Considering the Diontae Johnson trade, could the Steelers sign a wide receiver?
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in need of a wide receiver, and they have two well-known players to choose from in free agency.
Pittsburgh cornerback Donte Jackson was acquired by the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who was sent to the Carolina Panthers.
In addition to ending their longest-tenured receiver, the move left a gaping void on the offensive line. Throughout his five-year tenure in Pittsburgh, Johnson started 67 games. With him gone, the only receivers on the team who were part of the 53-man roster the previous season are George Pickens, Calvin Austin, and Miles Boykin.
What will happen next? The Steelers are probably going to try to add a youngster through the NFL Draft and a veteran through free agency. Many anticipate that they will advance the slot on their draft board, perhaps aiming for one during the opening round.
There are options available on the open market. And with that, the question arises: will Pittsburgh create a stir in free agency? With the additions of Patrick Queen and Russell Wilson thus far, they’ve gone big, and if their recent actions are any indication, supporters should raise their hopes for their upcoming addition.
Of the free agents, Tyler Boyd and Calvin Ridley are the two that immediately come to mind. Boyd is from Pittsburgh and plays at Pitt; thus, he has ties to the area. The biggest player the Steelers may sign on the free agent market is Ridley, who is unrelated to the team.
The 29-year-old Ridley just finished with 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns. With an average salary of $17.5 million, his market value is currently estimated to be $70 million.
Boyd’s market value is $26 million for three years, assuming an $8.7 million average income.
The Steelers now have roughly $17.9 million in available cap space, but they could add much more by extending Cam Heyward and rearranging the contracts of T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Alex Highsmith.
Don’t rule anything out about the Steelers at this time. Perhaps they’ll make a splash with a first-round draft pick on a wide receiver. However, there might be a couple of high-profile free agent signings.
