With the amount of pre-draft interest the Pittsburgh Steelers had in Brian Thomas Jr., you better believe they are making trade calls. He is only in his second year in the NFL, but a rift appears to be developing between the young star and the new coaching staff of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The NFL's trade deadline is fast approaching, and the Steelers would love to add a receiver.
If Pittsburgh fails to provide an impactful upgrade over Calvin Austin III or Roman Wilson, they might as well roll with those two. Landing Thomas would be one of those upgrades where it would be hard to refuse. They must ensure that any receiver they acquire in a potential deal is a good fit for their offense.
Thomas demonstrates outstanding talent and may perform even better in a new environment.
With the Steelers’ defense struggling, fresh trade opportunities may soon emerge. If Pittsburgh wants to land a receiver at the caliber of Thomas, they might send out a couple of fan favorites to make a trade feasible. Jacksonville isn't going to move its young playmaker just for kicks, and Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin would need to produce an enticing offer.
Pittsburgh Steelers make trade that ships out two veterans to land Brian Thomas Jr.
This is a steep price for Pittsburgh to consider, but it would seemingly solve their ongoing problem at the receiver spot.
Khan would finally land a solid second option at the receiver position opposite of DK Metcalf, and it could take their offense to new heights. Their defense has shown they're not good enough to carry the team, so their offense might need to take on those responsibilities.
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The Steelers have relied on their defense to overcome a poor offensive counterpart for years. Now that they're old and slow, they have become a weakness. It might be time for Aaron Rodgers and company to carry this team on their backs. If that is the only path to success, this mock trade makes sense.
Jacksonville gets two starting capable players in Alex Highsmith and Calvin Austin III to help them the rest of this campaign.
Highsmith has been a reliable contributor for the Steelers, but Nick Herbig has recently outperformed him. Pittsburgh might benefit more from strengthening its offensive attack rather than maintaining an underutilized outside linebacker rotation. Despite the hype surrounding the “three-edge attack,” the team has rarely showcased it in games.
Austin has shown signs of growth throughout his career, but he is a pending free agent, and Thomas is the better receiver. The Jaguars' playmaker is also under contract control for a couple more years, which makes him valuable. While this mock trade would force the Steelers to weigh several challenging factors, the potential benefits suggest it’s an offer worth accepting.