In the weeks leading up to the NFL trade deadline on November 4, it was no secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers were desperate to add another wide receiver to their roster. The team reportedly made calls to the Miami Dolphins about Jaylen Waddle and the New Orleans Saints about Rashid Shaheed. However, neither deal materialized. Shaheed ultimately was traded to the Seattle Seahawks.
“The Dolphins held firm on wanting a first-rounder and maybe more for Waddle, and despite calls from teams such as the Steelers and Broncos, he stayed in Miami,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said.
But Pittsburgh’s bad luck didn’t end there.
The Steelers also reportedly reached out to the Las Vegas Raiders about acquiring Jakobi Meyers. The Steelers made a strong offer — fourth- and sixth-round picks — mirroring the deal the Jacksonville Jaguars eventually offered. Despite this, Meyers reportedly preferred to play in Jacksonville, where he would reunite with quarterback Trevor Lawrence and head coach Liam Coen, rather than join Pittsburgh, where he would play alongside QB Aaron Rodgers and head coach Mike Tomlin.
“Steelers insider Mark Kaboly says the Steelers offered the Raiders 4th and 6th round picks just like the Jaguars,” Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan reported. “The Raiders let Meyers pick where he wanted to go. And he chose THE JAGUARS!!!!”
Not only did Meyers snub the Steelers, but Shaheed reportedly did as well.
According to Chris Halicke of DK Pittsburgh Sports, the Steelers offered the Saints fourth- and fifth-round picks for Shaheed — the same deal the Seahawks made. Shaheed, however, reportedly did not want to go to Pittsburgh. Instead, he chose to reunite with former Saints and current Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
Aside from DK Metcalf, who leads the Seahawks with 29 catches, 467 yards, and five touchdowns, the Steelers have struggled in the receiving game. Calvin Austin III is the only other Pittsburgh wide receiver with more than nine receptions and 115 yards on the season. Furthermore, five of Pittsburgh’s seven primary pass-catchers are actually running backs or tight ends.
The Steelers’ efforts to bolster their receiving corps fell short, leaving them in need of stronger offensive weapons as the season progresses.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/ex-1000-yard-wr-rejected-trade-to-play-with-aaron-rodgers-steelers-report-11019236
