$39 million wide receiver mentioned as the Steelers’ new possible trade target

As the draft of this year draws near, the wide receiver position with the Pittsburgh Steelers is still one of the more intriguing ones in the NFL.

After more than a month of waiting for the squad to upgrade at the position, there have been a lot of rumors regarding how the organization may handle the necessity.

This has also led to their being associated with a number of names that they may choose to add to the post.

Another name has recently been added to the group.

Wide receiver Brandin Cooks of the Dallas Cowboys was mentioned by The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly as a possible trade target for the Steelers during an interview on the April 22 broadcast of 93.7 The Fan’s “The Fan Morning Show.”

“I’m looking at a guy who seems like he would fit in here nicely. I don’t even know if he’s on the block.” He is in the last year of his Dallas contract. They’re attempting to fleece everyone of their money. I would move if you could somehow make a move. It’s likely that a receiver addition plan is in place. These guys are really intelligent. They are aware that Quez Watkins and Van Jefferson cannot accompany them. They are aware of this and can’t now rely on the draft.

The Reasons Cooks Would Fit

The Steelers don’t currently have many good options at WR2, as Kaboly noted.

In 2022, Jefferson had 24 catches for 369 yards and 20 catches for 209 yards in the previous season.

Watkins’ figures showed no improvement. In 2022, he had 33 catches for 354 yards, while in 2023, he had 15 catches for 142 yards.

Calvin Austin is another player on the team, however he missed his whole rookie campaign in 2022 and only managed 17 catches for 180 yards in the previous campaign.

Although Cooks is by no means a household name at this stage of his career, the Steelers could find great value in him as a producer.

Cooks exceeded 1000 yards in six out of seven seasons from 2015 to 2021. Despite not being as successful as he was the previous two seasons, he is still a good choice.

Cooks caught 57 passes for 699 yards in 13 games in 2022.

The next offseason, he was traded to the Cowboys. As the Cowboys’ number-two option, Cooks produced 54 receptions for 657 yards and eight touchdowns in his rookie campaign in Dallas.

He would be the ideal Diontae Johnson replacement if he could duplicate that output with the Steelers.

The Steeles shouldn’t have to spend a lot of draft capital on him either.

Cooks was acquired by the Cowboys for just a fifth round selection and a sixth rounder, so they probably wouldn’t be asking for much more in return if they sold him.

Cooks’ two-year, $39.8 million contract has just one year remaining, so he might just be a temporary solution. However, if the Cowboys were serious about moving Cooks, the Steelers wouldn’t have many better options at this time.

Alternative Trade Options for the Steelers

Cooks is by no means the only wide receiver the Steelers have recently discussed as a potential option.

Brandon Aiyuk is the major player. With over 1300 yards in 2023, the 49ers receiver solidified his star status. With one year remaining on his deal, he should be in line for a sizable salary.

As a result, he is now one of the more well-known figures in trade discussions.

But the Steelers would have to pay a high price for him. To get him, they would probably have to trade their first round selection and a few more, and after that, they would have to sign him to a contract extension.

Even though the Steelers might be discouraged by all of that, he would still be a great addition if they were to trade for him.

An notion that has gained traction recently is a swap for Courtland Sutton as well.

Following his decision to forego the Broncos’ voluntary workouts, Sutton chose to monitor the Steelers as a prospective suitor, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on April 24.

Sutton would find it simpler to adjust to life in Pittsburgh if he were to join the Steelers, having spent the previous two years catching passes from new quarterback Russell Wilson.

That being said, the Steelers would only be justified in making this move if they could arrange a cheap deal for him.

Sutton’s career statistics are lower than Johnson’s. Sutton has 295 catches for 4193 yards in five healthy seasons (he has been in the league for six, but due to an ACL tear, he only played one game in 2020).

Johnson has 391 catches for 4363 yards over the course of his five-year career.

That makes it difficult to understand how the organization might benefit from Sutton’s significant draft capital loss following Johnson’s trade.

The Steelers will be an intriguing squad to follow over the coming days, regardless of their strategy at the position.