The Pittsburgh Steelers shocked the NFL on Wednesday when the decision was made to trade George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys.
Many expected that this was a possibility, but after it didn't happen before or during the 2025 NFL Draft, the belief was that the wide receiver would be in the Steel City for the 2025 campaign.
The unfortunate part of the move is that the organization seems to be right back to where it was a year ago. There is an unquestioned star pass-catcher in DK Metcalf on the depth chart, but all of the options after him are question marks at best.
While Roman Wilson and Calvin Austin III could certainly surprise people, the overwhelming expectation is that the Steelers are not done revamping the wide receiving corps. General manager Omar Khan could already be on the phones working on acquiring a talented offensive weapon, and 93.7 The Fan radio host Andrew Fillipponi reported on Thursday morning that inquiries have been made regarding an NFC playmaker.
Fans are quick to discount reports from Fillipponi because he has been wrong in the past, but he was the first to break the news a couple of years ago that the stadium rights for the Steelers' home turf would be awarded to Acrisure.
The prospect of Romeo Doubs being available via trade is certainly palpable, especially because he had issues with how things were going with the Green Bay Packers back in 2024.
Doubs also has experience playing with Aaron Rodgers, which could be another reason why Pittsburgh is potentially interested. During Doubs' rookie season in 2022, he hauled in 42 catches for 425 yards and three touchdowns. He has eclipsed 600 yards receiving in each of the last two years, but only played in 12 games throughout the course of the 2024 campaign. Khan could be closing in on a low-risk, high-reward move.
In December 2024, Pickens missed several games due to a hamstring injury. Pittsburgh's offense looked lost without its most elite talent out on the field. If Metcalf were to unfortunately get injured in 2025, the Steelers' fate would likely be the same. This is why it is imperative to bring another formidable pass-catcher into the group. Pairing Doubs with Metcalf while Rodgers is commanding the offense could be a reputable setup.
Doubs is entering the final season of his rookie deal, so it's possible that the Packers, after drafting two wide receivers in 2025, would be open to moving him while they still can. It wouldn't take much to acquire him, as he hasn't been a superstar at the professional level, so Khan can get creative with his offers. The Steelers are on pace to have 12 draft selections in 2026, which gives the team some wiggle room.
After trading Pickens, the front office had to have some sort of discussion about which direction to go in next. Many have connected Allen Lazard to the organization because of his relationship with Rodgers, but Doubs is another former target of the future Hall of Famer. It's extremely possible that a trade could materialize, and relatively quickly as well.
Steelers Have To Be Confident In Their Wide Receiving Corps
Metcalf is the only wideout on the team currently who should have fans excited about the passing game in the Steel City. Wilson and Austin are respectable talents, but have not yet proved at the professional level that they can consistently perform.
This is why it is crucial for Pittsburgh to bring in another weapon. It would be great for both Wilson and Austin to blossom, but that's simply too big of a risk to rely on. Khan needs to move, and swiftly, on adding another asset to the room.
