The Pittsburgh Steelers made a big splash near the start of free agency last year when they traded for DK Metcalf. They had a need at wide receiver, and they were aggressive in fixing that problem. Unfortunately, it became an issue again not too long after that when they sent George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. Now, the Steelers once again find themselves with a pressing need at wideout.
Perhaps they could solve it with another trade. NFL insider James Palmer was asked about under-the-radar players who could be traded, and he named two receivers.
“I’ll give you two receivers that I think might be on the move,” Palmer said Thursday on Scoop City’s YouTube channel. “I’m curious about what DJ Moore’s future is in Chicago. When I look at the youth movement that is there with Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, and Colston Loveland becoming that weapon.
“Is there a team looking to go, ‘I didn’t see Caleb Williams really looking DJ Moore’s way a whole bunch.’ They don’t play very similar, when I talk to people around the league, in terms of how DJ Moore operates as a receiver and how Caleb Williams operates as a quarterback.”
Moore was a first-round pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2018, and he was later traded to the Bears as part of Carolina’s move to acquire the first pick in the 2023 draft.
While Moore had a great first season in Chicago, catching 96 passes for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns, he’s been less effective in recent years. His 2025 season was particularly disappointing, Moore failing to even reach 700 receiving yards.
He’ll turn 29 in April, and he’s under contract until 2030. That could be what stands in the way of the Steelers trading for him. Moore will make just under $29 million in each of the next three seasons. The Steelers are already paying DK Metcalf a ton of money. Do they want to dedicate that much money to a receiver outside the organization?
Luckily, the other receiver Palmer named doesn’t present that same issue.
“And then Brian Thomas Jr. in Jacksonville. There was a lot of buzz about Brian Thomas Jr. during the trade deadline this past season,” he said. “I think that could be somebody that could potentially be on the move as he had a big step back this past year in the offense that Liam Coen was running.”
Thomas was the Jaguars’ first-round pick in 2024, and he had a stellar rookie season, catching 87 passes for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns. As Palmer mentions, he took a major step back in 2025 with only 48 catches for 707 yards and two touchdowns.
Also, the Jaguars added Jakobi Meyers to their receiver room during last season. He worked out well there, too, earning a contract extension from Jacksonville. The Steelers reportedly tried to trade for Meyers last year, and while that didn’t work out, when one door closes, another opens. Meyers’ presence with the Jaguars, as well as Parker Washington’s emergence could result in Thomas getting moved.
Thomas is still on his rookie deal, so it’s easier to see the Steelers acquiring him. However, there’s still risk attached to that move. There’s no telling if Thomas’ 2025 struggles will continue to follow him.
Either of these receivers would be upgrades at wideout for the Steelers, though, they have the draft capital to get a deal done. They surprised many by trading for Metcalf last year. Perhaps another surprise is in store for fans.