Insider: Steelers Never Had Any Interest In All-Pro Wide Receiver

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been entangled in all sorts of trade rumors for wide receivers. This speculation began early in the 2024 offseason when the team decided to trade away star wide receiver Diontae Johnson, leaving George Pickens as the lone standout in the wide receiver room. As concerns mounted over the lack of a reliable WR2, it became clear that options like Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III were not sufficient to bolster the receiving corps. Reports indicated that the Steelers were close to acquiring San Francisco 49ers star Brandon Aiyuk, but that deal ultimately fell through.

When Davante Adams requested a trade, hopes swirled that the Steelers would pounce on the opportunity to add the elite receiver to their roster. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh fans, Adams ended up joining the New York Jets, leaving the Steelers to face him on the field rather than teaming up with him. The absence of a proven secondary target had made the Steelers’ offense a point of concern heading into the season, particularly given the pressure on Pickens to perform as the primary target.

Another name that stirred excitement among fans was DeAndre Hopkins, but those hopes were dashed when he was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs. While some fans expressed frustration over the Steelers' failure to land the former All-Pro, insider Gerry Dulac hinted that Pittsburgh never intended to pursue Hopkins in the first place.

"Did you ever stop to think they don't want Hopkins?" Dulac said.

Dulac faced a barrage of questions from Steelers fans regarding why General Manager Omar Khan didn’t finalize a trade for Hopkins. This frustration among fans has been fueled by a multitude of rumors that have circulated since the trade of Johnson. 

In response, Dulac refuted the notion that the Steelers missed an opportunity, suggesting instead that the team never had genuine interest in acquiring Hopkins. He went on to elaborate further on the current state of the Steelers' wide receiver situation.

"Like I said earlier, maybe the Steelers weren't interested in Hopkins," Dulac said. "But I get your point. Teams like the Chiefs, 49ers and Tampa Bay are desperate for WRs because of injuries. The Steelers aren't at the desperation stage... yet."

Hopkins was an intriguing option, having once been regarded as one of the best wide receivers in the league. Now, at 32 years old and playing through injuries, he presents something of a question mark. 

Despite showing flashes of potential, he was hindered by a struggling Tennessee Titans offense, managing just 15 receptions for 173 yards and one touchdown in the 2024 season so far.

Steelers' Omar Khan And Company Aren't As Desperate For A WR As Fans Think

While adding Hopkins wouldn't have been as significant as some of the other rumored moves, missing out on him is still disappointing—unless, of course, Dulac's reports are accurate and the Steelers never had genuine interest in him. The Steelers are well aware of their needs and aren't as desperate for a wide receiver as fans might be. 

Their recent outing against the Jets, where Russell Wilson opened up the passing game, demonstrated that they have viable options at wide receiver. Though their situation isn’t ideal, they are in a better position than some other teams.

Dulac left the door open for the possibility that the Steelers could still be working on a trade for a wide receiver before the deadline. For now, it seems that Khan and the organization are focused on fully assessing their current roster and identifying their needs before making a significant move. 

While they have pursued some big names without success, it appears that Hopkins was never part of their plans. Steelers fans will be watching closely to see how Hopkins performs in his new role with the Chiefs, especially since Pittsburgh will face him on Christmas Day.

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