Pittsburgh is all in.
Steelers urged to trade for 1096-yard receiver to join Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf originally appeared on The Sporting News
You don't really have to say you're all in when you sign a 41-year old quarterback. It's implied.
That's where the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves with Aaron Rodgers. His acquisition in free agency has essentially created a one-year, front-and-center contention window, and it's up to the Steelers to try and maximize that.
That's why Pittsburgh is one of five teams The Athletic suggests should make a trade offer for Terry McLaurin.
McLaurin would essentially serve as a replacement for George Pickens, who was traded away to the Cowboys. Coming off a season with 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Commanders, McLaurin has requested a trade amid contentious contract negotiations.
The Athletic's proposed package sends a 2026 third-round pick and young WR Roman Wilson to Washington for McLaurin.
"If the Steelers want to give Aaron Rodgers the best chance to make a run in what could be his final season, the biggest bet they could make would be a dynamic receiving threat behind DK Metcalf," writes Steelers beat writer Mike DeFabo for The Athletic. "For more than a year, there have been questions surrounding the WR2 position. Right now, the team seems interested in seeing how two receivers on rookie contracts — Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson — fill that role. McLaurin would be an instant and massive upgrade, signaling the Steelers really are 'all in' for Rodgers. The veteran WR also could help at the beginning of a rookie QB window on a short, two-year extension worth $30 million per year. At the same time, a move of this magnitude would also require some salary-cap gymnastics. Currently, the Steelers have an estimated $17.5 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap, but they like to keep at least $10 million for in-season moves in case of injury. There are ways to make the money work (signing bonuses, restructuring other contracts) and you never know how aggressive GM Omar Khan might be."
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The one main downside here is that the Steelers would proceed to have to make a quick decision on McLaurin's contract themselves.
If they want to keep him happy and give him an extension that the Commanders appear hesitant to hand out, it'd all of a sudden be a heck of a lot of money devoted to receivers in Metcalf and McLaurin.
It'd be a fun pairing, given that they went in the same draft about a round apart and have both exceeded their draft positions.
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It'd also give Rodgers the best chance he's had in a while of making a deep playoff run. Pittsburgh would really get to find out whether Rodgers still has it, because there'd be no excuse for struggling in an offense with so many impressive weapons.
The cap space might not work out for Pittsburgh to get this done, but if they could swing it, the Steelers would be a better football team for having made this move.
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