While the Pittsburgh Steelers were on their bye week, General Manager Omar Khan has likely still been hard at work, trying to find a suitable wide receiver trade candidate to go after. With the trade deadline coming up, the Steelers have to get a deal done, and quickly. Their first targets will likely be teams with a win percentage under .500 that took another loss in Week 9. There are plenty to go around, and Khan will be expected to keep his ringer on just in case someone wants to add draft capital and essentially give up on the 2024 campaign.
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Raiders' Jakobi Meyers makes a one-handed grab for the Las Vegas.
After suffering a bad loss in Week 9, the Las Vegas Raiders are seemingly in free-fall. Even though they previously traded their best receiver away, Jakobi Meyers could easily be on the trade block next. He currently has 39 receptions for 430 yards and two touchdowns, including a monster game in their most recent defeat.
Meyers is somewhat of a gadget player that can line up in multiple spots and be used for some trickery. He is a very reliable third option with some ability to be second on a depth chart. The Steelers love versatility, and Meyers' ability to play in a few different roles allows them to continue to find quality offensive snaps for the likes of Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III. He could come at that bargain rate that Khan is hoping for.
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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert makes a touchdown catch as Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott tries to stop him to win the game.
Jalen Tolbert may be more of a dark horse option, but with the Dallas Cowboys on seriously struggling since defeating the Steelers, Tolbert could be moved. He has 30 receptions for 353 yards and a pair of scores throughout the 2024 season. Despite his low numbers, Pittsburgh saw how he torched them on primetime, when he had seven receptions for 87 yards and the game-winning touchdown.
With Brandin Cooks out due to injury, Tolbert has seen more playing time. He is still trying to grow into a starting role, but he is growing for sure. He already has career highs in nearly every category throughout the first half of the 2024 season. The Steelers are known for developing receivers properly, so Pittsburgh may be the right spot for him to truly thrive.
Steelers Could Have Another Target Depending On Injury Prognosis
The Steelers have been eyeing up Darius Slayton for a little while now, but he suffered a concussion in the New York Giants' loss to the Washington Commanders. With their season all but over already, the 2-7 Giants are expected to be sellers at the deadline. If that's the case, Slayton will be coveted by many teams, as he may be the top receiver currently available.
Slayton has 32 catches for 469 yards, but just one trip to the end zone in 2024. He had a solid game against the Steelers on Monday Night Football as he showed his ability to stretch the field vertically. With how Russell Wilson likes to utilize the deep ball, a guy like Slayton could fit perfectly in Pittsburgh's offense.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan picks up the phone in the team's war room during the 2023 NFL Draft weekend.
The Steelers have been sitting on their hands, waiting for a bargain deal since April. While Khan has done a masterful job of winning trades in his short time frame as the head of the front office, his inability to find a true starting receiver has made Steeler Nation skeptical if he can build an offense that can truly compete with the big boys in the AFC.
Many teams were reportedly halting trade talks until after Sunday's games. With a majority of the selling teams' games being over, Khan is likely back to working the phones and trying to secure a starting-caliber wide receiver for the first time in his short tenure. If he can't, the lack of depth could haunt the black and gold come January.
What do you think about the Steelers' wide receiver options before the trade deadline hits? Let us know in the comments.
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