The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially lost out on another wide receiver trade target as Davante Adams has reportedly been traded to the New York Jets. Fans in the Steel City won't be too thrilled about General Manager Omar Khan's inability to acquire Adams, especially after a summer filled with rumors surrounding San Francisco 49ers wide out Brandon Aiyuk that never panned out. The trade deadline will take place in early November, but Khan may not want to wait that long to try and find another pass-catcher, as the offense has sputtered most weeks in 2024 -- even after putting up 32 points against the Las Vegas Raiders.
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.
There should be options out there for Khan, but Adams certainly would have been the big name to trade for. Unfortunately, that reality is no longer possible, and the Steelers still need help at the wide receiver position. There are a few names to look out for over the next couple of weeks as Pittsburgh looks to keep pace with the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North.
1.) DeAndre Hopkins - Tennessee Titans
A name that fans are going to see and hear a lot about is DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans. The veteran has proven that he still has some good football left in him despite being 32 years old, the same age Adams will be in December. He likely wouldn't be looked at as more of a splash than acquiring Adams would have been, but he would certainly upgrade the room.
Hopkins has just 14 catches for 175 yards and a touchdown in 2024, but the Titans have been pretty abysmal offensively. It's hard to argue that Hopkins in the Steelers' wide receivers' room would be a downgrade. He would bring another veteran presence to the room and could be especially effective in the red zone. He still can play at a high level and Khan should inquire about his availability with him being a free agent in 2025.
Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
Former Steelers safety Keanu Neal tries to bring down Tennessee Titans receiver DeAndre Hopkins while linebacker Cole Holcomb runs to help during a regular season game in 2023.
2.) Darius Slayton - New York Giants
Darius Slayton wouldn't be a guy that completely turns around Pittsburgh's offense, but has proven what he could do when getting targets in Weeks 5 and 6 with Malik Nabers out of the lineup for the New York Giants. Slayton hauled in 14 catches for 179 yards and a touchdown over a two-week period and that had to have piqued interest from wide receiver-needy teams around the league.
Slayton has had over 700 yards receiving in each of his professional seasons aside from one, and is on pace to hit that mark again in 2024. Acquiring Slayton would also be considered a rental for the Steelers, as the wideout is set to be a free agent in 2025. Overall, he would provide a nice spark to the room and hopefully open up more space for George Pickens.
3.) Christian Kirk - Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are in a bit of a free fall with a record of 1-5. It appears that the window for winning a Super Bowl will have to be reset, which is why it would make sense for the team to deal Christian Kirk before the deadline. There are not a plethora of trade targets out there, and Kirk's contract makes him unattractive trade bait, but Pittsburgh might be desperate.
He has 24 catches for 296 yards and a touchdown in 2024, but certainly has not played up to his massive deal that runs through the 2025 season. It would likely take some negotiating financially for Khan and co., but with the market being somewhat depleted, Kirk could make sense if the Steelers sense that one more formidable wide receiver is needed to make a playoff run.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan (left) and Head Coach Mike Tomlin (right) sit in the franchise's draft room as they anxiously watch the board in 2023.
Steelers Could Still Target Free Agent Pool
Many people have forgotten that Hunter Renfrow remains a free agent. His potential reunion with the Raiders is now on the table after the Adams trade, so Khan may have to act quickly if Pittsburgh is interested in the veteran. The upside of this is not giving up draft capital and getting someone for cheap, but Renfrow has not played all year and no one can know for sure what kind of football shape he is in.
Do you think the Steelers will make a trade for a wide receiver? Let us know in the comments below!
#SteelerNation
