Steelers Trading For A Receiver Prior To Week 1 Would Be Unexpected: "At This Point, I'd Say No"

The Pittsburgh Steelers' offseason continues to move along, and the wait for a receiver trade that fans were hinted to earlier this offseason has yet to materialize. With the month of June around the corner, and more big name receivers getting paid everyday, the anticipation is that the franchise will likely not add a receiver before Week 1 in Atlanta.

The Steelers have reportedly made calls to other teams in hopes of landing a superstar receiver since the trade of Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers earlier this offseason. George Pickens, Roman Wilson, and Van Jefferson currently headline the Steelers receiving core, but there is still plenty of room for proven players to step up. 

Several big name players continue to be teased to Pittsburgh as they hold out for new contracts, such as Tee Higgins and Justin Jefferson, and there remains plenty of optimism that the General Manager Omar Khan could strike again. However, with the rising price for these superstars services, currently pushing north of $30 million per year, the rumors have cooled as the team holds for any post-June 1st cuts. 

In his weekly Steelers Chat, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette echoes this sentiment that a trade for a receiver is unlikely to happen before the regular season gets underway.

"At this point, I'd say no, unless there was a major injury. But like I always remind, you never know."

Though disappointing, news like this is a huge nod of confidence toward the receivers currently on the roster, and their role inside of Arthur Smith's offense. Smith typically doesn't do as much with the receivers in his offense as he does running backs and tight ends, as evident by the recent addition of the team's sixth tight end on the roster in Izaiah Gathings. 

The players brought in to fill the hole at the position align with what Smith likes to do with receivers in utilizing their speed to get open off the play-action pass. This is something he ran consistently during his time in Tennessee. It may not be the high flying offense of teams past, but an offense that should get into the end zone more consistently than the prior few years. 

This Doesn't Mean No Receiver For The Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the most notorious teams for keeping their cards close to their chests. The best example of this is recommitting to Kenny Pickett being the Week 1 starter, then immediately shipping him to Philadelphia. As Dulac said, you never know. 

The Steelers have signified that they don't feel they are far out from competing for the AFC crown, which is evident based on their aggressiveness in free agency. However it's difficult to look at the current receiver room, and feel as though the Steelers compete for a Super Bowl without a proven player in it.

It's more likely that the Steelers play who they have, make a run on a free agent receiver, and hold for the trade deadline before making a move. Players like Higgins and Jefferson could become available should they fail to reach an agreement with their respective teams, or if their teams struggle during the season. The Steelers have also been linked to potential free agents like JuJu Smith-Schuster, who could look to return to Pittsburgh should he be cut by the New England Patriots.

There is still plenty of time before the start of the season though, where teams could show their hand like the San Francisco 49ers towards Brandon Aiyuk after trading up for a receiver in the draft, followed by extending other members of the room. Getting players at the best value created the Khan Artist, now it's time to let him work again.

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