It’s no secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers are in need of wide receiver help and have been throughout training camp and the preseason. But with several intriguing options (Terry McLaurin, Amari Cooper) now off the table, the Steelers will have to get creative to fill their wide receiver void.
The expectation is that DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin, and Roman Wilson will be the top three receivers on the roster, but Austin has dealt with an injury for most of camp, and Wilson has yet to record a catch in the NFL.
That is why the Steelers could be interested in the services of a young, proven receiver. Enter Trey Palmer.
Trey Palmer could be the perfect WR fit with the Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers and the Buccaneers met for a joint practice a few weeks ago, and Pittsburgh got to see the wide receiver depth from Tampa Bay extensively. Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka had fantastic performances, and even some of the down roster receivers like Tez Johnson and Sterling Shepard put on a show.
But because Tampa Bay has so much depth at the position, they were forced to release some good wide receiver talent. One such casualty is Trey Palmer, a sixth-round pick by the Buccaneers during the 2023 NFL Draft. Palmer caught 39 passes during his rookie season, but he saw his snap count drop drastically during the 2024 season with the addition of Jalen McMillan.
Palmer is known for his world-class speed after running a 4.33 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. But unlike most speedy receivers, he has decent size at 6-0, 192 pounds. While no one is going to confuse him with Metcalf, he has the build to play on the outside, which is exactly what Pittsburgh needs.
Palmer will now be subjected to waivers, but this feels like a perfect gift for the Steelers. He could battle for the No. 4 receiver job with Scotty Miller and give Pittsburgh another young receiver who could make plays down the field.
And the best part? It doesn’t cost Pittsburgh much of anything considering Palmer is still on his rookie contract and set to make just over $2 million total over the next two seasons, according to OverTheCap.com.
It would be a shock if Palmer wasn’t claimed by some team on Wednesday, and the Steelers should be one of several teams interested in his services. Expect the Steelers to explore this gift from the Buccaneers over the next 24 hours.