After starting 3-0 then narrowly losing back-to-back games, the Pittsburgh Steelers are at an early inflection point in their season. Their defense has been solid but has let them down in key moments. Offensively, the Steelers have been better than last year, though they still have major problems with a lack of consistency. One way the Steelers could boost their offense is by trading for Davante Adams, the star wide receiver who has dominated trade rumors for the past week.
Why Steelers Should and Shouldn’t Trade for Davante Adams
There is certainly a case to be made that Pittsburgh should do anything they can to acquire Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders. By far, their biggest weakness on offense is their depth at wide receiver after George Pickens. However, it’s not as straightforward as “get Adams no matter what.” There are reasons the Steelers should pass on making the trade, too.
Should: Instant Boost to Stagnant Offense
The most straightforward reason the Steelers should acquire Davante Adams is the much-needed boost he would provide to their bland offense. Justin Fields has shown to be a capable and dynamic quarterback so far this year, but he needs more weapons to work with. Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III just aren’t getting it done as the depth options behind Pickens. Rookie Roman Wilson hasn’t even played through five games. Pittsburgh is still in desperation mode after failing to acquire Brandon Aiyuk during the offseason. General manager Omar Khan could right his previous wrong by bringing Adams to the Steel City.
Beyond boosting the offense, Adams would allow the Steelers to perform a more complete evaluation of Fields before he hits free agency next spring. He has showed flashes of excellence through five games, but he has also shown plenty of inconsistency. At the same time, Fields has not been helped at all by a dismal wide receiver room who has dropped passes left and right. If Adams comes in and helps take Fields to the next level, that will let Pittsburgh know to sign him to a long-term extension before he ever hits the market.
Shouldn’t: More Than a Wide Receiver Away
Despite the obvious improvement Davante Adams would bring to the Steelers, it might not be enough to make them true contenders. So far, they have been too underwhelming in multiple aspects of the game to say a top wide receiver is all they are missing. Injuries haven’t helped them, either. They are missing two starting offensive linemen for the rest of the season, two running backs for two weeks and counting, and every pass rusher not named T.J. Watt.
It’s not just the injuries, though. Sure, the injuries to the offensive and defensive lines are huge factors holding the Steelers back right now. But they’re also weak at the slot cornerback position, their top-paid linebacker has been terrible, and their coaching has left a lot to be desired. Adding Davante Adams won’t make these problems go away for the Steelers.
Should: The AFC Seems Wide Open
All that said, the Steelers, on their best day, can still compete to win the AFC. Just take a look at the other top-ranked teams in the conference. The Kansas City Chiefs are 5-0 and attempting to threepeat as Super Bowl champions, but they have looked anything but unbeatable in their undefeated start. Other top preseason contenders like the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills have started strong but haven’t necessarily been the juggernauts they were expected to be. And, of course, there’s the divisional rival Baltimore Ravens, who look unstoppable on offense but are a team the Steelers always play very tough.
Would the Steelers be favored against any of those teams in a head-to-head matchup? No. But with a little luck and a couple of good bounces, it’s not hard to imagine the Steelers beating any of them. When healthy, Pittsburgh’s pass rush and secondary give them a chance in any matchup. They don’t even need their offense to be great, they just need to be a little better than they have been. Adding Davante Adams to the Steelers offense wouldn’t make the Steelers offense elite, but it just might make them good enough to compete in the AFC.
Shouldn’t: It Would Be Costly
Adding Davante Adams would be an expensive gambit for the Steelers, and not necessarily from a money perspective. The cap hit on the remaining two years of his contract would be huge for a player who is getting older, but that can always be restructured. And even without a restructure, Pittsburgh could afford Adams from a salary cap perspective. The bigger problem could be the draft capital desired by Las Vegas. The reported asking price of a second round pick would be a lot for a team who will want to address the cornerback, defensive line, and wide receiver (yes, even if they acquire Adams, Pittsburgh will still need to draft a receiver next year) positions. Those are all premium positions, and giving up a chance to draft one just to maybe become good enough to win a playoff game might not be worth it.
