Steelers' Best Trade Ammunition for a Playmaker WR | Did Steelers Lose Top Draft Target to Rival?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are still in the middle of trade talks for a playmaker wide receiver in the NFL, but Chris Carter says he doesn't think that trade could come for a while. Chris explains that in his mailbag episode, and why Omar Khan is most likely setting up his trade opportunities for when a team gives the right price for a receiver the Steelers really want.
That question, and more about the Steelers' draft picks, including whether the Cincinnati Bengals stole the Steelers' true first round target, if Mason McCormick will be used the way Kendrick Green was, and if Cory Trice Jr. will be ready to start in 2024.
Steelers' Best Trade Ammunition for a Playmaker WR | Did Steelers Lose Top Draft Target to Rival? / @lockedonsteelers
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[@stevensharples286]

I’m not convinced that WR2 isn’t already on the roster. Outside Pickens, there’s 9 other receivers on the roster. Are we saying that none of them are capable of producing enough to be a serviceable #2? That doesn’t make sense to me. A legit 2 takes pressure off 1 and demands at least manageable attention. Not to mention, #2 level production can be made from the slot. There’s no rule that says your 2 must be an elite outside receiver and frankly, it’s a luxury to have 2 players of that caliber on the field at the same time anyway. Players can be schemed open is my point and you don’t need a Brandon Aiyuk to accomplish that 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@TheFactsMob]

Your WR2 has to consistently beat 1v1 or other teams will double your WR1 and force everyone else to beat them. So unless your scheme is Shanahan/Reid/McVay level... it's unrealistic to count on that consistently. But your mistaken if you think we have another WR who can consistently beat man coverage off the LOS on this team. We don't even know if George can do it consistently let alone ANY of those other WRs. They definitely would NOT be journeyman guys if they were able to do it consistently. So the situation tells me enough about them...

[@SugaRay5x2]

Facts it's 😂done become comical .the same thing at cornerback

[@thatdamngreekgamer5638]

Pickens is wr2. He hasn’t consistently proven that he’s a #1

[@bettzburgh8521]

I think the issue will come when good defenses can shut down the run and take GP out the game. That will be the moment when fans blame Tomlin for not getting another play maker at receiver.

[@thatdamngreekgamer5638]

@@bettzburgh8521 my problem is that they traded a starting caliber guy for a player who was about to be cut AND they had no plan to replace the starter

[@marcusbarugh919]

For the people saying we shouldnt have traded Dionte, part of that was a locker room culture move. Tomlin always says we want volunteers not hostages and Johnson was known to be very vocal when he was disgruntled. Was the trade perfect? No it wasnt but it was necessary from a locker room standpoint.

[@John-xf4wp]

Love your podcast!!!! Keep up the great work. ❤

[@OmaAlkebulan-grace]

Zay Jones could help

[@babybubba527]

Kendrick Green had quite an attitude problem for an undersized Guard like that lol

[@aaroncalderon6928]

Van Jefferson a number 2? Thats worse than having Allen Robinson as our #3 last year 😂😂

[@Deon-nm7sq]

Yea van is worse than Allen and if we’re trying to compete we need a dominate offense we need to be hard to predict

[@tomwhaley400]

If Arthur Smith succeeds at coaching up Russell Wilson or Justin, the tight ends will be #2, at times #1

[@dylana.601]

Thanks Chris

[@spicecreations1416]

Y’all people don’t even be thinking when yall call in. First why would they trade Najee and Jalen gets hurt, we’re screwed and SF have about six RB’s over there. They just drafted one.

[@TheeEgyptianQueen]

The wild part is, Najee is or was a San Francisco 49ers fan prior to him getting drafted, and he admitted on the red carpet that he wouldn't mind getting drafted to the Pittsburgh Steelers or the 49ers

[@JWaller412]

I think people blow stuff out of proportion when it comes to this 5th yr option stuff. Do ppl really think the front office doesn’t have some sort of plan in play? It’s too early in the 2024 offseason to be freaking out about the 2025 season.

