While General Manager Omar Khan remains on the hunt to better his roster, the Pittsburgh Steelers are comfortable with where they're at heading into the bye week. They sit with a 3-1 record and have a comfortable situation within the division standings after four weeks of action. That could always change in a hurry, and the latest injury to Calvin Austin III could cause issues.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are continuously in trade rumors, and that's because Khan is doing his best to form this team into a contender. Not just make the playoffs, but make some noise when the tournament begins. They could use a receiver, and that need could only be magnified if Austin is out for an extended period. Pittsburgh could attempt to finally trade for an impactful playmaker.
One of the names surrounding Pittsburgh in trade chatter throughout the early part of the season has been Tyreek Hill.
The speedster has been an electric receiver throughout his NFL career and seemed like a logical fit with the Steelers. Aaron Rodgers would love to chuck the ball deep downfield to Hill, but those dreams came to a screeching halt on Monday night when Hill went down with a devastating injury.
The Pittsburgh Steelers must find a receiver elsewhere via trade after Tyreek Hill's injury
Hill suffered a massive knee injury against the New York Jets, which will sideline him for the rest of the season. He suffered a knee dislocation and multiple ligament tears, which will require surgery. It's unknown what his timeline will be for return, but for an aging playmaker who relies on his speed to succeed in the NFL, it could become a career-threatening injury when all is said and done.
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No matter how you view it, the veteran receiver would've made for a giant splash by Khan if he pulled off a trade. The Steelers could use someone like Hill to open up the offense and create chances for his teammates. Pittsburgh won't have a chance to see the star player in their uniform anytime soon, since his injury could take a long time to recover from.
It was a nice thought while it lasted.
The Steelers had opportunities to acquire Hill in a deal, but they put the negotiations on hold. He had some off-the-field concerns that needed to be addressed, which appeared to deter Pittsburgh from continuing negotiations. They cannot afford to bring aboard a player who could be suspended or miss time due to off-the-field problems, which Hill wasn't clear of.
If this injury slows him down, it could force Hill into a tough situation when he works his way back. He cannot afford to lose his speed, as it creates an unfair matchup for his opposition. Losing some of that trait could force him out of being one of the best receivers in football.
Pittsburgh would have loved to trade for the speedy weapon, but it's not going to happen anytime soon. Hill's injury just took the top name off the wide receiver trade market.