Steelers' Unlikely Chances Of Landing Coveted Wide Receiver Trade Candidate Increase After Broncos Hint At Being Sellers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to make some kind of move before, or at, the 2024 NFL trade deadline. Fans have anxiously been waiting for General Manager Omar Khan to acquire some kind of wide receiver before it is too late. There is still a glaring need for some help opposite of George Pickens, but the top options have been removed from the trade block. That should provide some suspense leading up to 4pm ET on Tuesday. There are expected to be some moves and no one is going to be surprised if Khan goes after one of the top pass-catchers available.

There have been plenty of rumors surrounding Khan and the Steelers. Those are likely to continue until Pittsburgh comes to an agreement with another team for a wide receiver. Some teams that are looked at as buyers could end up surprising front offices around the league and act as sellers. The same could be said for the other way around. That is where Khan may find his time to strike.

The Denver Broncos sit at 5-4 in a stacked AFC. Due to the winning record, it could lead one to believe that the organization will attempt to gain assets to make a playoff run. With that said, postseasons are traditionally not very kind to rookie quarterbacks, so Denver may elect to sell off some pieces to gain more draft capital. The first deal of deadline week provided some insight into how the franchise may be thinking.

Baron Browning wasn't necessarily a critical part of the Broncos' defense and the team also extended Jonathan Cooper over the weekend. Regardless, trading away a defender that has played roughly 50% of the snaps isn't a wise move if that kind of depth will be needed down the stretch in December and January. This could lead to the Steelers inquiring about Courtland Sutton's availability almost immediately.

Deciding to trade away a pass rusher that is third on the depth chart doesn't fully lead to a team being considered a seller, but the Broncos have apparently also been involved in rumors regarding tight end Greg Dulcich. The organization may be set up for success in the future with Bo Nix, but the AFC seems too difficult for the team to make a run in 2024.

The Steelers need a legitimate wide receiver to pair with Pickens. There have been countless names connected to Pittsburgh, but Sutton would be one of the best possible acquisitions if he is indeed made available. 

General managers around the league are always willing to pick up the phone and hear what another team has to offer, so Khan should absolutely be trying to get an understanding of what Denver and General Manager George Paton are thinking about regarding the rest of the season.

Sutton will be under contract through 2025 and has over a $20 million cap hit in the final year of his deal. This is why it might be attractive for the Broncos to move him now. Teams are definitely going to be willing to give up more for him with a year left on his contract rather than acquiring him in 2025 near the deadline as merely a rental player. The Steelers would be a near-perfect fit, reuniting Sutton with his former quarterback in Russell Wilson.

Steelers Acquiring Sutton Comes With 1 Major Complication

It's safe to say that the Broncos and Wilson did not end on good terms. Denver is paying Wilson millions of dollars to play in Pittsburgh, and trading Sutton away to the Steel City would be aiding a quarterback that didn't necessarily do any favors for the folks out West. Sutton may not be available, and is the Broncos' top receiver, but if the team is giving up on a Super Bowl run in Week 10 and wants more draft capital, the Steelers would certainly be willing to give some up for the wide receiver.

Do you think that Pittsburgh could end up with Sutton before the trade deadline? Let us know in the comments below!

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