It's not exactly a state secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers need help at the wide receiver position. The team hopes that the addition of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in the offseason will solve its quarterback conundrum, but after trading Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, the Steelers entered the NFL draft with George Pickens at wideout—and not much else.

The Day 2 selection of Michigan receiver Roman Wilson will help in that regard. But according to Benjamin Allbright of KOA Colorado, the Steelers also made an effort to add some veteran help at the position during the draft:

Now, those offers were rebuffed. And to be honest, it's more likely than not that further offers will meet with the same fate, either because teams just don't want to part with those players or because the offer wasn't enticing enough.

But if Wilson and/or Fields can provide decent quarterback play and the Steelers improve their pass-catchers, this team is good enough to make noise in the league's toughest division. To be a threat in the AFC North.

With that said, based mainly on the impact a new arrival would have but also on the likelihood of a deal actually getting done, here's half a dozen wideouts the Steelers should keep making calls on.

And what it might realistically take to turn "no" into "yes."

6. Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers

The current teams of most receivers on this list haven't exactly expressed an overwhelming desire to deal those players. In fact, while appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch essentially said that any window that existed for a trade involving Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk has all but closed.

"I'm doing everything in my power to keep our roster together," Lynch said. "That's my goal, and I don't question that. When you talk about guys like Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo, those are guys that we drafted, and we take a lot of pride in what they've become and who they've become. We couldn't be more proud of those guys. And so, during the course of drafts and offseasons, do conversations happen? Absolutely, they do. We're past that now. We're thrilled to add to that group."

Frankly, that could be a blessing in disguise—because for what Samuel would cost the Steelers, it's a move that could become a boondoggle.

It's not that Samuel isn't a good player. But the offensive weapon that got a $71.6 million extension from San Francisco in 2022? We haven't seen that guy in a while.

Since surpassing 1,400 receiving yards in 2021, he hasn't had even 900 receiving yards in a season. With Christian McCaffrey now in the Bay Area, Samuel's role as a runner has diminished significantly.

When Samuel was at his best, he wasn't really a traditional receiver. And while he would improve the Steelers' WR corps, the fit in the Steel City would be iffy.

Projected Offer

San Francisco 49ers Get: 2025 Round 2 Pick, 2026 Round 4 Pick

Pittsburgh Steelers Get: WR Deebo Samuel, 2025 Round 6 Pick

5. Brandin Cooks, Dallas Cowboys

On some level, this may be the most realistic potential trade on this list—after all, if anyone in the NFL knows what it's like to be traded, it's Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks.

The Cowboys have made it no secret that the team is all about living in the present. But they also have a megastar receiver heading into the last year of his deal in CeeDee Lamb. Even Cooks told reporters that he expects Lamb to soon receive a deal that could reset the market at the position.

"The guy is a freak," Cooks said. "He deserves everything that's coming his way. I hope he gets every single dollar he can and is the highest-paid receiver in the league, because he's the greatest receiver in the league."

Now, Cooks' first season with the Cowboys last year wasn't especially impressive—his 54 catches and 657 receiving yards were his lowest numbers in those categories since 2019. Behind Lamb and the 30-year-old Cooks, there isn't a lot on the depth chart in Dallas.

But trading Cooks after June 1 would clear $8 million off the books for the Cowboys—money that could be used to help extend Lamb. And while Cooks was quiet in terms of yards and catches last year, he found the end zone eight times and has six 1,000-yard seasons on his NFL resume.

Best of all, Cooks would be easily the least expensive wide receiver on this list.

Projected Offer

Dallas Cowboys Get: 2025 Round 3 Pick

Pittsburgh Steelers Get: WR Brandin Cooks

4. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

There's a reason Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals isn't listed higher on this list.

It's not that he isn't available—or at least wants to be available. After getting slapped with the franchise tag following an injury-marred 2023 campaign, Higgins requested a trade out of Cincinnati.

However, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters that he's looking forward to having Higgins on the field for the Bengals in 2024.

"We're excited for Tee to have a great year for us," Taylor said. "We think he's our best chance to help us win a Super Bowl. I've enjoyed working with Tee the last four years. I expect this year to be no different."

The rub here is money—Higgins is reportedly looking for a deal similar to what Michael Pittman Jr. got from the Indianapolis Colts and what Terry McLaurin got from the Washington Commanders. Cincinnati's last offer to Higgins (made over a year ago) was not close to that, per Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

The reality is that the 2024 campaign will most likely be Higgins' last in Cincinnati. Players tagged by the Bengals almost always leave the following year, and the team has to extend Ja'Marr Chase.

The biggest problem here is the trade partners involved. We're talking about the Bengals dealing a dangerous offensive weapon to their most hated rivals. Trades like that aren't completely unprecedented, but they are rare.

And the Steelers would have to make quite an appealing offer to get the Bengals to even consider it.

