What WR-needy Steelers should do now that Tyler Boyd is with Titans
The Steelers’ options are running out. Since trading Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers earlier this offseason, they have a glaring hole at wide receiver.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Tyler Boyd, whom Pittsburgh previously showed interest in, signed with the Tennessee Titans on Tuesday.
Boyd joins the growing list of playmakers to find new homes shortly after the 2024 NFL Draft, leaving only a few remaining options for the Steelers.
1. Trade for Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks
A trade remains Pittsburgh’s best option, and following Tennessee’s addition of Boyd to its wide receiver room, which was already highlighted by Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins, Burks seems to be the odd man out.
The No. 18 overall pick in 2022 has underwhelmed through his first two seasons, posting just 49 catches for 665 yards and one touchdown.
Burks isn’t the flashy addition Steelers fans may be hoping for, but he would be an upgrade over Van Jefferson.
Plus, Pittsburgh has had recent interest in high-upside players who haven’t reached expectations (see: Justin Fields).
2. Trade for Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton
This may be the Steelers’ most realistic best-case scenario. General manager George Paton seemed to reject the idea of trading Sutton ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.
“Sean [Payton] has talked to Courtland. I’ve talked to Courtland,” Paton said via Gabriel Parker of the Denver Post. “He’s in a good place and we’ll just leave it at that.”
However, Denver has since expanded its roster, using a fourth-round pick on Oregon’s Troy Franklin and a seventh-round pick on Utah’s Devaughn Vele.
The Broncos can now afford to move on from Sutton with wide receivers Josh Reynolds, Marvin Mims Jr. and Tim Patrick still on the roster as well.
There’s no denying the connection between Sutton and quarterback Russell Wilson. The two played in Denver together the past two years and showcased their connection by combining for 10 touchdowns in 2023. If Denver changes its mind, Pittsburgh should do everything possible to reunite them.
3. Nothing
The Steelers seem in no rush to add another playmaker, which may hint that they won’t at all. General manager Omar Khan shut down all the trade rumors last week.
“There’s nothing going on right now,” Khan said on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “I’m not exactly sure what the verbiage was, what was reported, but nothing to report.”
Khan may just be keeping his cards close to his chest, but no team has been better at drafting wide receivers outside of the first round than Pittsburgh.
That’s exactly what the Steelers did once again this year, selecting Michigan’s Roman Wilson in the third round (No. 84).
Wilson may turn out to be the perfect complement to George Pickens, but it would be ideal for the 5-foot-11, 185-pound wide receiver to play primarily in the slot his rookie year.
If Pittsburgh likes what it sees from Wilson during rookie minicamp and OTAs in the next few weeks, it may forego adding another wide receiver altogether.
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