Terry McLaurin officially requested a trade from the Washington Commanders in July, and so far, there has been no update on the two sides hashing things out. While a contract extension could still get done between McLaurin and his current team, a trade isn't out of the question... and the Pittsburgh Steelers could make a play for the Pro Bowler.
Steelers general manager Omar Khan has already been more aggressive in 2025 than anyone could have predicted—pulling off not one, but two blockbuster trades during the offseason (the first for DK Metcalf and the second for Jalen Ramsey). McLaurin could be next on the list.
Pittsburgh is in the midst of an eight-year drought without a playoff win—an ugly streak that Mike Tomlin knows must end. Meanwhile, the Steelers lack a true No. 2 wide receiver, and McLaurin's skill set would be an ideal fit next to Metcalf in the offense.
Chris Halicke of DK Pittsburgh Sports recently reported that the Steelers have reached out to the Commanders about a trade for McLaurin, but are not expected to land the star receiver.
But that doesn't mean a convicing trade proposal couldn't change their minds.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could pull off a Terry McLaurin trade at a steep price
We don't know how willing or serious the Washington Commanders would be about possibly moving on from Terry McLaurin. But assuming they were at least open to the idea, it's going to take an impressive trade package to poach their best skill player.
Luckily, we already have the parameters in place for a similar trade that involved the Steelers earlier in the offseason.
The Steelers traded a second-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for WR DK Metcalf. This trade came with negotiating a four-year, nearly $132 million contract extension—giving Metcalf roughly $33 million annually in new money and making him a top-five paid receiver in the NFL. McLaurin is seeking a similar deal.
Knowing that McLaurin turns 30 years old this season and is looking to break the bank, the Commanders aren't getting a first-round pick out of their star receiver. However, it's possible that Washington could get more in a trade than the Steelers gave up for Metcalf. McLaurin has been extremely efficient in recent years, and quite frankly, he's a better and more well-rounded receiver.
READ MORE: Winners and losers from second week of Steelers training camp
So why not offer a trade package that has a bit of everything without the Steelers jeopardizing their chances of drafting a quarterback high next year?
Mike DeFabo of The Athletic suggested sending the Commanders Roman Wilson and a 2026 third-round pick. However, Wilson is completely unproven, and this wouldn't likely be enough to get a deal done. But if the Steelers were willing to throw in an additional third-round pick in 2026 (they will have three in next year's draft) or a 2027 third-round pick, that could be the incentive they need to pull the trigger.
The trade market was set with Metcalf's deal, and a pair of third-round picks plus Roman Wilson is worth more than a second-round pick. Thus, offering a 2026 third, a 2027 third, and Wilson may be enough to get a deal done.
The Steelers have an estimated $17.5 million in cap space, and they will likely keep $6-9 million for in-season moves in the event of injuries. Still, they could make the money work, and Khan is likely to backload the contract to take a lower cap number up front.
Again, it's highly unlikely the Pittsburgh Steelers pull off a trade with the Washington Commanders for star wide receiver Terry McLaurin. But if they were to execute a deal, this trade package might be good enough for both parties to put pen to paper on a trade.