Steelers' Trade Target Proves To Be Worth Draft Capital After Big Game For Giants At Acrisure Stadium

Even though it wasn't easy, the Pittsburgh Steelers won a key game before heading into their bye week, as they defeated the New York Giants by a score of 26-18. Despite the combined score being just 44 points, both offenses were clicking, as they combined for 820 total yards in the game. The Steelers' receiving corps actually looked solid with Russell Wilson spreading the ball around to everyone throughout the game. Just because the unit had one good game does not mean that it will stop looking for improvements, however. 

For the second straight week, the Steelers may have done a little in-game scouting on their opponent. This time, their target of choice was Darius Slayton, one of the starting wide receivers playing alongside Malik Nabers. There have been questions on if the Steelers should truly pursue Slayton or just try and find someone better, even though the latter strategy has not worked out for them at all. 

Slayton was a big reason for the Giants' offense doing well overalls. On just four receptions, he went for 108 receiving yards, proving to be a big threat that receiver-needy teams could use. He also showed his toughness by staying in the game and contributing to the team after taking a massive shot on the sideline from Minkah Fitzpatrick. 

Ever since the Steelers' Sunday Night Football game against the New York Jets, Steeler Nation and the media have been raving about Wilson's "moon ball." He showed that ability again against the Giants when he dropped a perfect pass into the breadbasket of Calvin Austin III for the team's first and only offensive touchdown of the game. 

There is a big-play threat on a team that's going nowhere, and another team that has started to thrive on big plays offensively with the deep passing game. Why wouldn't Omar Khan and his staff start negotiating a deal to bring Slayton to Pittsburgh? Even with the Steelers' receivers hauling in 190 yards combined, why not go out there and, at very least, get a more capable receiver to add depth to the room?

Steelers May Get Bargain Deal With Leverage

The 2-6 Giants are going nowhere fast, so they don't exactly have a lot of leverage to work with. Why would they want to keep Slayton? Do they really want to try and have him around while the rest of the team crumbles around him? Slayton did his job to try and beat the Steelers, as well as a few other players, but the team as a whole is in disarray.

On top of that, Slayton's contract expires at the end of the 2024 season. He would be considered a rental, which usually drives down the price of any player significantly. There is no almost no chance that the Steelers trade for him and immediately give him a fresh deal. He has to prove that he fits in Pittsburgh's offense before the franchise even considers re-signing him at season's end (if a trade were to even commence). 

With conditional picks being thrown around like candy across the league, it's safe to say that the Steelers will likely go down that avenue. The Steelers may do a later Day 3 pick in 2025 with the condition of it rising to a third- or fourth-round pick due to certain stipulations, and there are plenty of things that Khan could use to make it happen.

The first one is if the Steelers do decide to keep Slayton for 2025 or not. They may not want to give up a high pick for nine games. On top of that, Pittsburgh could use playoffs as a stipulation. If they make it far enough into January football, then the higher pick would likely be worth it. The world is Khan's oyster, and Slayton would be worth it for him to go out and get

What do you think about the Steelers potentially trading for Slayton? Let us know in the comments.

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