The NFL trade deadline is less than two weeks away, and it should come as no surprise that the Steelers keep finding themselves thrust onto center stage as more and more rumors come forth. The latest is that Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp is on the block, and there's no dout that the Steelers could use a player of his caliber.
But we've seen the Steelers inch close to trades for wide receivers, whether it's Brandon Aiyuk or Davante Adams, only to tiptoe away without pulling the trigger on a deal.
That is just the Steelers' M.O. in all this. While there is no doubt the team needs a top option to go alongside--maybe even ahead of--George Pickens, they're not going to take a swing at one unless they're getting a bargain in the process. Pickens has been good when engaged for the 5-2 Steelers, but keeping him engaged is not always easy.
As Pro Football Talk insider Mike Florio said this week: "The Steelers are fascinating to me because they like to lurk. They like to hover. They like to swoop in and get a bargain. They're not going to go too quickly, no sudden moves. They don't like being perceived as being desperate in a situation like that."
Still, the Steelers are the favorites to land Kupp. More than that, they're the prohibitive favorites, according to SportsBetting.ag, via DeadSpin. The site lists the favorites:
COOPER KUPP NEXT TEAM ODDS
Steelers (4/5) (-125)
Chargers (4/1)
Buccaneers (6/1)
Lions (7/1)
Falcons (16/1)
That would be a huge get, obviously, for the Steelers. Kupp is 31 and has struggled with injuries--he has played only 23 games in his last three seasons--but he was a Pro Bowler in 2021 when he racked up an astounding 1,947 yards on 145 catches. He has only played two games this year but has averaged 73.5 yards in those games.
