James Rapien reported via Sports Illustrated that the Cincinnati Bengals plan to use their franchise tag on Tee Higgins for a second season in a row. It's not shocking that their star quarterback, Joe Burrow, has been outspoken about keeping their elite receiver. They may still move Higgins, but this controls where he lands, and they can receive trade compensation.
Any hope of Higgins landing with the Steelers was short-lived. He would have never signed with The Black and Gold if he made it to free agency. The star receiver would have cost too much money, and the market for him being the top free agent at the position would have given him plenty of suitors.
Higgins might've been at the top of everyone's Wishlist, but there will be other receivers to choose from. Either on the trade market or other free agent choices, expect the Steelers to remain active. According to Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live, everyone should temper their expectations. Don't expect an elite receiver like Higgins to land with the Steelers. Pittsburgh will find an upgrade, but not like everyone hopes.
Farabaugh listed some "realistic" options for Mike Tomlin's team this offseason. There could be some other choices beyond who he lists here. This could grow as the offseason progresses. Maybe none of the names will excite their fanbase like Higgins would've, but the Steelers have no excuses to land an upgrade at receiver.
Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
Deebo Samuel requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers on February 11. He wants to find greener pastures elsewhere as he tries to rebound from a season to forget in 2024. It's not the first time this Swiss-Army-Knife has requested a trade from the Bay Area. He got a contract extension last time, but this situation is different. The 49ers are experiencing a cap crunch.
Pittsburgh makes sense as a destination for Samuel, and the star player has considered the Steelers. Arthur Smith would love to add a versatile player like him to their arsenal. He would preserve what they attempted to do with Cordarrelle Patterson last year. You'd like a better choice than paying Samuel the big bucks, but he would be better than other guys on the trade block.
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Darius Slayton, New York Giants
If he makes it to free agency, Darius Slayton would be a top choice for the Steelers. The long-time Giants weapon has been one of the most consistent pieces in a toxic situation. He might not be a top receiver, but he can play inside and outside at the position. That versatility could help the Steelers with a young and upcoming receiving core.
Slayton isn't a free agent who should break the bank on his next contract. He could be a cheaper route to secure money for George Pickens's future extension. Slayton would be an upgrade over what they had last season. He might not appease the fanbase, which has set lofty expectations. He isn't flashy, but he is a reliable veteran who could help their offense.
Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville doesn't have to cut Christian Kirk since they have over 31 million in cap space heading into the offseason. If they want to open more spending money, then cutting Kirk makes sense. He would save them over ten million bucks if he got cut tomorrow. If he does get released, then the Steelers will come calling.
They laid the groundwork earlier this past season when they had a trade on the table to acquire Kirk before the trade deadline. That deal fell through after Kirk suffered a season-ending injury the game before the deadline hit. Pittsburgh would express interest in Kirk once again if he hit free agency. He might not be at the level of Higgins, but he would be a promising addition compared to other choices.