Projected Offer

Cincinnati Bengals Get: 2025 Round 1 Pick, 2026 Round 4 Pick

Pittsburgh Steelers Get: WR Tee Higgins

3. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

The Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly already took a run at acquiring Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton during the 2024 draft. But according to Jarrett Bailey of USA Today, the Broncos said thanks but no thanks.

"Both the Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers reached out to the Broncos before and during the NFL Draft inquiring about WR Courtland Sutton, per source," Bailey tweeted. "The star receiver is seeking a new deal, as his current contract only has $2 million in guaranteed money remaining. The Broncos don't want to move Sutton, as they believe that he and new quarterback Bo Nix can be Sean Payton's new Drew Brees and Michael Thomas."

However, just because the deal didn't get done during the draft doesn't mean it can't now. The Broncos already sent one wide receiver packing, dealing Jerry Jeudy to Cleveland. Denver also moved up in the 2024 draft to select Oregon wideout Troy Franklin—who played collegiately with Nix.

Frankly, what this deal (and the proposed deals for most of the receivers on this list) comes down to is Pittsburgh's willingness to pay retail to get wide receiver help. Sutton caught only 59 passes for 772 yards last year playing with Wilson in Denver, but he posted a career-high 10 scores.

If the Steelers truly believe that a player like Sutton is the missing piece that can make them a legitimate contender, then they are going to have to be willing to do two things. The first in pony up a high pick—significantly higher than what other wideouts cost this offseason.

The second is sign that new wideout to a lucrative extension. It's an all-in, we-can-make-the-Super-Bowl-with-better-receivers kind of move.

And frankly, that would be rather un-Pittsburgh.

Projected Offer

Denver Broncos Get: 2025 Round 1 Pick, 2025 Round 5 Pick

Pittsburgh Steelers Get: WR Courtland Sutton, 2025 Round 4 Pick

2. Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers

Deebo Samuel isn't the only 49ers wideout who has been the subject of trade speculation.

With Brandon Aiyuk heading into the final year of his rookie deal, there has been speculation much of the offseason that the 49ers could be looking to deal the 26-year-old. When the Niners used their first pick of the 2024 draft on wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, grumbles grew that San Franisco could be looking to unload a wideout.

However, Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote that the Niners plan to load up for one more run at the championship that narrowly eluded them in 2023.

"The plan," Silver said, "is to kick the can and make a ferocious push for a championship — and then, regardless of outcome, deal with the fallout next spring."

While speaking to reporters, 49ers general manager John Lynch certainly didn't sound like a man readying to trade one of his pass-catchers.

"We're happy with our wide receiver group," Lynch said. "Actually, more than happy. We're really thrilled with it and thrilled to have added Ricky to that group and even make it stronger."

The Niners were reportedly looking for an offer that could have landed the team one of the top three receivers in the 2024 class—an offer that never materialized.

But with San Francisco looking at some harsh financial realities in 2025, the Steelers could take another run at it.

And if Pearsall impresses in OTAs and training camp, the Niners may become more amenable to moving up the changing of the guard at wideout.

Projected Offer

San Francisco 49ers Get: 2025 Round 1 Pick, 2025 Round 3 Pick

Pittsburgh Steelers Get: WR Brandon Aiyuk

1. DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks

DK Metcalf is unlike some of the wide receivers on this list in that he already received his payday—a three-year, $72 million extension signed back in 2022. He has also been one of the most consistently productive wideouts listed here. In three of the last four seasons, Metcalf has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards, including a 66/1,114/8 line a year ago.

There has been speculation for some time that Metcalf could be available, but so far it has been little more than that—speculation. However, as Mookie Alexander wrote for Field Gulls, there's at least a possibility that a Seahawks team heading into Year 1 of the post-Pete Carroll era could just be looking for the right time to act.

"While a Metcalf trade at this point would be a stunner, the post-June 1 date Allbright referenced is important to note," he said. "Dealing Metcalf after June 1 would save the Seahawks $17 million in cap space, with DK's contract set to expire at the end of 2025. If a trade happens before June 1, then they save $9.5 million but incur $22.5 million in dead money over the final two seasons."

Metcalf has yet to record fewer than 900 receiving yards in any of his five NFL seasons. He brings a built-in rapport with Russell Wilson from their time together in Seattle. His arrival would be a huge boost to the Pittsburgh offense.

But the Seahawks didn't act like a team preparing to trade their No. 1 wideout during the draft—so luring Metcalf away from the Pacific Northwest would probably take what amounts to a Godfather offer.

Projected Offer

Seattle Seahawks Get: 2025 Round 1 Pick, 2025 Round 5 Pick, 2026 Round 2 Pick

Pittsburgh Steelers Get: WR DK Metcalf, 2025 Round 6 Pick