As the Pittsburgh Steelers rush to finish any possible deals before the trade deadline this afternoon, there are countless rumors out there. It appears General Manager Omar Khan is eager to add a receiver before the deadline passes to strengthen his offense. Many names have been connected to the Steelers in speculation, and new names have just entered the rumor mill.
According to Zachary Smith of Pittsburgh Steelers Now, Khan just made his boldest inquiry yet.
"The Steelers recently reached out to the Cardinals to check in on the availability of WRs Marvin Harrison Jr. & Michael Wilson."
Marvin Harrison Jr., being a potential trade candidate, would be almost unheard of. He is only pushing through his second season in the NFL after being the 4th overall pick in 2024. Harrison was dubbed the "next great receiver" coming out of Ohio State. He hasn't lived up to the hype during his NFL career yet, but there is plenty of time for the young playmaker to turn things around.
Smith also mentioned Michael Wilson, a name that hasn’t been connected to the Steelers.
Wilson could be an option, and it's unlikely he would cost much to acquire. He is another young receiver for the Arizona Cardinals who hasn't lived up to expectations. Pittsburgh should trade for someone better than Wilson, but he could be someone they consider if they fail to get an obvious upgrade.
Pittsburgh Steelers would love to add WR Marvin Harrison Jr. before the trade deadline
The possibility of bringing Harrison Jr. on board via trade before the deadline remains unlikely. He is a fantastic young player who would be perfect for the Steelers, but it would be diabolical for Arizona to even contemplate the move. Pittsburgh isn't in a spot where they can mortgage their future just to acquire a receiver who still needs to show he can be a top player for an NFL offense.
READ MORE: Steelers don’t need a trade when a game-changing CB is just waiting
Wilson appears to be the better option between the two to possibly be moved before the trade deadline. He’s only 25 and has already demonstrated his ability to be productive. The issue with Wilson remains his failure to be a legit upgrade over Calvin Austin III or Roman Wilson. Instead of acquiring him, the Steelers would be better off rolling with the young receivers they have.
Smith wasn't shy about dismissing Harrison Jr.'s availability, but the possibility of landing Wilson.
"I’d say a trade of Harrison Jr. is at nearly 0%," Smith continued, "But Wilson is very intriguing."
When you compare Wilson to Austin, their numbers throughout their careers are fairly similar. The Cardinals receiver has shown he can start when called upon and has a higher draft pedigree than Austin. With that being said, it doesn't make sense to move assets in a trade for him. You'd love to land Harrison Jr. instead, but that isn't a luxury Khan can afford going into the deadline this year.
Khan has a lot of work in front of him just hours before the NFL trade deadline hits the league. He remains in constant negotiations with teams to upgrade his roster. Wide receiver remains their main focus, but don’t be surprised if they address other needs as well. Smith’s latest rumor highlights how aggressive the Steelers have become in pursuing trades.