No Brandon Aiyuk. No Davante Adams. Is there anywhere else the Pittsburgh Steelers could turn? After beating out the top two players on the trade market, the Steelers’ options are dwindling and the search for a wide receiver continues. The Steelers can put on a good face, give the group a voice and say they’re happy with where they are. But we know they aren’t. If they were able to get Adams a lucrative contract, they would have done it right away.
So what’s left? Who could teams consider in the next three weeks ahead of the Nov. 5 deadline? There are several options to consider.
Mike Williams – New York Jets
It’s the most talked about name right now, and probably the most likely. With Adams in New York with Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard, Williams has no place or role. With 10 catches in six games before Adams joined the team, it’s hard to believe he’ll be with the team by the end of the season. Immediately after signing the contract, it was reported that he had been suspended.
These points can be easily connected. Pittsburgh became interested in Williams shortly after trading for wide receiver Diontae Johnson and scheduled a visit from the former first-round pick. It’s anyone’s guess whether a deal was in place or if the intention was to focus on health since Williams was injured in 2023 with a torn ACL, but no one could have known. Williams visited the Jets first and signed a one-year contract without getting on a plane to Pittsburgh.
Now the Steelers don’t have to make sure he’s healthy. He is there and can intervene immediately. They will like his size and jump ball ability downfield. There’s a lot of uncertainty about how much help he’ll have, Williams isn’t a great separator, and the Steelers’ receivers have a hard time getting open, but he’s a veteran they like. , can be acquired very cheaply. I’m sure the Jets will basically let him go. That would be like trading Williams’ sixth-round pick for a seventh-round pick. It doesn’t take long.
DeAndre Hopkins – Tennessee Titans
The name has been on my radar for a while. Mike Tomlin has always had high praise for him, including last season.
“D-hop is always open,” Tomlin said last year before the Steelers’ Week 9 game against the Titans. “His catch radius, strong hands, ability to throw the ball high speaks to that being true.Of course we have to be conscious of one-on-one situations with him. ”
And Pittsburgh tasked cornerback Joey Porter Jr. with shadowing him throughout the game. This was Porter’s breakout game, as he clamped down on Hopkins in the second half to seal the victory for the Steelers.
Tennessee, who is 1-4 in the AFC South, is not a championship favorite this year, so they may consider selling and restocking. Hopkins, 32, is not part of the Titans’ future plans and has little involvement in their current plans. He has caught just 14 passes for 175 yards in five games, playing less than 50 percent of the offensive snaps in four of those games. In the final year of his contract, he is a top candidate for a loan deal.
Like Williams, he’s not much of a breakaway player, but analysis suggests he’s not completely incompetent. ESPN gave him an open score of 62, placing him 29th out of 73 qualifiers. According to NextGenStats, he ranks among the middle in yards apart and is much better than Williams (3.2 yards vs. 2.1 yards). These numbers lack context, but they suggest that Hopkins still has some power left in him. And he would be a solid option on the other end of Russell Wilson’s moonball.
To me, it’s the name that makes the most sense and the most likely one for Pittsburgh to continue pursuing. What is the cost? I think he’s a 5th round pick.
Also worth mentioning is the Titans’ other wideout, Nick Westbrook-Iquine. He’s fallen into a deep reserve role this season with just one reception (or at least scored a touchdown). Arthur Smith coached him in 2020 and has played against the Steelers in the past. There’s size and blocking ability here, and it’s very cheap.
Christian Kirk – Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are on a free fall sale and already have one contract in place with the Seattle Seahawks. All things considered, Kirkus, 27, had a productive season with 24 receptions for 239 yards and a score against a last-place Jacksonville team. His contract runs through 2025, and he’ll be paid more than $15 million in base salary next year, so it won’t come cheap.
However, he is younger and better than the above options, so he would be a high-end target who won’t bring the team back in the offseason.
Courtland Sutton – Denver Broncos
Would you like to dance with Sutton again? Denver made it clear in the offseason that it was unfazed by Sutton’s release, turning down the 49ers’ offer that would have sent Brandon Aiyuk to Pittsburgh. It’s worth at least calling Sean Payton to see if he’s changed his mind.
My guess is no. Bo Nix is struggling enough as it is, but if you make an offer too good, Denver will probably take a bite. Sutton has been as consistent as ever, averaging between 13.0 and 13.4 yards per catch every year since 2021.
David Moore – Carolina Panthers
I’ve even ruled out the team being allowed to trade back WR Diontae Johnson, but there’s another Panther to consider. That’s Moore, a veteran who hasn’t played much this season. He has just five receptions on nine targets. What is of concern is his relationship with QB Russell Wilson, who has the potential to become a starter in the future.
Moore was drafted by the Seahawks in 2017 and played a real role in the passing game from 2018 to 2020. During that span, he completed 78 passes for 1,163 yards and 13 touchdowns. Wilson changed his play-calling in 2020 to make Moore’s 35th catch, earning him a $100,000 incentive bonus.
Obviously, this isn’t a high-level move, and it’s fair to question how much Moore can contribute to the offense. But the biggest problem with adding someone midway through the season is knowing that Wilson could have an accelerated learning curve if he adds a player from the outside.
Cedric Wilson Jr. – New Orleans Saints
Wilson, a combination of height and speed, is the son of former Pittsburgh Steeler Cedric Wilson Sr. He had a hard time finding a role in New Orleans this season, catching just three passes and zero touchdowns. However, he is one year away from scoring three touchdowns with the Miami Dolphins in 2023 and surpassing the 600-yard mark in 2021. His size and speed give him a different body type compared to many receivers in this room, and Pittsburgh may find that appealing.
