It came as a shock to every Pittsburgh Steelers fan when the team announced that they were trading superstar receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. For the most part, fans and media alike have panned the team for the move.
While the trade was expected in many ways by some, it does leave the team with a lot of questions. The receiver room was the disdain of the offense last year. While Pickens was a bright spot, a better second option was needed. They got that in D.K. Metcalf earlier in the year, but now they are back to square one.
With the news of the big trade, the Jaguars' release of Gabe Davis went under the radar. The big play threat only lasted one season in Jacksonville, and it was a forgettable one. His worst season as a professional. He battled injuries while the team lacked a healthy quarterback.
This makes Davis the perfect fit for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
On the surface, adding a player who wins with speed coming off a knee injury to replace a dynamic talent is wrong. However, Davis is the best option remaining for the team and is a must-add.
The Pittsburgh Steelers need Gabe Davis this year
Before you consider any name to replace Pickens, know that finding someone similar to him in skill level isn’t happening this late in the offseason. Thankfully, the Steelers don’t need a dynamic second option in this offense.
While the team hopefully learned its lesson from last year, they can still field a decent receiver room. Starting with Metcalf, he is a true alpha and top dog to build around. This team doesn’t need another player like that; they need a quality second option.
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Davis would provide just that. He isn’t a guy you build your offense around. He is a good deep threat and a feast/famine type of receiver. As Ric Ocasek would say, this is just what we need.
Davis can threaten to take the top off and keep some pressure off of Metcalf. Meanwhile, Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson can work the middle of the field and the short game. This gives you a complete receiver room.
While Amari Cooper or a trade for a different veteran is also possible, Davis allows you to continue to assess Austin and Wilson. Austin is in a contract year and could earn a new deal. Wilson needs to prove that he was worth the draft pick last year.
While the team can afford to spend on a receiver, Davis won’t have to cost more than the minimum. The Jaguars are on the hook for a large portion of his deal due to the guaranteed money in his deal.
When you put all of this together, Davis makes the most sense for the Steelers. He fills the second receiver role perfectly, would be dirt cheap, and still has the youth on his side to play at a high level. Adding him plus the draft picks we got from the trade would make this deal even sweeter.