[@georgerodgers2732]

We don't listen to rumors on players we do our research beforehand

[@oldgrizz8720]

Stating that Dan Moore will be the starter again this year, may be to keep his value up for trade hopes. I think Steelers will extend Najee's contract.

[@MrFreshEdition]

Under Aurthur's Smith Offensive scheme and System, No need to savage draft picks for another WR. The system will excel with the current WR Room, especially with all the speed at WR CAIII, Watkins, and Wilson all 4.3. And then you add the other weapons to the equation Patterson, Muth, Warren, and Pickens.

[@tomwhaley400]

Tight ends are going to have the time of their life if Arthur Smith is susuccessful at coaching these QBs

[@mrman3523]

The 9ers love using more than 1 back and cmc typically gets hurt. A run heavy team like them chews bodies up annually. Najee and a 4th or 5th

[@shanehowdeshell9066]

The kahn artist said on the pat macaffe show that there is no trade upcoming for a wr.

[@lifeofavet7057]

Take with grain of salt he can't show his cards, and that means right then there was not trade in mind but stilk could happen

[@lososcotti926]

You are so gullible

[@MarvyG23]

Smokescreen

[@BossBtv321]

He said nothing to report. Didn’t say he wasn’t trying

[@tanapolchuksrida1994]

The philosophy is with that oline anybody could run the ball

[@sippiboy3024]

People keep wanting to trade Najee to the 49ers. He's not the type of back that the 49ers like, plus we need Najee ourselves.

[@seangrizzle7063]

Not only is there not another number two on the roster I’m convinced there’s only one possibly number three which is Wilson. The rest of those guys are like fours and fives.

[@jeffstonier134]

KEEP NAJI

[@brandanduran5625]

I think trading najee for anybody is a disaster move we basically put together an o line, that’s finally going to be useful for him and then we’re going to trade him? Dan Moore proves that he’s been a bum on the Steelers. I’d be OK with trading him for Sutton or something like that. If they get an elite wide receiver, though, they’re gonna have to give up way too much.

[@tomwhaley400]

Exactly. The top running backs are way too undervalued to deal right now. If you have one, hold on to him and consider yourself lucky. This tide will change after the Eagles ride Saquon Barkley to a Super Bowl this year

[@tomwhaley400]

If I was a GM, I'd be looking hard at the running backs available right now. Dalvin Cook? Cam Akers? Kareem Hunt? They'll be worth much more next year

[@yurky1]

​@@tomwhaley400both of those guys looked washed up and old last year. Another year playing won't change that. Right now they have plenty of depth at that position. And if injuries happen they have plenty of draft picks next year to trade for another #2 or #3 RB during camp. Just look at the jets they are absolute loaded at the RB position. Someone if not 2 players are not going to make the roster. And all are young and under control for a few more years. And wouldn't mind seeing what the kid from Georgia can bring to the table. Won't take long once camp starts to see what he can do.

[@yurky1]

Trading najee unless he requests a trade isn't happening. Plus why would Denver trade the only weapon they have when you just drafted a young QB. Makes no sense at all especially when he is under contract for 2 years. He can skip out on OTAs but won't miss camp he has no leverage with that many years left on his contract. Plus under Smith's offense the TEs will be a defacto WR #2. Have a chance to see what the young WR can do. And if needed with the extra salary cap space and also some extra draft capital for next year they can add right now to any position room during camp if they see a issue. Seems like a better option to see what we have during training camp and allow there young guys the opportunity to prove themselves.

[@noecker97]

Go After WR Cortland Sutton, Re-Sign Najee, Our Roster Would Pretty Much Be Complete For The Up-Coming Season...

[@yurky1]

Why would Denver trade Sutton? They just drafted a QB and he is the only weapon they have. Why in the world would they trade him. And still under contract for 2 years. And resign najee? That would cost more per year then what his 5th year option would of been for next year.

[@heartsproductions9308]

Trading Dionte was a bad move in hindsight yeah I get the knocks, but the dude could run routes. Honestly we better hope Austin can play.

