The Pittsburgh Steelers seem unlikely to acquire wide receiver Courtland Sutton from the Denver Broncos. However, Nick Farabaugh of Steelers Now has proposed a different potential trade target for Pittsburgh — New York Giants wideout Darius Slayton.
Farabaugh suggested that the Steelers could pursue Slayton to pair with emerging star receiver George Pickens.
He argued, “This could be a solid move under the radar for the Steelers if they are willing to offer some draft picks. Slayton’s contract is still manageable, and signing him to a new deal won’t strain the team financially.”
Farabaugh pointed out that although Slayton has never reached 800 receiving yards in his five-year NFL career, he has been consistently productive, surpassing 700 receiving yards in four of those seasons.
Slayton ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds at the 2019 NFL combine, which was faster than all but five wide receiver prospects at the 2024 NFL combine.
Regarding his contract situation, Slayton will need a new deal after this season, but it’s expected to be within an affordable range. His current contract is a 2-year deal worth $12 million, which includes a $3.5 million signing bonus.
Why the Steelers Could Target WR Darius Slayton
It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Steelers both draft a receiver and acquire a veteran before the start of training camp, especially considering the lack of depth in their receiving corps based on their 2023 production.
In March, Pittsburgh signed veterans Van Jefferson and Quez Watkins after trading Diontae Johnson, but Jefferson and Watkins combined for only 351 receiving yards last season. Both are on league-minimum contracts and aren’t guaranteed roster spots.
With Johnson gone, the Steelers currently have only one receiver on their roster who had more than 209 receiving yards last season — Pickens, who led the NFL in yards per reception in 2023. That’s a strength Slayton shares; he has averaged 15.1 yards per catch throughout his career and achieved at least 15 yards per catch in four of his five seasons.
Slayton put up these numbers as the Giants’ No. 1 receiver, and he stands to benefit from playing alongside Pickens in 2024.
Steelers Striking Out With Brandon Aiyuk, Courtland Sutton?
Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette mentioned in a fan chat on April 17 that the Steelers had pursued San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk this offseason. The Steelers were also linked to Courtland Sutton, who didn’t attend Denver’s voluntary offseason workouts on April 16.
However, it seems unlikely that either receiver will end up in Pittsburgh.
49ers general manager John Lynch stated on March 25 that the team was actively negotiating a contract extension with Aiyuk. Additionally, on April 20, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that despite trade inquiries, the Broncos “do not plan to trade” Sutton.
Both Aiyuk and Sutton would be excellent additions for the Steelers, but acquiring them would require more draft capital compared to Slayton. Furthermore, both Aiyuk and Sutton are expected to demand higher salaries in their next deals.
Therefore, Slayton could be a more desirable option. Acquiring him would allow the Steelers to secure a No. 2 receiver while preserving their best 2024 draft picks and maintaining salary cap space to sign Pickens next offseason.
