The Pittsburgh Steelers’ wide receiver struggles were on full display during their 9-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills. This offseason, the Steelers made the bold decision to trade away star wide receiver Diontae Johnson, putting immense pressure on George Pickens to carry the offense. Unfortunately, this also gives opposing secondaries an easy way to neutralize Pickens, as the Steelers lack significant threats behind him at wide receiver.
Jon Willey / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' George Pickens makes a catch against the Bills.
This situation has raised serious concerns among fans and analysts. The Steelers have been linked to several star receivers this offseason, but none more prominently than the rumored trade with the San Francisco 49ers for their star wideout, Brandon Aiyuk. General Manager Omar Khan has shown a willingness to be aggressive, and reports indicate the Steelers have come close to finalizing a deal. However, negotiations have stalled, and it appears Khan has been hesitant to make the final move.
While Steelers fans have appreciated Khan’s cautious approach, Mark Kaboly joined The Fan Morning Show on Monday, expressing that after witnessing the Steelers' first two preseason games, it's officially time for Khan to stop being greedy and get the deal done. Kaboly finds the most concerning issue to be the lack of separation the wide receivers are getting.
"And the thing is Van Jefferson was good at that for a year. That one good year, he was a good down-the-field type of guy and it’s just not there anymore. I’m at the max right now of concern. I don’t think it’s just to do with number two, number three and number four. I think what it does to number one when two, three and four aren’t any good."
Kaboly rated the wide receivers' situation a panic-inducing 18 out of 10, reflecting his deep concerns about the group. He believes that opposing secondaries will have an easy time shutting down Pickens, exacerbating the team’s offensive struggles.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan picks up the phone in the team's war room during the 2023 NFL Draft weekend.
Consequently, Kaboly urges Khan to revisit negotiations with the 49ers, offering a more compelling deal to secure Aiyuk. Adding Aiyuk to the roster could significantly alleviate the Steelers' offensive issues.
“I still think it’s a huge problem. If you got to sweeten the pot a little bit to the 49ers right now maybe instead of Omar saying take it or leave it, maybe I’m considering it more… I don’t understand this you got to iron out one last thing. What can be so huge he’s not signing a $30 million deal?”
Steelers Still Have Opportunity To Bring Brandon Aiyuk To Pittsburgh
Kaboly suspects that the 49ers might be bluffing about a deal being close with Aiyuk. He believes that guaranteed years could be a major sticking point. While the 49ers downplay this issue, Kaboly thinks Aiyuk is actually seeking a three or four-year guarantee, which they’re reluctant to commit to. If this is the case, it presents an opportunity for Khan to make a final compelling offer that could persuade the 49ers to send Aiyuk to Pittsburgh.
NBC Sports
49ers' Brandon Aiyuk talks to Head Coach Kyle Shanahan before a game.
The Steelers are prepared to offer Aiyuk the contract he reportedly desires and have already presented a deal to the 49ers that was allegedly close to completion. Although the 49ers have not been satisfied with Khan’s previous offer, a slight adjustment might be enough to finalize the trade and address the concerns about the wide receiver room. Kaboly remains unconvinced about the current wide receiver corps, a sentiment that was underscored during their first two preseason games.
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