The Pittsburgh Steelers continue to lurk around the market for a wide receiver, so everyone who is considered intriguing will be thrown around as a possibility. That is no different for free agents, and while a trade seems like the likeliest scenario, Pittsburgh has made preliminary contact with a few free agents. Bleacher Report named the Steelers one of the top landing spots for former New Orleans Saints star receiver Michael Thomas.
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) June 6, 2024
Steelers Now reported earlier this month that the team had made early contact with Michael Thomas. However, the nature and depth of the negotiations was unknown. It could be checking up on him to see where he’s at, and Thomas might be a fallback plan later in the Summer for the Steelers.
Before a string of injuries, Thomas was one of the best wide receivers in the entire NFL. But a severe ankle injury cost him multiple seasons of his career, to the point where he had numerous surgeries. Last season, he returned but suffered more injuries that sidelined him for some time. In other words, Thomas is a player with lots of pedigree as a former All-Pro, but his durability and production at this stage in his career must be questioned.
The Steelers seem drawn to big names in the trade market, like Courtland Sutton and Brandon Aiyuk. However, there is no guarantee that either player will get moved at this point in the year. If they were to make a trade, the more likely time would have been before or during the NFL Draft. Pittsburgh drafted Roman Wilson and has signed Van Jefferson, Quez Watkins, and Scotty Miller to help fill out the receiver room, but have maintained interest in other players on the outside.
Thomas is a high-upside swing, but at this point in his career, he gives the Steelers minimal certainty that he can slot in as the true WR2. But if a trade can not be pulled off, Thomas may make sense to add.