PITTSBURGH —Aaron Rodgers had a hunch. As the quarterback began preparing for the Green Bay Packers last week, he approached second-year receiver Roman Wilson with a message.
“I told him last Wednesday, ‘It’s going to be your week this week,’” Rodgers said. “I just kind of had a feeling. Then on Thursday, he had his best practice of the season.”
Three days later, Wilson enjoyed, by far, the best game of his young career, reeling in four catches on five targets for 74 yards. That included an explosive, 45-yard reception and his first career touchdown.
Earning trust and playing time has been a long process for the University of Michigan product. After the Steelers drafted Wilson in the third round of the 2024 draft, he endured an ankle injury on a hip-drop tackle during training camp. Along with a hamstring injury, it turned his rookie season into essentially a redshirt year.
Coming into this season, there was plenty of optimism inside the Steelers’ building that Wilson would take a sizable leap in Year 2 and help round out a wide receiver room that added DK Metcalf and parted with George Pickens. For Wilson, that process was slower than anticipated. Through the first six games of 2025, Wilson recorded four catches for 26 yards. In several games, he was out-snapped by veteran depth pieces like Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek. Even Calvin Austin III’s injury absence in Weeks 6 and 7 didn’t lead to a substantial uptick in playing time.
Finally, after the long wait and Miller’s broken finger freeing up more snaps, Wilson was one of the few bright spots on Sunday.
“I told Ro I’ve liked him since the first time we got to know each other out in Malibu,” Rodgers said. “I told him back then, I’m going to coach you to your potential and not to what I’m seeing. I hold him to a high standard, and I was really proud of him in the game for the reaction plays he made. We just need to see consistency from him, but it starts in practice, and I thought Thursday was a really good practice for him. And today, he had another really nice practice.”
With the NFL trade deadline looming, how much do the Steelers trust Wilson to become an impact player? Pittsburgh has made calls to evaluate potential upgrades at wide receiver. On the current depth chart, Metcalf is entrenched as WR1. Behind him, Calvin Austin III continues to develop in his fourth NFL season and has been getting WR2 reps when healthy.
If Wilson continues along his current trajectory and can build upon Sunday’s performance, perhaps the Steelers will feel content to stand pat. At the same time, there was a feeling inside the building before the season that the team wanted to do everything in its power to give Rodgers a legitimate chance to make a deep playoff run in what could be his final season. Surrounding the 41-year-old QB with more pass catchers and providing insurance in case of an injury to Metcalf could still be in play if they find the right player at the right price.
Let’s take a look at some of the receivers who might be available…
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, free agent
On Monday, the Steelers worked out Valdes-Scantling. Reports surfaced on Monday evening that the Steelers and the veteran had agreed to a deal, but Valdes-Scantling left Pittsburgh without a contract (NFL contracts must be signed in person), and flew to Tampa Bay to visit with the Buccaneers. I was told a signing isn’t likely to happen this week. When — or if — a deal materializes remains to be seen.
Valdes-Scantling played four season alongside Rodgers in Green Bay, from 2018 to 2021. His best season with the future Hall of Fame QB came in 2020, when Valdes-Scantling made 33 catches for 690 yards and six touchdowns. At 6-4 and 206 pounds, he’s a different body type than the smaller, speedy receivers currently complementing Metcalf. He’s a willing blocker and — at least at one point in his career — was able to stretch the field vertically with 4.37 speed. That said, he’s 31 years old, has only played in five games this season and is still working back from a calf injury that ended his brief tenure with the 49ers.
“I love MVS,” Rodgers said Wednesday. “I’ve always enjoyed playing with him. He’s one of my favorite teammates of all time. He is a really special guy, and I think MVS can still really play. You saw last year when he was in New Orleans, he had opportunities. He had a lot of big touchdowns. He can still run. I think MVS wants to be on an active roster. So if there wasn’t an opportunity here for that, then I guess he’s waiting for something else.”
Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans
At 6-1 and 190 pounds, Ridley could add size and an explosive element to the Steelers offense. He’s surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark three times in his career, including in 2020, when he made 90 catches for 1,374 yards. His solid frame helps him in contested-catch situations and his athleticism makes him a threat after the catch. Ridley has two more years remaining on a four-year, $92 million deal he signed in 2024.
Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders
Meyers is in the final year of a three-year, $33 million deal and has publicly stated — on numerous occasions — he’d like to be traded. The Raiders weren’t in a position to move him earlier this year. Perhaps that thought process changes now that Vegas is off to a 2-5 start. At 6-2 and 193 pounds, Meyers is a physical and detailed route runner who works the middle of the field and has excellent hands. He could provide a reliable intermediate threat to go along with Metcalf.
Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints
After tearing his ACL in his final college game, Shaheed flew under the radar in the run up to the 2022 Draft; the Saints signed him as an undrafted free agent. In his second season, 2023, Shaheed earned Pro Bowl recognition as a returner. Now in his fourth season, the 6-foot, 180-pound receiver has 133 career receptions for 1,987 yards and 12 touchdowns. Shaheed would bring explosive potential to the Steelers’ offense. At one time, he was somewhat of a gimmick player, but he’s developed into a well-rounded receiver and playmaker who could contribute on offense and as a kick or punt returner.
Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
The sixth pick in the 2021 draft, Waddle is a dynamic athlete in space. He’s a shifty receiver who runs precise routes and uses his 4.37 speed to create separation. However, is his skillset redundant with some of the other receivers on the Steelers’ roster? At 5-10 and 185 pounds, he’s similar to others like Austin and Wilson. The other consideration is Waddle’s contract. He is signed through 2028 and is due more than $16.6 million in guarantees in 2026. He’d bring a cap hit of $11.7 million in 2026, $33.8 million in 2027 and $37.2 million in 2028. The Steelers may need to renegotiate that deal to make the money more palatable.
A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
This one is probably a pipe dream, but still worth mentioning. The Eagles are a Super Bowl contender. It seems unlikely they’d be willing to part with a premier playmaker, even if he’s been frustrated by his usage. That said, the Steelers have plenty of connections with the big-bodied deep threat. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith spent several seasons with Brown in Tennessee, and current Steelers assistant GM Andy Weidl was with the Eagles when they acquired Brown in a trade.
It would take a lot of compensation to get this deal done, but a move of this magnitude would push the Steelers all-in and give them a dynamic 1-2 punch atop the depth chart. Brown is one of the few receivers who could fill Metcalf’s shoes in the event of injury.
Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
The 11th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Olave is like many Ohio State receivers. His measurables (6-foot and 187 pounds) don’t jump off the page, but he’s a polished, well-rounded receiver. With 4.39 speed, he can stretch the field vertically and create separation with detailed routes. His ability to win on in-breaking routes and crossing patterns would fit Rodgers’ skillset and the Steelers’ current offense. He does have a history of concussions, and it’s unclear if the Saints would actually be willing to move him. Olave is on the final year of his rookie contract, but the Saints have already picked up his fifth-year option, which will come with a $15.5 million price tag in 2026.
Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that the Jaguars are listening to calls for Thomas, “even if a move feels highly unlikely.” Thomas brings prototypical size at 6-2 and 210 pounds to go along with 4.3 speed. Last season, he had the fourth-most yards after the catch among NFL wide receivers with 562. The 2024 first-round pick is also still young and may not have reached his full potential yet. Though the Jaguars are sitting at 4-3 and still in the playoff hunt — why would they trade a young weapon?
Christian Kirk, Houston Texans
A second-round pick of the Cardinals in 2018 who also spent three seasons in Jacksonville, Kirk is a dependable possession receiver who has surpassed 100 receptions three times — 2019, 2021 and 2022. He missed the first two games of this season with a hamstring injury and has been out since Week 5 with the same ailment. He returned to practice on Wednesday.