It remains to be seen if the Pittsburgh Steelers will make an aggressive move in order to acquire a dynamic wide receiver to pair with George Pickens. Currently, it seems like Van Jefferson could end up being second on the depth chart if General Manager Omar Khan decides against making a shocking trade. The most popular name regarding all the rumors has without a doubt been Brandon Aiyuk from the San Francisco 49ers. He recently said that he believes he will play for the 49ers, Steelers or Washington Commanders. There could be a new name added into the mix as training camp approaches.
Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (#14) makes a one-handed grab as the team warms up on the field at Acrisure Stadium prior to a 2022 preseason game in Pittsburgh, PA.
The social media account Pretty Rickey has been pretty accurate throughout the 2024 offseason when it comes to reporting news. A post on Monday fueled trade rumors for another young superstar. It's possible that Jerry Jones refuses to pay the trio of Dak Prescott, Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb, which could mean the pass-catcher ends up being the odd man out.
The 2020 first-round pick has been very successful and is just 25 years of age. If both he and Aiyuk are going to be traded, it would be interesting to see which of the two, if either, would be at the top of Khan's list to trade for. They are two of the brightest young receivers in the game, as both are coming off of incredibly productive seasons.
Lamb had 135 catches and 1,749 yards, while hauling in 12 touchdowns in 2023. He has been healthy throughout his career and it would be easy for one to argue that he deserves $30 million or more per year in a new contract. With Parsons set to get paid as potentially the league's top defender and Prescott wanting upwards of $60 million per season, Lamb could end up getting paid elsewhere. Would Khan be willing to pay north of $30 million for a player not drafted by the organization?
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan picks up the phone in the team's war room during the 2023 NFL Draft weekend.
Reports out of San Francisco recently stated that Aiyuk and the 49ers had a good meeting and if he does indeed stay there, it opens up the possibility for Deebo Samuel to be traded, or General Manager John Lynch to do nothing else at all. Cowboys fans have to be frustrated by how Jones has handled his star players. The franchise wasn't too aggressive in free agency and also seems hesitant to reward its best contributors on the field.
Khan would have to significantly break the mold if he decides to make a huge trade for one of the two receivers. The cap space can be found in future years, but the team also has to think about paying guys like Pickens and Pat Freiermuth. Additionally, there are no quarterbacks under contract for 2025, which means paying one or multiple will be in play as the 2025 offseason comes around.
It's hard to believe that the Steelers have what it takes to be a dynamic offense without a second dominant wideout running opposite of Pickens. Aiyuk is an attractive option, but if his situation gets resolved soon and the social media report of Lamb wanting a trade is true, Khan and Pittsburgh could quickly shift the top target to being Lamb from Dallas.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers President Art Rooney II (left) and General Manager Omar Khan (right) stands on the field prior to a professional football game.
Steelers Are A Wide Receiver Away From Being A Dangerous Offensive Unit
The offensive line has been upgraded, the quarterback position is much different, and the duo of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren should be very scary for opposing defenses. If Khan is able to make one more big move and it ends up being acquiring a dominant wide receiver, the Steelers' offense could jump up to being one of the best in the AFC.
