Steelers’ win over the Buccaneers can’t distract them from making a trade that suddenly looks very likely after Sunday
The Pittsburgh Steelers handled business in Tampa Bay and are headed to Paris with a share of the AFC North lead. The wide receiver room they are taking with them is a whole other conversation.
The Pittsburgh Steelers went into Tampa Bay, got the job done against the Buccaneers, and are headed to Paris sitting atop a three-way tie in the AFC North. But the Steelers’ wide receiver room is thinning out fast, and a trade for Jacksonville Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. could be exactly what Pittsburgh needs to get better after Sunday.
Let’s start with the injuries. On Saturday, the Steelers placed wide receiver Roman Wilson on injured reserve with a wrist/finger dislocation, and there is no clear timeline for his return. Ben Skowronek didn’t play against Tampa Bay because of a calf injury, and Michael Pittman Jr. has been on IR for about a week after re-aggravating his plantar fasciitis.
Why the Steelers’ win over Tampa Bay isn’t sustainable
Yes, I know Pittsburgh just beat the Buccaneers. DK Metcalf had arguably his best game as a Steeler with 11 catches for nearly 100 yards. Rookie WR Germie Bernard set the world on fire with 11 catches, 87 yards, and a touchdown.
The truth is, the way the Steelers won that game isn’t sustainable. Funneling the entire passing game through two receivers works for a week, against a bad Buccaneers team. It won’t work for a season. Pittsburgh needs to run the ball more, and when it lines up in 11 personnel, it needs someone who can stretch the field.
And that’s a hard thing to do with what’s left on the depth chart. Pittman wasn’t separating at a high level before his injury. Wilson is out for the foreseeable future. Skowronek is a special teamer. You cannot live in 11 personnel, let alone try to win games out of it, with only two healthy wide receivers you trust.
Brian Thomas Jr. could be the answer for Pittsburgh
Brian Thomas Jr. is a receiver who is going to be on the trade block, and he can do exactly what the Steelers need.
As Ari Meirov pointed out in a post, Thomas has five targets, no catches, no yards, and no touchdowns over his last two games with the Jaguars. He didn’t play at all in the second half on Sunday.
I don’t know exactly why he has fallen off, or at least appears to have fallen off, in Jacksonville. But this is a player who went for double-digit touchdowns and over 1,200 receiving yards as a rookie and made the Pro Bowl. He’s also someone the Steelers were high on during his pre-draft process. He’s only 24 years old.
Instead of spending a first-round pick on him like they could have back then, Pittsburgh could land him for a fraction of that price now. Using the A to Z Sports Trade Simulator, here is the deal I put together:
Mock Brian Thomas Jr. trade for the Steelers
- Steelers receive: WR Brian Thomas Jr.
- Jaguars receive: 2028 third-round pick, 2027 fifth-round pick
The trade simulator says the deal slightly leans in Pittsburgh’s favor. Even so, I believe Jacksonville would be willing to take this offer for a player who has gone quiet in its offense.
A low-risk move with a high ceiling
I understand the hesitation. The Steelers are coming off a win, and they found a way to distribute the football against Tampa Bay without much help from the rest of the receiver room.
But a 2028 third and a 2027 fifth for a former Pro Bowler who already has a 1,200-yard season on his résumé is a small price to pay. If Thomas rediscovers his rookie form, Pittsburgh gets a legitimate vertical threat to pair with Metcalf and Bernard. If he doesn’t, the Steelers lose a couple of mid-to-late picks.
This is a low-risk, high-reward move, and Pittsburgh should be interested in making it.
