Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan has been busy during free agency, especially in rebuilding the quarterback room. The team signed former Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson, then followed that up by trading for former Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields.
The team went from a combination of Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph, to having one of the better quarterback situations in the entire NFL. Wilson is the presumed starter, but he could get benched for Fields if he has lackluster play in the 2024 season. That said, the team will need some solid receivers for Wilson or Fields to throw to.
The team does have dynamic talent in wide receiver George Pickens and tight end Pat Freiermuth, but the drop off between these two and the other talent on the roster is steep. No other receiver on the Steelers had more than 500 yards in 2023. Well, Diontae Johnson did, but he now plays for the Carolina Panthers after the team sent him there in an offseason deal.
The Steelers are likely to address the wide receiver room in the draft, but there is a growing rumor forming that they may swing for the fences on one of the better wide receivers that has requested a trade.
Sources: The Steelers have had internal discussions about trading for Bengals WR Tee Higgins. They love the player. But there’s questions about acquisition cost and his next contract cost. Plus there’s the issue of the Bengals trading him in the AFC North. pic.twitter.com/i3yylwhYon
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) April 12, 2024
Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan posted a rumor that the Steelers could be targeting frustrated Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. Higgins was given the franchise tag by the team, but shortly thereafter requested a formal trade. He would rather seek a multi-year deal than play on the nearly $22 million franchise tag.
The Bengals don't seem keen on giving Higgins a long-term deal. Ja'Marr Chase is due for a big extension, which could be why the team is not chomping at the bit to re-sign Higgins to the big contract he is seeking.
Higgins missed multiple games in 2023 due to a hamstring injury. Despite having to miss multiple weeks, he still managed to secure 656 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2023. Higgins posted two 1,000-plus yard seasons in 2021 and 2022, which is a big reason why he is seeking a multi-year deal.
Teams wanting to trade for him are wary of his injury history and the contract size he is seeking, which Fillipponi has also stated in the above post on X. Still, even though he had a rough 2023, Higgins would be an instant upgrade for the Steelers, or many teams for that matter.
The other hurdle that the team could be facing is the Bengals even wanting to trade one of their better players to their divisional rival. Both the Steelers and Bengals are teams in the AFC North, and they may not want to have to face Higgins twice a year.
Still, the Steelers could come in with an offer that would push the Bengals to say yes. The 2024 NFL Draft is fast approaching, and the Bengals could do well with more draft capital to secure young talent, especially if they are seeking to trade up for potential day-one starters.
Rumors are rumors for a reason, but it would make sense for the Steelers to come in with an offer to snatch Higgins away from the Bengals. It would just be up to the Bengals to want to even make a deal with their division rival.
Correction 4/15/24, 8:20 a.m. ET: This article was updated to correct the spelling of Diontae Johnson's name.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Located in Los Angeles County, James Brizuela has been immersed in Southern California sports for over 30 years. He holds ... Read more
