The Pittsburgh Steelers dealt WR George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, leaving a void behind DK Metcalf in their receiver room. But don’t expect the team to look to the trade market to replace Pickens. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac said in his weekly chat that the team won’t trade for another receiver after already acquiring Metcalf earlier this offseason.
“No more WR trades. They already did that,” Dulac wrote in response to a question about the Steelers potentially trading for another receiver.
The Steelers could still look to the free agent market to find a receiver to help compensate for the loss of Pickens, but it doesn’t sound as if a move will come via trade. There are a few options available if the team does want to sign a receiver, including Gabe Davis, Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen, but none of them would be able to replace what Pickens brought to the table.
They would represent an upgrade over what the Steelers currently have in their receiver room though, and it could be an avenue the team explores. The team has been linked to WR Allen Lazard, whom they would have to acquire via trade, and he’s a favorite of free agent QB Aaron Rodgers, whom the team is still looking to sign. We’ll see if Dulac winds up being right or if a trade materializes for Lazard, who likely wouldn’t cost much.
It’s not totally surprising that the Steelers don’t have plans to make another trade. With viable options in free agency, it would make sense that the Steelers don’t want to trade draft capital to acquire another receiver. The team has amassed draft picks in 2026, a year when it could look to draft its franchise quarterback, and right now the Steelers have a lot of ammo if they have to trade up to select someone. Taking away from that to acquire a receiver via trade could end up being counterproductive.
At present, the receiver group could use some help, as the Steelers find themselves in a very similar position as they were last year, with Metcalf the top option, as Pickens was last year, and no clear-cut No. 2. It stands to reason that the Steelers will continue adding to the room in some capacity, even if it doesn’t come through another trade. There’s still plenty of time for Pittsburgh to add to the room before the season starts, and it would be a surprise if the room remains as is from now until Week 1 of the regular season.
