Steelers WR Options: Courtland Sutton, DeAndre Hopkins, Brandin Cooks Should Be on Pittsburgh’s Radar if Brandon Aiyuk Trade Falls Through

The Brandon Aiyuk saga might be nearing a conclusion.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, the NFL team most heavily linked to Aiyuk in trade talks, reportedly have a deal in place with the San Francisco 49ers. Meanwhile, the Niners have submitted a contract extension to Aiyuk, which he hasn’t yet accepted.

While Pittsburgh could still land Aiyuk before the start of the regular season, General Manager Omar Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin might want to start thinking about contingencies in case San Francisco holds onto its WR1.

Could the Steelers trade for a non-Aiyuk WR before Week 1? Which pass catchers might be available closer to the NFL’s Nov. 5 trade deadline?

Steelers WR Options | Trade Candidates (Immediate)

Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

Are the Broncos willing to trade Courtland Sutton? The 28-year-old has been the subject of trade rumors since head coach Sean Payton took over in 2023. Denver held onto Sutton despite reportedly receiving interest at last year’s trade deadline and again during the 2024 offseason. Still, it could be ready to move him if the right offers come along.

Pittsburgh would have Sutton under contract for two years, but his 2025 season would essentially be a non-guaranteed $13.5 million team option.

Darius Slayton, New York Giants

Speaking of WRs constantly featured in trade rumors, Darius Slayton might be available after the Giants used the No. 6 pick in April’s draft on fellow pass catcher Malik Nabers. Slayton is believed to be behind Nabers, Jalin Hyatt, and Wan’Dale Robinson on New York’s WR depth chart.

The Giants added $850,000 worth of incentives to Slayton’s contract this offseason, but the Steelers would still get him for under $6 million in 2024. He’s spent most of his career on the perimeter, which would allow Pittsburgh WRs Roman Wilson and Calvin Austin III to compete for slot snaps. He’s hardly a star, but Slayton has posted 700 receiving yards in four of his five NFL seasons.

Elijah Moore, Cleveland Browns

The Browns were also featured in the Aiyuk trade rumors and were reportedly willing to offer a package that included draft picks and veteran receiver Amari Cooper. That deal didn’t come to fruition, but Cleveland might be open to moving another WR on its roster.

Elijah Moore came to the Browns in a 2023 trade with the New York Jets. While he put up 640 yards in his debut campaign, Cleveland has since acquired and extended Jerry Jeudy and seemingly has a more significant role in mind for 2023 third-round receiver Cedric Tillman. Moore could be expendable as he enters his contract year.

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Trading within the AFC North might be verboten, but the Steelers and Browns have exchanged players recently. In 2017, Cleveland sent first-round bust Justin Gilbert to Pittsburgh for a sixth-round selection. The following year, the Steelers traded WR Sammie Coates to the Browns in a late-round pick swap.

Robert Woods, Houston Texans

Realistically, Robert Woods might be more of a release candidate than a trade candidate. The Texans can save almost $5 million in cap space by cutting Woods before Week 1.

Woods might not have much left at the age of 32, but he hauled in 40 catches for 426 yards in Houston last season.

Steelers WR Options | Trade Candidates (Deadline)

Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders probably should’ve considered trading Davante Adams earlier this offseason. If Las Vegas falls out of the playoff race early with Aidan O’Connell and/or Gardner Minshew II under center, Adams will almost certainly be on the trade market.

While the Jets — a reunion with Aaron Rodgers — have been identified as Adams’ most likely destination, the Steelers might also make sense. Pittsburgh could absorb Adams’ base salary in 2024 before reworking his deal going into the following season. The Steelers have the NFL’s second-highest projected cap space ($78.2 million) in 2025.

Although the 31-year-old Adams might not be the player he once was, he still managed 1.97 yards per route run in 2023 (tied for 28th in the NFL) despite working with sub-par quarterback play.

Of course, the Steelers would need to be in contention at the trade deadline to make a move for a high-priced, high-profile veteran like Adams. But if Pittsburgh is still in the playoff mix by Halloween, Adams might not be the wide receiver on the trade block.

Tyler Lockett or DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks could be a sleeper team under first-year head coach Mike Macdonald, but veteran wideouts Tyler Lockett or DK Metcalf could be available if Seattle is out of contention.

Lockett is probably the more likely trade candidate of the two. He’ll turn 32 in September and failed to top 1,000 yards last season for the time since 2018. While he’s signed through 2025, Lockett could quickly be usurped by Seahawks 2023 first-round WR Jaxon Smith-Nijgba this season.

Metcalf, also under contract through 2025, would cost more to acquire. He was a Pro Bowler last year, has a second-team All-Pro nod on his résumé, and doesn’t turn 27 until December. Metcalf isn’t necessarily likely to be traded, but you can’t rule anything out when a team changes head coaches (and offensive coordinators).

DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans

DeAndre Hopkins is questionable for Week 1 as he deals with a knee strain, but the Titans wideout should be back on the field by the time the NFL’s trade deadline arrives.

Tennessee is going for it in 2024. After hiring head coach Brian Callahan, GM Ran Carthon added veterans WR Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd, RB Tony Pollard, CBs L’Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie, C Lloyd Cushenbery, and DBs Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams. More trench help came via the draft when Carthon made OT JC Latham and DT T’Vondre Sweat his first picks.

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Maybe all those pieces will come together and help the Titans compete for the AFC South trophy. But maybe not. We’ve seen spending-spree teams crash and burn in the past. Even if Tennessee’s new additions mesh, it might not matter unless second-year QB Will Levis thrives in Callahan’s scheme.

If the Titans are already out of the race by late October, Hopkins will probably be on the trade block. He’s still a bully on routes and a contested-catch maven; Hopkins’ skill set could dovetail nicely with vertical Steelers WR George Pickens.

Brandin Cooks, Dallas Cowboys

It’s probably unlikely, but there’s a scenario in which Jerry Jones decides to move a few veteran pieces before the trade deadline.

The Cowboys will face the Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Steelers, Detroit Lions, 49ers, and Atlanta Falcons before Nov. 5. Dallas could theoretically be 2-6 or 3-5 and already lagging in the NFC playoff race. If Dak Prescott doesn’t have a new contract by then, could Jones get impatient and trade a player like Brandin Cooks?

Cooks is no stranger to NFL trades, having already been dealt four times in his decade-long career. He’ll be 31 in September and hasn’t topped 700 yards receiving since 2021, so he should be fairly cheap to acquire if Dallas is amenable.