The Pittsburgh Steelers have an all-too-familiar problem, and that is a lack of wide receiver depth.
The DK Metcalf-Aaron Rodgers connection has been a successful one through six games, but Rodgers desperately needs more weapons, which was also the case for Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in 2024.
Based on rumors, all indications are the Steelers are shopping around for a wideout and Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline has a list of three players Pittsburgh is rumored to be interested in.
First, the NFL insider reports the Steelers are eyeing both Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and Tennessee Titans wideout Calvin Ridley.
“Two names I am hearing as trade targets (of the Steelers) are Jaylen Waddle of the Miami Dolphins and Calvin Ridley of the Tennessee Titans,” Pauline wrote.
Then, Pauline reveals that Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers is another target for Pittsburgh.
“The other name to keep an eye on is Jakobi Meyers, who wants out of Las Vegas and whose name has consistently been linked to the Steelers,” he added. “Sources tell me there is legitimacy on a Meyers to Pittsburgh deal, though other teams have inquired about the Raiders wide out.”
According to reports, the overwhelming sense is that Waddle won’t be available at the trade deadline, but with Miami sitting at 1-6 and seemingly on the cusp of a rebuild, never say never.
Ridley and Meyers are more likely to be available, though.
Meyers remains disgruntled after his offseason trade request that stemmed from the failure to get a contract extension from Las Vegas, and the veteran receiver has even admitted he still wants to be traded.
“Oh, for sure,” Meyers said of his desire to be traded, per ESPN’s Ryan McFadden. “But I’m a professional at the end of the day. I’m just trying to play good football.”
Ridley is on a Titans team that is one of the worst in the NFL and the franchise’s desperate need for picks amid its rebuild should leave Tennessee motivated to be among the sellers at the trade deadline.
The 30-year-old wideout is a logical trade candidate considering he doesn’t figure to be in the team’s long-term plans. The Titans would likely love to unload at least some of his contract, which runs through 2027.
Waddle is easily the most attractive of the three players. He would be an elite No. 2 option in Pittsburgh’s offense, is only 26 and he’s on a reasonable three-year, $84.75 million deal that runs through 2028, so he’d be a long-term solution, too.
Meyers is the second-most attractive option, even with him being in a contract year. Meyers has one of the most reliable pairs of hands in the NFL and has managed to be productive throughout his career despite lackluster quarterback situations. If everything pans out in Pittsburgh, the team could extend him in 2026.
Ridley was once on a superstar trajectory but he hasn’t been able to recreate the immense success he had in 2020 that put him on said trajectory.
Even still, Ridley would be a fantastic No. 2 option behind Metcalf. Like Meyers Ridley has produced in recent seasons despite less-than-ideal quarterback play, as evidenced by his two 1,000-yard seasons the past two years.
The concern with Ridley is that he’s 30 and could decline over the final two years of his contract, but there are reasonable outs in that deal if the Steelers needed to take that route. If all goes well, Ridley will shore up the position for at least one more year, and quite possibly two.
Waddle is the dream target here, but Meyers would be a fine consolation prize given his consistency. If the Steelers fall short of those two, taking a swing on Ridley makes total sense, even with the inherent risks.
