After months of speculation, four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers officially signed a one-year, $13.65 million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers on June 7. As a result, Steeler Nation collectively let out a sigh of relief.
Had Rodgers chosen to retire or sign with another team, the Steelers’ season could have imploded before it began. They could have turned to other backup veteran quarterback options like Kirk Cousins, but any hopes for a successful 2025 season heavily relied on Rodgers leading the offense.
With Rodgers officially on board, one analyst believes it’s time for the Steelers to upgrade their wide receiver room and give Rodgers and themselves the best chance of success in 2025. Pittsburgh has a WR1 in DK Metcalf and is being urged to add another true No. 1 target in the Washington Commanders’ Terry McLaurin.
Steelers Urged To Trade For Terry McLaurin
The George Pickens trade to the Dallas Cowboys shook up the Steelers’ depth chart and ignited speculation about what comes next. The team had earlier traded for Metcalf, and after dealing Pickens, who led the team in receiving yards the past two seasons, Pittsburgh doesn’t even have a true WR2 on the roster.
Adding another receiver, even if a WR2, is necessary for Pittsburgh after signing Rodgers. However, instead of a WR2, Chris Mack suggested that the Steelers should go all in and look to add another top weapon for Rodgers.
“Forget a great No. 2 complement to DK Metcalf,” Mack said on “Kaboly + Mack”. “You legit have two number ones now on each side of the ball. We’re back to talking about what we were when [the Steelers] first acquired Metcalf, and we were salivating at the idea of Metcalf and Pickens pushing corners and safeties down the field and opening the middle for the tight ends.”
Mack named McLaurin as the top candidate for the job, but the question is whether Washington would be ready to deal with him.
“I feel like the list of priorities at receiver should start with [Terry] McLaurin,” Mack said. “I think you should explore that as long as you can.”
McLaurin is in the middle of tense contract negotiations with the Commanders and has expressed his frustration with the lack of progress in the deal. The 29-year-old is entering the final year of his three-year, $68 million contract and would be looking for long-term security, something that the Steelers can offer with plenty of cap space left.
While a trade will solely depend on whether the Commanders are willing to make it, it’s worth noting that acquiring McLaurin will likely cost the Steelers a first-round pick. The price is undoubtedly justified for someone of McLaurin’s caliber, but with Pittsburgh having no guaranteed quarterback beyond 2025, they might want to preserve that pick for potentially selecting a franchise quarterback next season.
It’s a difficult choice to make, but if the Steelers want to go all in behind Rodgers and are confident that he can lead them to the playoffs, exploring a move for McLaurin should be on Mike Tomlin’s agenda.
a true Pittsburgh Steelers fan, since the 70’s I didn’t want the Steelers to sign Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins