.'"
That extra work paid off in a big way when Tampa Bay's Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan were sidelined with injuries for the Week 6 game against the San Francisco 49ers before Egbuka went down with a hamstring issue. With under three minutes remaining in the third quarter of that contest, Mayfield connected with Johnson for a highlight-reel 45-yard touchdown pass:
Having Baker Mayfield gives Buccaneers "a chance to win" any game
Analysts have routinely referred to Mayfield as a legitimate Most Valuable Player Award candidate ahead of Monday night's game between the 5-1 Buccaneers and Detroit Lions (4-2) that will be held at Detroit's Ford Field. According to ESPN stats, Mayfield began Monday ranked eighth in the NFL among qualified players with a 71.1 adjusted QBR and seventh with a 108.5 passer rating. Over his first six games of the season, he tallied 12 touchdown passes and only one interception.
"I mean, everybody knows that Baker's playing at an unbelievable level right now," Tampa Bay receiver Kameron Johnson added. "So, I mean, it don't matter who's out there. Any given Sunday, whenever Baker Mayfield is out there, there's a chance to win. And he's playing at an unbelievable MVP level right now."
As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Mayfield second among the betting favorites at +320 odds to claim MVP honors for this season. It could be interesting to recheck such lists if he leads Tampa Bay to a win over Detroit in front of a prime-time audience.
