Steelers fans should be very familiar with the team’s wide receiver search
The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in a very familiar position heading into the 2025 regular season. They find themselves in the need of help at wide receiver, and trying to leave no stone unturned to get the help they desire.
On top of that, the Steelers fan base should be familiar with the antics of many “reports” from 2024 which all resulted in a wild goose chase leading up to the trade deadline last season.
Well, when the Steelers chose to trade George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, it left them with DK Metcalf and an very unproven staff surrounding him in the wide receiver room. And, as you may have guessed, rumors have always started to swirl regarding the Steelers targeting a receiver via trade.
The most recent rumor started Friday, and it suggested the Steelers were in contact with the New Orleans Saints for wide receiver Chris Olave.
To be clear. I had someone who would be in the know text me “Chris Olave.” https://t.co/QQx3vafxVp
— Adam Crowley (@_adamcrowley) May 16, 2025
Before diving into the Olave report/rumor, it should be known the Steelers are a team who realizes they have a hole on their roster and is willing to do what it takes to try and fill that gap. They have plenty of draft capital in 2026 to possibly ship a pick, or two, to a team who is considering parting ways with a receiver.
But that’s the point, the Steelers are picking up the phone and making calls…as they should.
To me, this rumor is nothing more than the rumor which swirled earlier this offseason regarding Trevor Lawrence possibly being traded to Pittsburgh. Was a call made? Most likely there was a call made. Does that mean the Jaguars even entertained the potential trade? No, it doesn’t mean they even considered trading their starting quarterback to another AFC team.
The Steelers are putting out calls to try and see who might be available to help make this offensive roster even more explosive in 2025, and the New Orleans Saints and Olave is just the latest call to be made. Let’s learn from 2024 and the Brandon Aiyuk saga before jumping head-first into these reports.
As for Olave specifically, he is coming off a season where he landed on Injured Reserve (IR) with injury, and still has two years left on his current contract. His current cap hit is $6,131,960 in 2025, with a $15,493,000 cap hit in 2026. In 2027 he is slated to become and Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA). As for play style, Olave would be a perfect compliment for DK Metcalf in the wide receiver room, but what it would take the Steelers to get a talent like Olave would certainly be the talking point.
Would this be a situation of the Steelers building their roster around the quarterback position, or would this be a cost not worth it considering the team still has a big question mark at the most important position in professional sports?
Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the rest of offseason, OTAs, mandatory minicamp and training camp this summer.
D.J. Moore signed a 4-yr contract w/Bears after it was rumored that the Bears’ new head coach disliked Moore’s on-field effort. Ending my dream for his Steelers’ acquisition. Rumors aren’t concrete.
The Texans and Packers seem to have boluses of WRs currently–among other potential options around the league–that may be more likely rumor-worthy than the Saints and Olave. I’m waiting now on Dontavion Wicks since Moore signed. Heck, the Post-Gazette guys don’t agree on Pgh’s liklihood for making a WR trade.
Any rumor of Gabe Davis visiting Pgh? Davis may be signing w/Giants as of two hours ago, and Davis still has other planned team visits? Great googly-moogly!
I’m disinterested in country club memberships, altogether. Where’s my ayahuasca tea?
Dontayvion, that is.
“…make this offensive roster even more explosive in 2025…”??
Pump the breaks. I think they need to get to an offense that’s possibly combustible first. They’re a long way from explosive.
You said “chain-moving” the other day. Good starting point. Steelers have three potential CMers in Freiermuth, Washington, and Wilson. Wilson might be workable in this way on the outside. Steelers have one seasons-long, established deep threat on the outside and another one that is better a deep threat in less-contested situations.
Steelers aren’t explosive today, IMO, too. Steelers could move chains, and today that is unknown. Fun for fans is finding out, IRL.
I agree when you say a call was probably made, and nothing will come of it.
When the national media takes 93.7 (Poni in particular) hosts seriously, I can’t help but laugh, lol.