The Pittsburgh Steelers looked promising to start the 2024 season, which they began with a 3-0 record. They have now dropped two straight games after losing a close one to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night in Week 5. The Steelers' defense is elite, but the offense hurts the defensive unit when they can't stay on the field and eat up some clock. This is exactly what happened in the loss to Dallas in Week 5, and the Steelers will need to find a way to improve their offensive attack as the season moves along.
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One of the biggest holes on offense for the Steelers comes at wide receiver. Behind George Pickens, the Steelers are in need of a serious upgrade, as Van Jefferson has struggled to produce enough and Calvin Austin III shouldn't be relied upon as a starting wide receiver. Pittsburgh tried to acquire Brandon Aiyuk ahead of the 2024 season and failed, but now they have a chance to land another high-end receiver via trade in Davante Adams. Former Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger gave his thoughts on potentially landing Adams during the most recent episode of Footbahlin With Ben Roethlisberger.
"No, I don't think it's realistic because here's what I would say. Davante Adams is arguably the best in the game right now. He's an absolute animal. But if he came here and you got rid of George, are you getting rid of George? Or is he coming here with George? You tell me because if he comes here with George, okay, watch out, here we go. New Orleans, we might be coming. My point is, if you're getting rid of George and Davante comes, then you're just in the same boat."
Roethlisberger made the bold prediction that the Steelers may be heading to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX if they are able to create the duo of Pickens and Adams. However, he made the important point that the organization shouldn't acquire Adams and get rid of Pickens. That would just be creating the same issue at receiver where the team would only have one reliable option.
The Adams trade drama began after the Las Vegas Raiders lost to the Carolina Panthers in Week 3. His frustration has been building with the organization, and he is a receiver who clearly wants to win. He would be in a much better situation if he came to Pittsburgh, especially if it was with Pickens. The two would create a ton of opportunities for one another on the field.
Pickens' name came up in trade rumors after NFL insider Dianna Russini decided to mention in passing that he would be a receiver to keep an eye on. There has been nothing concrete about the possibility of this, and Pickens hasn't requested a trade, nor has the team let anyone know that they are shopping the third-year receiver.
Steelers Are At A Disadvantage When It Comes To Landing Adams
Adams is expected to be dealt soon, which puts the Steelers at a disadvantage since they play the Raiders in Week 6. No team would trade their best player to their upcoming opponent, so if the Steelers were to land the receiver, it would likely be after their Week 6 matchup. That leaves plenty of time for another team to make a good enough offer for the Raiders to accept, and Pittsburgh would miss out on a possible solution to their problems at wide receiver.
Another disadvantage the Steelers are facing is that Adams wants to play with one of his former quarterbacks. This includes Aaron Rodgers with the New York Jets, and Derek Carr with the New Orleans Saints. The Steelers can't offer Adams that sense of familiarity, but with a coach like Mike Tomlin, the Steelers are always an attractive destination for players.
