The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t acquire Terry McLaurin, who requested a trade from the Washington Commanders on July 31. McLaurin and the Commanders eventually agreed to a new deal to keep him in Washington. But if the Steelers are still in the wide receiver market, they could have another shot at acquiring a wideout seeking a new contract — Las Vegas Raiders’ Jakobi Meyers.
Steelers Now’s Derrick Bell answered “unequivocally yes” to a mailbag question Friday about whether the team should pursue the Raiders receiver on the trade market.
“Meyers has been one of the most consistent complimentary pass catchers for quite some time now and is coming off his first 1,000-yard campaign despite missing a couple of games while also suffering through dreadful quarterback play,” wrote Bell.
“He’s got good size with great hands to make plays in traffic, can win versus man coverage from all three positions (X, Z & Slot), and is a willing run blocker that can play in a condensed split for them.”
Meyers posted 87 catches, 1,027 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 15 games last season. His receptions and receiving yards were new career highs.
But while 2024 was his first 1,000-yard season, as Bell explained, Meyers has been very productive for quite some time. During his first season with the Raiders in 2023, Meyers posted a career-best eight touchdowns.
From 2021-23, he reached at least 800 receiving yards each year. Meyers also had 729 receiving yards during 2020.
ESPN’s Ryan McFadden reported on August 25 that Meyers requested a trade from the Raiders. The receiver is entering the final year of his current contract.
Raiders’ Jakobi Meyers Requests Trade
Players putting public pressure on their teams with trade requests has become a popular trend this year. Before McLaurin did it, Myles Garrett was the first NFL star to request a trade seemingly as a negotiating tactic.
It worked for both Garrett and McLaurin. Both received new deals with their current teams.
The tactic was successful for edge rusher Micah Parsons as well but in a different way. On Friday, the Dallas Cowboys fulfilled Parsons’ trade request, moving him to the Green Bay Packers.
Meyers isn’t on the same level of stardom as those other three players. But he is trying the same approach to land a new deal. McFadden, though, cast doubt over whether the Raiders are going to budge.
“The Raiders and Meyers have been unable to come to terms on a new deal,” McFadden wrote. “Las Vegas, however, has no plans to move on from Meyers, according to a source.”
It doesn’t seem likely that the Raiders will trade Meyers before the season. However, since he’s in a contract year, and Las Vegas isn’t expected to compete in the tough AFC West, Meyers could be a trade deadline target for teams before November 4.
What Meyers Could Bring to Steelers
The Steelers have been linked to quite a few veteran receivers over the past week. That’s not surprising given the team’s lack of receiver star power.
But the team isn’t likely to move the needle all that much with a flier.
If the Steelers add another receiver, it should be one who could push Calvin Austin III for the WR2 role opposite DK Metcalf.
Meyers would do that. Bell argued Meyers would also give the Steelers passing game an element it’s badly missing.
“Meyers is very different stylistically from anyone else they currently employ on the roster, with his most glaring weakness being that he’s not an extraordinary athlete that doesn’t create a ton of explosive plays, but the Steelers have a plethora of team speed,” Bell wrote. “What they need most is a chain mover.”
Metcalf and Austin each averaged at least 15 yards per catch last season. Veteran Scotty Miller has averaged 14.4 yards per reception the past two years, and Roman Wilson was a big-play receiver in college.
To complement those receivers, the Steelers need the next Hines Ward or Diontae Johnson. The target quarterback Aaron Rodgers will look for on third-and-medium.
Meyers has posted 393 receptions for 4,592 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns in 91 NFL games. He began his career with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2019.
Two years later, Meyers was a 16-game starter.
In addition to Metcalf, Austin, Miller and Wilson, the Steelers have veteran receiver Ben Skowronek on their roster as a fifth wideout. However, Skowronek is expected to contribute more on special teams than offense this season.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Steelers Urged to Target Disgruntled 1,000-Yard WR appeared first on Heavy Sports.