This is it. In a matter of hours, the sun will set on the 2024 NFL trade deadline, and competitive teams will be left with roster holes that were obvious in the first half of the year. The Pittsburgh Steelers can’t let that happen.
The worst-kept secret in the league is that the Steelers have been searching diligently for wide receiver help since the offseason. Sadly, they have not been able to execute a deal.
That could change in the moments leading up to the deadline.
While all eyes are on Giants WR Darius Slayton — one of the last remaining options that makes sense — there’s another receiver we should be talking about. Recently, there have been rumors that Christian Watson could be up for grabs.
Watson, a second-round pick by the Packers in the 2022 NFL Draft, had an electrifying late-season stretch during his rookie year. Unfortunately, injuries have plagued his NFL career, and he has fallen out of favor in Green Bay.
Steelers must call Packers about a Christian Watson trade
For whatever reason, the talented wide-out doesn’t seem to be a fit with quarterback Jordan Love. The Packers have favored other receivers more heavily on the offense. As a result, Watson has just 16 receptions on the season — on pace for a mere 34 receptions this season.
While Love sits at a distant fifth on the team in targets (27), fellow Packers receivers Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs each have at least 45 targets and 30 receptions on the season. Behind them, Dontayvion Wicks has 43 targets and tight end Tucker Kraft has 39 targets.
At 6’4 1/8” and 208 pounds with 4.36 speed, Watson is simply too valuable to let him sit and rot on the bench. While a competitive team like Green Bay could keep the athletic wide receiver around for insurance purposes if someone else gets hurt, they may rather fetch a Day 2 draft pick for a player who is will be entering a contract season in 2025.
On the Steelers, Watson would be the uncontested WR2 across from George Pickens, and his fit with Russell Wilson would be perfect. Watson would be a field stretcher to which Wilson could launch moonballs down the sideline. The pairing of Pickens and Watson would give the Steelers two big receivers who can win down the field with ease.
This would make Pittsburgh less reliant on players like Calvin Austin III and Van Jefferson to fill important roles on offense. If the Packers are willing to part ways with Watson, the Steelers should be all for a trade like this that bolsters their roster and makes them a much more threatening offense for a potential playoff run.
