Steelers Trading For Davante Adams Would Be A Perfect Win-Win For George Pickens

The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't admitted it, but seem desperate for wide receiver help. During the 2024 offseason, they decided to trade away Diontae Johnson, and everyone expected them to pick up a top receiver, either in the NFL Draft or in free agency, to pair with young star George Pickens -- but they didn't. 

They did select Roman Wilson in the third round of the 2024 draft, but the consensus was that he would need some time to adjust to the league. Unfortunately, Wilson suffered a sprained ankle before the start of the regular season, which has kept him sidelined. Pittsburgh was also heavily linked to months of rumors surrounding Brandon Aiyuk, but he chose to stay with the San Francisco 49ers. 

This means whenever a receiver seems even remotely unhappy with his team, or vice versa, the social media pleas to bring him to the Steel City begin. This will likely continue until the trade deadline unless the Steelers work out a deal with their most recent supposed target, Davante Adams, from the Las Vegas Raiders. 

Former NFL General Manager Doug Whaley recently talked with Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson on 93.7 The Fan's Morning Show about the potential trade. Whaley said if they are really in contention for Adams, they need to start looking at a wide receiver for the 2025 season to pair with him because Pickens will not want to stay and be the number two. He added that Pittsburgh may work out a one-year deal with Adams, in which case they will still look for another receiver, but instead to pair with Pickens. 

Since the Aiyuk rumors, it has been said that Pickens won't want to share the field with another elite receiver. They expect Pickens to throw a fit if they sign a receiver of that caliber. Whaley disagrees, however. He said that regardless of the contract situation, he believes that Pickens will lobby hard for the Steelers to bring Adams on board. He thinks that having Adams partnered with Pickens would be huge this season. 

"This year, I think it helps tremendously. Now, because Pickens is your number two, but everyone's going to start rolling coverage to Adams, he's going to have a monster year. So if I'm Pickens I'm lobbying, 'Go get that dude!'"

For Pickens, having Adams on the team takes the pressure off of him and makes them much harder to defend. Whaley sees it as a win-win for Pickens, regardless of whether Adams stays for this season or longer. If it is just for this season, then the whole team looks good; if it is for longer, then Adams allows him to pad his stats before he goes into a contract season and lobbies to be traded. 

Whaley said that having Adams and Pickens takes them from competing for AFC North supremacy to really looking at the top of the whole AFC. He adds that it all depends on how Adams fits into Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith's plan. The Steelers so far haven't been built to put up 30-plus points a game, but they will need to if they want to have a shot at a Super Bowl. 

Can The Steelers Afford Davante Adams?

The real question will be, can the Steelers afford Adams? The 33rd Team recently threw out a ridiculous scenario where they traded Adams for Pickens, along with a third-round pick. That feels a bit like going from the frying pan to the fire. The Steelers need someone to partner with Pickens. Having only Adams doesn't solve that problem.  

Other names have been mentioned on social media, but the most likely options include multiple picks and possibly restructuring Adams' contract. Steelers General Manager Omar Khan seems unlikely to engage in any deal that would set Pittsburgh's forward momentum back. Like with Aiyuk, the deal will have to make sense for all involved. 

How do you think Pickens feels about the potential Adams trade? Click to comment below. 

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