The Pittsburgh Steelers are searching for a quality wide receiver as the trade deadline approaches. They have already lost out on many targets due to either extensions, or other teams jumping on them first. A move needs to be made if General Manager Omar Khan and the Steelers want to be a true threat in the playoffs.
While making an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Tom Pelissero talked about all the names to look out for as the deadline approaches. Courtland Sutton was one of them, but teams may have to overpay to get the veteran.
"There are a lot of wide receivers who potentially are available... Do people make another run at guys like Courtland Sutton from the Broncos who -- they certainly have had offers over the last couple of years for him. How does Sean Payton feel about that roster at this point? That would not be cheap, but that's certainly a name to keep in mind."
While Sutton has not had the greatest stats in his career - just one season with over 1,000 receiving yards - he has still been the most reliable receiver that the Broncos have had in a long time. When you have a rookie quarterback like they do with Bo Nix, you want to make him as comfortable as possible, and Sutton definitely helps with that.
Sutton has 36 receptions for 499 yards and two touchdowns throughout the 2024 season so far. While those also aren't the best numbers, he has done a lot of damage over the course of the two weeks prior to the deadline. He has 15 receptions for 222 yards over the past couple of contests, and that might help boost his stock.
If there was any place that Sutton may want to go, it would most likely be to the Steelers, due to the fact that he made magic with Russell Wilson back in Denver. In 2023, he had a career-high in touchdown catches with 10. His next best season in that regard was 2019, when he hauled in six scores.
Steelers Got Screwed By The Broncos' Unwillingness To Trade For Sutton Already
While the Steelers and the San Francisco 49ers were in intense trade talks for Brandon Aiyuk, General Manager John Lynch was looking for another receiver to replace him. The Steelers would've potentially sent a second and third-round pick to the 49ers for Aiyuk, then they would've flipped that third to the Broncos for Sutton.
However, the Broncos were not interested in trading away Sutton at the time, at least for a day two pick. The trade fell through, and the saga continued until Aiyuk finally signed the 49ers' extension offer and kept him around. No receivers moved at the time and the Steelers were forced to start the season with a weak wideout room.
From Pelissero's report, it sounds like the Broncos have not lightened up on their demand for their best receiver. If anyone wants to acquire the veteran, they will have to pay a pretty penny. Even though they recently traded away a starter and put another one on the trade block, they seem to be standing firm on Sutton.
Even if Khan's stubborn approach is hurting the team at this point, it makes a lot of sense as to why he wouldn't overpay for Sutton. If he wouldn't give up a first-round pick for Aiyuk, why would he do that for Sutton? There are other wide receiver options available on the trade block, and for cheaper. For example, instead of giving up a high pick to Denver, they can go get someone like Darius Slayton from the New York Giants.
