Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin has been earnestly seeking a new contract extension that would make him one of the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL. But as the wait continues, the drama just amped up. On Thursday evening, McLaurin requested a trade, and Pittsburgh Steelers fans immediately raised their eyebrows.
McLaurin has been one of the most steady and reliable wide receivers in the NFL since his second season in 2020. Last year, the well-rounded receiver raked in 82 receptions for 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns. He did this while averaging an outstanding 9.4 yards per target and aiding rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels to a 133.0 passer rating when looking in his direction.
Meanwhile, the Steelers need a wide receiver upgrade. Though Pittsburgh executed a blockbuster deal for DK Metcalf early in the offseason, general manager Omar Khan sent George Pickens packing to the Dallas Cowboys on May 7, and the Steelers don't have a stable option as their No. 2 wide receiver.
While McLaurin may feel like the answer at first glance, the Steelers need to avoid a major trap in a potential Terry McLaurin trade.
The Pittsburgh Steelers can't part with elite 2026 draft capital in a Terry McLaurin trade
There's no question Terry McLaurin would instantly upgrade the Steelers' offense—and if the goal is to compete for a Super Bowl, he helps in that regard. But trades like this one don't come without a massive price.
When the Steelers traded for DK Metcalf, it cost Pittsburgh their second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft as well as a ton of money against the salary cap. Upon the trade, the front office handed Metcalf a four-year, nearly $132 million contract extension. This instantly made him one of the five most expensive receivers in the NFL in terms of yearly value.
To pull off a trade for McLaurin, Pittsburgh would need to give up a similar haul... Maybe even more.
While McLaurin doesn't have premium production compared to the top pass catchers in the NFL, he's a better and more well-rounded receiver than Metcalf. To execute a trade for the veteran, the Steelers would be looking at a second-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and possibly an additional pick. This would come with a contract extension that, like Metcalf's, would make McLaurin one of the richest receivers in the game.
It's unreasonable enough to think the Steelers could stomach two wide receiver contracts north of $32 million per season at the same time. But the future draft capital is even more important than the cost against the salary cap.
Quite frankly, the Pittsburgh Steelers can't afford to put all of their eggs in the 2025 basket in hopes of coming away with a Super Bowl win. This window will prove to be rapidly fleeting, as Aaron Rodgers already hinted that this would be his final season. Meanwhile, there are aging veterans all over the defense.
Instead of using next year's top draft capital to make a play for the short term, the Steelers need to save their draft picks to move up for a quarterback next season. And if the right QB isn't available, they can at least load up on young talent and try their luck with a quarterback in 2027.
Every Steelers fan can agree that adding Team McLaurin to the team would greatly improve Pittsburgh's offense and aid a 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers. However, Khan would be unwise to make a short-sighted move for a soon-to-be 30-year-old wide receiver when this team needs to focus on the next era.