Steelers Now Facing Strong Competition In The Wide Receiver Trade Market As Deadline Approaches

The Pittsburgh Steelers got their wish granted when the NFL pushed the trade deadline back a week going into the 2024 season. The organization led the charge on getting the date changed, and it succeeded. Now, it is time for General Manager Omar Khan to take advantage of the deadline and build up his roster in order to make a run in the second half of the season. Khan has been looking to add at the wide receiver position since the offseason, and he is quickly running out of time to do so.

The NFL's trade deadline lands on Tuesday, November 5th. This is after all of the Week 9 games, which gives teams a good idea of whether or not they should be sellers. The Steelers are looking for a wide receiver that can produce behind George Pickens, despite Calvin Austin III and Van Jefferson making decent strides when it comes to their production. NFL insider Tom Pelissero was on The Rich Eisen Show on Friday, where he shared that there may be some new competition in the wide receiver market at the trade deadline.

"In terms of the receiver, I mean I know that the Texans have at least been involved in talks on potential receiver additions." Pelissero reported. "They are going to get Nico Collins back in the not-too-distant future, potentially as soon as next week which is going to help a lot as well but you probably need something extra."

The Houston Texans had a stacked wide receiver room going into the 2024 season with Nico Collins and Tank Dell, and they also traded for Stefon Diggs. Unfortunately for Houston, Collins has missed some time with a hamstring injury and Diggs will miss the rest of the 2024 season with a torn ACL. Due to these injuries, the Texans can be some major competition for the Steelers when it comes to landing a receiver that may be available at the deadline.

The Texans still have weapons even without Diggs and Collins, at least more than the Steelers. Collins should be back soon, and Houston had plenty of success in 2023 with Dell and Collins as the team's top two wide receivers. However, they would probably like to add some depth. Players that could provide that include KJ Osborn, Kendrick Bourne, Demarcus Robinson, or even Darius Slayton. Essentially every receiver Pittsburgh may also be looking to acquire.

Without a trade, the Texans will be relying on Robert Woods and John Metchie III heavily in the second half of the season. Both players are serviceable, but Woods is on the tail-end of his career and Metchie has struggled to find his footing in the league.

Houston was without Collins and Diggs in their last contest, and their receivers combined to catch just eight passes. The organization is certainly considering some additions.

Steelers' Omar Khan Will Need To Get Aggressive At The Trade Deadline

Khan has normally been conservative in trades, and has waited for the other team to break. This happened over the 2024 offseason when Pittsburgh acquired Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears. Chicago originally wanted a second round pick, and Khan end up acquiring Fields for a conditional sixth round pick.

This strategy may not work for Khan this time around. Houston, along with other teams, will be going after similar receivers before the 5th. NFL insider Dianna Russini reported on Saturday morning that even the Kansas City Chiefs are open to adding more help at receiver.

"But the Chiefs still might not be done." Russini wrote. "If a wide receiver falls into their laps, I’m told they are going to try to land another one with Skyy Moore on injured reserve."

Kansas City has already traded for DeAndre Hopkins, who could have helped out in Pittsburgh. Their wide receiver room lacks depth, which is why they are also a threat to the Steelers in the wide receiver market.

Are you worried about the competition in the wide receiver market? Let us know in the comments below!

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