The Pittsburgh Steelers are interested in completing a trade for Denver Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton after moving to 6-2 with Russell Wilson in inspired form.
Since taking the reins from Justin Fields, Wilson has led the Steelers to wins over the New York Jets and New York Giants, completing 36-of-57 passes for 542 yards and three touchdowns. The 35-year-old has found a rhythm with touch passes and completed deep passes to star receiver George Pickens, unlocking another component for the Pittsburgh offense.
Despite the Steelers possessing a 4-2 record under Fields, the quarterback play was somewhat uninspiring; the former first-round pick threw for 1,106 yards, tossing five touchdowns and an interception while adding 231 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. But Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin decided to make the switch, and the veteran has impressed.
While Pickens is the clear leading receiver on the AFC North franchises roster, the Steelers need another weapon as tight end Pat Freiermuth is Pittsburgh’s second-leading receiver with 264 yards and two touchdowns. Tomlin has been aware of this issue for some time; back in the offseason, the Steelers pursued Brandon Aiyuk before the receiver signed a four-year deal worth $120 million with the San Francisco 49ers.
With the trade deadline on Nov. 5 fast approaching, the Steelers are under pressure to make a move. Pittsburgh has watched on as several AFC contenders boosted their receiver corps in recent weeks, including AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens adding their former player Dionate Johnson.
Given the Steelers sit atop the division and have the likes of the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, and defending back-to-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in the conference, an offensive weapon may be needed to give the franchise the juice to compete for a Super Bowl berth. Three receivers have been linked: the Giants Darius Slayton, Jets Mike Williams, and Broncos star Sutton.
Follow us on Xfor the best and latest in sports news
The Steelers reportedly prefer Sutton, but the Broncos may want a package that is too expensive for the 2019 Pro Bowl receiver. With rookie quarterback Bo Nix at the helm, Denver is 5-3 and firmly in playoff contention themselves – and Sutton is their leading receiver with 29 receptions for 377 yards and two touchdowns.
Sutton would also make sense for the Steelers, as Wilson has chemistry with the 29-year-old receiver from his days in Denver. Sutton is coming off his best performance of the season, hauling in eight catches for 100 yards against the Carolina Panthers in Week 8.
Since being selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Sutton has been a star receiver for the AFC West franchise. Back in 2021, the receiver – who enjoyed a career-best 10 touchdowns in 2023 with Wilson – signed a four-year contract extension worth $60.8 million to stay with the Broncos through the 2025 NFL season.
Want to watch more live sports? Peacock has your favorite sports, shows, and more all in one place. Peacock offers plans starting at $7.99 so you can stream live sports like NFL, Premier League, and Big Ten Football.
Leave a Reply