Steelers Trading For A Big-Time Receiver Just Doesn't Make Any Sense With Team's History At The Position

The Pittsburgh Steelers are widely known for their ability to draft and develop talented wide receivers. As the 2024 season approaches, there has been speculation about the team possibly making a significant acquisition of a top-tier receiver to complement George Pickens. Rumors have connected the team to players like Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk of the San Francisco 49ers, as well as Courtland Sutton of the Denver Broncos. However, Sports Illustrated senior NFL writer Albert Breer believes that the Steelers, who have always prided themselves on developing homegrown receiver talent, are unlikely to make such a trade.

In a recent column, Breer shared his observations about NFL teams after the 2024 NFL Draft. According to him, people hoping for a significant move for a receiver should not expect it to happen. Although Steelers General Manager Omar Khan has demonstrated his willingness to take a different approach than the organization's past practices, he is a veteran staff member and likely aware of the historical significance of the wide receiver position in Pittsburgh.

"I still don’t get the people who are so into the Pittsburgh Steelers trading for a big-name veteran receiver," he wrote. "It’s never been Pittsburgh’s MO to do something like that at that particular position. And I can’t imagine trading [Diontae] Johnson is some sort of big needle-mover in this regard, either."  

Diontae Johnson led the Steelers in receiving yards for three consecutive seasons from 2020 to 2022. He missed four games in the 2023 season while dealing with a hamstring injury. He was still able to finish second to Pickens in receiving yards and caught five touchdowns. Johnson was entering the final year of a two-year extension he had signed with the Steelers. He made the headlines for the wrong reasons when he failed to react to a fumble during a Week 12 game. According to reports, the team had enough of the headaches with the veteran receiver and decided to move on.

Breer laid out his case as to why a flashy wide receiver trade just doesn't fit the Steelers by looking at their recent draft history at the position. He wrote the team has taken 19 wideouts in the last 18 draft cycles. The highest pick used on a receiver in that time frame was the 49th pick the team used in 2020 to draft Chase Claypool. He added that despite not investing significant capital, the team has come away with a group that includes Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, Mike Wallace, Martavis Bryant, JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington, Pickens, Johnson, and Claypool. They all had some degree of success, with Brown being the most prominent. 

Yancey Thigpen, drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the 1991 NFL Draft, is the last receiver not drafted by the team to lead the team in receiving yards. He did it twice, in 1997 and 1995. 

Breer noted that Pittsburgh has always found a way to move on from these talented receivers and find production from a new cast. Only Hines Ward, Brown, and Johnson have gotten extensions of more than one season after their first contract expired. Smith-Schuster got a one-year extension before he moved on. 

Steelers Wide Receiver History Bodes Well For Third Round Pick Roman Wilson

While trading away Johnson might not be a big mover for Breer in making a trade for a premier pass-catcher, it was likely the catalyst for the team taking University of Michigan receiver Roman Wilson with the 84th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Breer thinks Wilson should be a big beneficiary of the team's history of developing receivers. 

Pittsburgh brought in veteran receivers Quez Watkins and Van Jefferson during the 2024 offseason. They have both had flashes in the NFL, but neither has been consistent enough to be counted on, yet. Calvin Austin III has the speed to scare defenses, but will have to be used properly by the team's new Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith to be effective. Wilson will have a real chance to step in as a rookie and make his presence felt. 

Do you agree with Breer that a big-time wide receiver trade seems unlikely?