The buzz around a potential Allen Lazard-to-Pittsburgh trade heated up quickly after George Pickens was shipped to Dallas. With Aaron Rodgers rumored to be joining the Steelers, speculation pointed to a possible reunion with one of his former Packers targets. Lazard β a big-bodied wideout with a red-zone track record β is reportedly βin playβ to be dealt from the Jets to Pittsburgh. But not everyone in the Steelers locker room seems thrilled with that possibility.

Steelers Locker Room Warning? Deshon Elliottβs Blunt Comment Casts Shadow Over Allen Lazard Trade Buzz
Veteran safety Deshon Elliott didnβt mince words when reacting to the rumor. Elliott wrote in a now-viral comment (originated on Instagram) responding to the trade talk: βHe so a** LOL.β No emoji. No ambiguity. Just a blunt dismissal of Lazardβs value β and a glimpse into how some Steelers players may be viewing the potential move.
DeShon Elliott is becoming one of my favorite Steelers quickly
π€£π€£ pic.twitter.com/5SOsSdnotj
— π«‘ (@PickensBurgh) May 8, 2025
The trade speculation stemmed from a report by Mike Florio of “Pro Football Talk,” who noted, βWith Pittsburgh now needing a No. 2 receiver (and with Aaron Rodgers likely on the way), Allen Lazard is in play to be traded from the Jets to the Steelers.β Lazardβs ties to Rodgers are well documented. The 6-foot-5 receiver caught 207 passes for 2,792 yards and 25 touchdowns in 69 games with Rodgers in Green Bay, including a career-best eight touchdowns in 2021.
When Rodgers joined the Jets in 2023, Lazard followed, signing a four-year, $44 million deal. But things never clicked in New York. Lazard caught just 37 passes for 530 yards last season and was a healthy scratch multiple times. Now, just a year later, heβs reportedly on the trade block again β and the Steelers, fresh off moving on from Pickens, are seen as a logical destination.
Elliottβs harsh take suggests that not everyone in the building sees it that way. His comment drew criticism and support from fans online, some applauding his honesty, others calling it unprofessional. Regardless, it casts doubt on how well Lazard, 29, would be received in Pittsburghβs locker room, especially if Rodgers isnβt a done deal.
The Steelers have already added veteran Robert Woods to the mix, and they still have Calvin Austin III and an essential second-year rookie in Roman Wilson. But they lack a true WR2 β a role Lazard once filled effectively under Rodgers. If the veteran quarterback does land in Pittsburgh, his voice could carry weight in personnel decisions.
Still, Elliottβs comment isnβt something the front office can ignore. It doesnβt mean a trade wonβt happen β but itβs a reminder that even on paper, fits can come with internal pushback.