[@danielporter5476]

Johnson was a terrible #1 The Steelers need a #1 to take the pressure off Pickens & the run game

[@heartsproductions9308]

@@danielporter5476 yes they do, my point is , and I should have said this, we traded Johnson prematurely, and that was a bad move

[@georgerodgers2732]

Bengals have been stealing our picks on our board

[@georgerodgers2732]

Najee Harris can be Derek Henry 2.0

[@SugaRay5x2]

I like najee and 2 seconds for Aiyuk

[@joecampbell2496]

You’re nuts. Najee is a Tomlin guy, a Steeler guy, a lunch pail guy, that the Steelers are going to rework the contract for. We don’t punish Steeler guys for being Steelers.

[@accountone1598]

Najee and 2 seconds for Aiyuk is a great idea. If the Niners are not interested, possibly the same trade for DK Metcalf.

[@brianposner3204]

Najee is more valuable to the Steelers than Ayuik would be. Warren is not a work horse, he's a compliment to Najee.

[@SugaRay5x2]

@@brianposner3204 no he isn't

[@SugaRay5x2]

@joecampbell2496 it's not about punishing him we have Edward's buddy and Jalen Edward's is a bowling ball

[@jamy8575]

Still talk'n about Kendrick Green... Sad

[@levidiaz3074]

I'm fine with Pickens Austin Wilson Jefferson and Watkins

[@theunmitigateddisaster676]

Swap Austin with Wilson, and im content with the order.

[@stevensharples286]

Same.

[@jim6807]

Mehhhh… look around the league though.. that’s bad lol. Russell Wilson is still a question mark too.

[@clockwork443]

​@@jim6807it seems your talking from a fantasy football standpoint. Because your assuming we need another wr. All I know we lost QBs we upgrading on that. We lost a wr then picked up one that was projected to be a 2nd round guy. Our online was horrible for the past few years we address that. You can't complain and haven't seen the full results of that.

[@jim6807]

@@clockwork443 those are all slot guys though, I guess it could work but. Philly fans hate Watkins. Jefferson is decent I guess. Austin has the speed but he’s tiny. And Wilson is just a rookie. We need 1 more solid outside guy.

[@mattburton3233]

trade Fields.

[@anthonyherrmann860]

I wish that the producers of these podcasts with ban people when they have stupid comments like calling Pickens a number one and saying that the number two is probably already on the roster or the guy that called in about trading Najee to San Francisco. If you don't know what you're talking about please don't open your mouth

[@yurky1]

But I will say yes trading najee to the 49ers is crazy. But almost as crazy as saying Pickens cant be the #1 this year.

[@anthonyherrmann860]

The Steelers are not getting Brandon nyuk the Steelers are not getting Justin Jefferson.

[@yurky1]

Same with Sutton. Why would Denver trade Sutton when they just drafted a QB with their #1 pick. He is under contract for 2 more years. And your not sure is Mims or the rookies will be ready to step up and be counted on. Their wr situation isn't much better then ours. Ayuk why would a team with SB aspirations trade arguably their best WR and hurt their chances this year. Still got time to sign him or place the tag on him in the off-season and trade him next year after you give their #1 rookie WR a year to adjust and see what he can do. And Jefferson to me just sounds like a joke. Why would anyone trade the best WR in the game when you have the cap space for the next few years now because of your rookie QB that you just drafted. A lot of time before he needs to get paid. None of these trades make sense, to me for the teams including the Steelers. Because in this offense system we are maybe throwing the ball what 25-30 times a game. And the TEs become the defacto #2 wrs. Maybe at the end of camp a trade might happen but I'm ok going in and seeing what this group of WRs do. Let us see if Pickens is truelly a #1, and i want to see if Wilson can play outside. I can't see them drafting him only to play the slot when smith runs the least amount of 3 wr sets during his time as a OC. I see them allowing him the chance to become a outside WR. And Jefferson is a good #3 and a veteran who knows this offense. Just a feeling but one of these young WR will step up this year and surprise some people.

[@tiemann55]

lol yea bengals stole a guy who isn’t good as Troy F

[@davidsaunders7612]

I am tired of Monopoly,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[@davidatherton2647]

They aint goin to do that sf done said that shit back in February dam