Steelers Could Absolutely Reignite Trade Talks With NFC Foe For "Fresh Start"

The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking through the trade market for any type of upgrade that could possibly save their 2025 season. They already made one cheap trade to bring in safety Kyle Dugger, but that is likely not enough. Even though the offense has done well overall, they are still linked to nearly every wide receiver that may or may not be available this year. There are many directions for General Manager Omar Khan to go, and there is still a little bit of time for him to decide which path is the best. 

The Steelers have been trying to find an upgrade at wide receiver for a while now, including negotiating with the San Francisco 49ers to try and get wideout Jauan Jennings. With how good they have been, combined with all their injuries at wideout, he seems to be off the market. However, NFL insider Jeremy Fowler thinks otherwise.

"Much is made of Jakobi Meyers' trade prospects out of Las Vegas, but let's not forget about San Francisco's Jauan Jennings, who also asked for a trade in the offseason over the lack of a new deal," Fowler said. "Despite nearly 1,000 yards in 2024, Jennings is off to a slower start this season, ranking fifth on the 49ers in receiving (212). Both sides could use a fresh start."

Jennings has played through some injuries early on in 2025, so that could help explain the slow start for a guy that was expected to take that next step forward. On top of that, it is still a contract year for him, so his price tag has likely dropped dramatically. There is already a high chance that he won't stay in San Francisco beyond 2025, so maybe the 49ers would be willing to listen to offers on him. 

There were numerous reports that Khan had made calls to the 49ers for Jennings during training camp and preseason, but the two sides could not come to a deal. With Fowler's latest report, maybe the Steelers would be willing to try again, especially with how both the receiver and the front office have lost value for potential deals. It wouldn't hurt to ask at least. 

Jennings has shown a lot of upside when he's healthy. With how hard it is to jump on a moving train, especially with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, he would likely end up taking it easy the first couple weeks and focus more on learning the playbook while he tries to get healthy. After a couple weeks, it would then be go time, and he would get a lot more reps, with the idea that recovering would get him back to 2024 form.

Steelers' Details Of Potential Trade

Because of Jennings' lack of production so far, as well as the Steelers' refusal to do contracts midseason, the wideout will most likely not get the contract extension that he has been looking for. He will have to earn it and prove to everyone that he is still a great wideout. If not, he will be allowed to walk and enter free agency for the 2026 offseason. 

Because of that, the most likely scenario is that the trade would have to involve conditional picks. The 49ers don't want to trade away a potential stud for a seventh-round pick, and the Steelers don't want to give up quality capital for someone whose best years may already be behind him, as well as a player that they may not even want to keep after the season is over.

There are also future compensatory picks in mind. If the Steelers manage to trade away a sixth-round pick and then get a 2027 fifth-round pick as compensation for him leaving in free agency, they will likely take that trade. The question there is how do both teams value him? The 49ers could still try and hold on to him through the deadline, so this trade is not a given at all.

What do you think about the Steelers possibly trading for Jennings? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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