The Pittsburgh Steelers put themselves in a little bit of a pickle when the decision was made to trade Dionate Johnson. Many believed that General Manager Omar Khan would pull off a trade for San Francisco 49ers' wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Unfortunately, the young pass-catcher finally agreed to a contract extension with the franchise that drafted him, and he won't be coming to the Steel City after all. Now, the Steelers are left in a compromising position with no real answers regarding which player is ready to step up to be the second option behind George PIckens.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan (left) and Head Coach Mike Tomlin (right) sit in the franchise's draft room as they anxiously watch the board in 2023.
As Week 1 inches even closer, Pittsburgh doesn't have much time to improve the room. It's possible that Khan still has a trick up his sleeve, but adding a name bigger than Aiyuk's within the next 10 days or so seems unlikely. There could be an option or two out there, as well as a potentially big-time acquisition closer to the league's trade deadline.
1.) John Metchie III - Houston Texans
After an impressive preseason performance against the New York Giants, John Metchie III is in the backend of a stacked Houston Texans' wide receivers' room. He may not get to be on the field as much as he would like in his (unofficial) third NFL season. After being drafted in 2022, he was diagnosed with cancer and missed his entire rookie campaign. He came back in 2023 healthy, but only hauled in 16 catches.
The former second-round pick has two seasons left on his original deal, and could surprise people if he is given the chance to be successful. The Texans won't be able to ask for too much in return, and it would be looked at as a low-risk, high-reward move. Metchie isn't as big of a name as Aiyuk, but at this point, no one would be. The University of Alabama product would have a chance to get significant time for Pittsburgh right away.
AP Photo / David J. Phillip
Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III jogs on the field as he warms up prior to a professional football game on the road.
2.) Hunter Renfrow - Free Agent
As mentioned previously, potential targets that could end up in the Steel City before Week 1 are not going to exponentially change the team's chances of winning immediately. Hunter Renfrow is a veteran with a decent track record. Albeit, he likely falls into the borderline wide receiver three category that has often been connected to the Steelers' receiving corps.
Renfrow had a phenomenal season in 2021 for the Las Vegas Raiders. He hauled in 103 catches for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns. He seemed poised to continue trending upwards in his career. Unfortunately, injuries in 2022 held him back and he did not have a strong season in 2023, leading to his release. It's easy to argue that the arrival of an All-Pro led to Renfrow losing targets, and that individual is the last on this list.
3.) Davante Adams - Las Vegas Raiders - In-Season Trade
It has already been mentioned that a slow start for the Raiders could lead to teams calling about Davante Adams, the three-time All-Pro wideout. The Steelers could get involved in those discussions if Pittsburgh has a decent start to the season. With the current state of the offensive line and wide receiver rooms, that's a big "if". Nonetheless, Adams is going to be a name to keep an eye on if the stars align.
Joshua Bessex / Buffalo News
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (#17) celebrates a touchdown during the first quarter in a game against the Buffalo Bills.
Adams has not slowed down since being acquired by Las Vegas. He has a combined 22 touchdowns since the beginning of the 2022 season, while catching 203 passes overall. He remains the top weapon on the Raiders' offense, but a bad start could leave him wanting out, and the organization attempting to find some type of draft capital in return.
Steelers Muffed Wide Receiver Approach Throughout 2024 Offseason
Whether it being the Johnson trade, not offering enough up for Aiyuk, or simply not having a clear plan, Pittsburgh's front office botched the handling of the receiver position in recent months. Pat Freiermuth might have to step in as the second option, but overall, there is little hope that the team can have a strong passing game without more formidable pass-catchers.
Do you think the Steelers will target any of these names? Let us know in the comments below!
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