The Pittsburgh Steelers waited virtually the entire offseason to add Aaron Rodgers to the mix. Through eight weeks, that investment seems to have paid off. At 4-3, they are in first place in the AFC North, despite the vaunted Mike Tomlin defense failing to hold up its end of the bargain.
So far, they have made their living off of extremely quick passes to ensure that the 41-year-old doesn’t face a ton of pressure or QB hits. As a result, one analyst believes they could add another threat in the secondary to open up the offense even more and allow the four-time MVP more freedom to operate.
Steelers Could Add Another Weapon for Aaron Rodgers
So far this season, the offensive line for the Steelers has functioned like a top-10 unit, per PFSN’s OL Impact. Instead, it’s been the defense, a bottom-10 unit on PFSN’s Defense Impact, that has failed to truly be a difference maker.
Pittsburgh seems to have recognized that change and is adding more players on that side, with Marquez Valdes-Scantling the latest free agent pickup for the franchise. A former Rodgers teammate, he can provide familiarity to the veteran quarterback.
But, without a single season of more than 700 receiving yards to his credit, it is hard to imagine MVS significantly elevating this offense. Instead, Bjorn Bergstrom of PFSN believes they should focus on a more prolific name to add to the offense.
As a result, he has them pegged as a potential landing spot for Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars, should the rumors come true and a trade be legitimately explored. The idea behind making the move for Bergstrom is simple.
“If the Steelers truly aim to cash in on what is believed to be their lone season with Rodgers at quarterback, they should make an all-in trade to land Thomas. Besides, if it doesn’t work out this year, Pittsburgh will have DK Metcalf and Thomas at the position, one of the top receiving duos in football, making their quarterback job an enticing one.”
A first-round pick for the Jaguars last season, BTJ came into his own as a standout wide receiver in an elite draft class. Tallying 1,282 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, he had an incredible rookie season, leading to a fourth-place finish on PFSN’s WR Impact.
“As far as this season goes, Metcalf needs another viable option on the outside to take some of the attention away from him. Thomas would do exactly that while giving Rodgers a deep threat, taking the top off the defense, and opening up everything underneath.”
This year, though, his numbers have clearly taken a hit. Whether it is synergy with Trevor Lawrence, who missed most of last season, or a curious case of the drops, Thomas has only tallied 365 receiving yards and a single touchdown, even though he has rushed for one as well.
The 23-year-old, as a result, has fallen precipitously in the WR Impact rankings this year, as he stands at 63rd in the league. But a change of scenery could take him back to his rookie season standards, where he was among the best wide receivers in the entire league.
