Steelers Have Leverage To Steal Raiders WR Davante Adams

The Pittsburgh Steelers‘ roster has been set up nicely thanks to an exciting offseason from General Manager Omar Khan and assistant general manager Andy Weidl. However, one major concern has been the wide receiver room, especially after the team's decision to trade away Diontae Johnson.

This has left pundits and Steelers fans wondering who will step up to fill the void left by Johnson. Although the Steelers have brought in several speedy wide receivers, none have instilled much confidence in fans and analysts. As a result, the Steelers have been linked to nearly every available wide receiver this offseason. The most prominent rumors have involved San Francisco 49ers star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

Aiyuk recently requested a trade from the 49ers, and the Steelers are reportedly in the mix for him. However, acquiring Aiyuk wouldn't come cheap; the Steelers would have to give up significant assets and be prepared to pay him top dollar in the wide receiver market. While Aiyuk has garnered much attention, another star wide receiver might be a potential target: Las Vegas Raiders' Davante Adams.

Adams has shown frustration with his current situation. He joined the Raiders excited to play with his former college teammate, quarterback Derek Carr. However, when the Raiders struggled during the 2023 season, Adams was less than thrilled. Although the Raiders have Adams under contract, they might be open to trading him. 

According to former Pittsburgh offensive lineman Ryan Harris, if the Raiders decide to listen to trade offers for Adams, the Steelers could be in the running.

“Pittsburgh Steelers could use Davante Adams and players love playing for Mike Tomlin as I did when I was a Steeler so sometimes that comes into play as well.”

Adams has been heavily linked with the New York Jets, which would reunite him with his former NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers. However, this doesn't mean Khan and the Steelers wouldn't aggressively pursue Adams to bring him to Pittsburgh. Despite Adams being 31 years old, he has proven he can still play at a high level.

If the Steelers are going to give up significant assets in a trade and pay a wide receiver a substantial amount, it might make more sense to focus on Aiyuk, who is 26 years old and just entering his prime. Aiyuk would have a much longer opportunity to contribute in Pittsburgh, whereas Adams, already 31, would turn 32 during the 2024 season. Wide receivers often begin to slow down in their 30s. While Adams is an exceptional talent, he is still human, and father time remains undefeated.

Steelers' Mike Tomlin Is Very Popular Among NFL Players

As Harris pointed out, one key leverage point for Pittsburgh is Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin. Tomlin is a fan-favorite head coach, and many players around the league have publicly expressed their desire to play for him. He is not only one of the greatest leaders in the game but also has a unique way of connecting with his players.

Players around the league crave the opportunity to play for Tomlin. If the Steelers want to pitch Adams on joining the team, playing for Tomlin would be a significant selling point. While the Raiders have Adams under contract and would have the final say if they made him available for trade, it will be interesting to see if they attempt to move him.

Adams has downplayed the idea of wanting a trade, but his frustrations have been evident during games. The Raiders got a new energy with their Head Coach Antonio Pierce. They may want to keep Adams and see if things can get better under a full season with Pierce. However, the Steelers could get aggressive and try to land Adams if they decide to move on from pursuing Aiyuk.

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