The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a tremendous offseason. However, after trading away star wide receiver Diontae Johnson early on in the offseason, fans have expressed concern about the team's wide receiver room. While the Steelers have George Pickens poised to take on the number one wide receiver role, which he is expected to excel in, the issue lies beyond him.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk attempts to cut up the field with the football during a home game.
Pittsburgh has a plethora of speedy wide receivers, but none that truly instill confidence as a solid number two option to pair with Pickens. This has led to numerous reports throughout the offseason suggesting that the Steelers were desperate to acquire a complementary wide receiver. Despite these reported efforts, Pittsburgh has not been able to secure a suitable addition to their receiving corps.
The biggest rumor of the offseason has revolved around a potential trade with the San Francisco 49ers for their star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The prospect of bringing Aiyuk to Pittsburgh has excited fans all offseason. Former Steelers player turned analyst Ryan Clark reported that the 49ers would be meeting with Aiyuk.
What are the biggest questions facing each NFC West team? We broke that down — including the latest on Brandon Aiyuk — with help from @BaldyNFL on The Insiders on @nflnetwork.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 26, 2024
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On Tuesday night’s episode of The Insiders on NFL Network, insider Tom Pelissero provided details on the meeting between Aiyuk and the 49ers. Unfortunately for Steelers fans hoping for an Aiyuk trade, Pelissero delivered a crushing blow to those hopes.
"Aiyuk and the 49ers brass met on Monday at Aiyuk's request. This was a good meeting from what I was told. Both sides said things that needed to be said and they're gonna keep working," Pelissero said. "It's important to note here, there's never been a trade request from Brandon Aiyuk. That hasn't changed. The 49ers' stance hasn't changed either. Despite getting trade calls on Aiyuk going back to draft week, they're moving forward, and they want Aiyuk to be a part of the team in 2024.”
Pelissero further elaborated on the timeline involving the 49ers and Aiyuk. He noted that the upcoming holiday provides the 49ers' management an opportunity to regroup and strategize on retaining Aiyuk in San Francisco.
"What I would anticipate here is all parties involved will go ahead and enjoy the 4th of July holiday, regroup sometime after that. They've still got several weeks here to see if they can hammer out a deal."
Steelers' Offense Should Be Much Better In 2024 Regardless Of The WR Room
The notion that Pittsburgh's wide receiver room is weak is accurate. Outside of Pickens, there is a significant drop-off in talent. However, the Steelers' new Offensive Coordinator, Arthur Smith, has a penchant for utilizing his tight ends, and he has a relatively deep group to involve in the receiving game. This should significantly benefit Pittsburgh in 2024.
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Former Titans OC Arthur Smith laughs with Derrick Henry during a game.
Additionally, the Steelers appear ready to implement a heavy rush attack under Smith. They have two dominant running backs in Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, who can also contribute in the receiving game.
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Steelers running backs Najee Harris (left) and Jaylen Warren (right) stand next to one another on the sideline during a regular season contest on the road.
While much has been made about the lack of depth in the wide receiver room, with Pickens, a tight end group with receiving capabilities, and two powerful running backs, the Steelers should be well-equipped for the 2024 season. Steelers fans are hoping for a much-improved offensive performance. If Smith can revitalize the offense, Pittsburgh could be a surprising team in the 2024 season.
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