The Steelers are in a spot where a big swing at wide receiver makes sense, and Ladd McConkey has moved into the conversation as a realistic target before the November 10 trade deadline.
That kind of move is not going to come cheap. McConkey is under team control through the 2027 season, which means the Chargers have no reason to treat him like a rental. If Los Angeles decides to listen, the asking price should be steep.
One recent deal offers a useful benchmark. Earlier this month, the Arizona Cardinals sent Marvin Harrison Jr. and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Houston Texans in exchange for a 2027 second-rounder and a 2027 sixth-round selection.
Harrison Jr. was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and has the fifth-year option working in his favor, but McConkey has actually put up the stronger production so far. The second-round pick has 2,138 yards and 14 touchdowns on 161 receptions, compared with Harrison Jr.’s 1,618 yards and 14 touchdowns on 112 catches.
At the same time, McConkey may not command quite that level of return if the Chargers move him. Harrison Jr. still carries the aura of a generational prospect and the extra team-control benefit of the fifth-year option, while McConkey entered the league as a second-round pick. That could keep the price from climbing too far beyond the market.
The Steelers have another trade template sitting right in front of them. Pittsburgh dealt George Pickens and a 2027 sixth-rounder to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2026 third-round pick, which was used on Drew Allar, and a 2027 fifth-rounder. Pickens was on his rookie deal, just like McConkey, though McConkey still has another year left on his contract, which makes him a little more valuable.
There’s also a second comparison from Steelers history. Chase Claypool didn’t match McConkey’s numbers in Pittsburgh, but his production line of 2,044 yards and 12 touchdowns in 39 games is close enough to suggest McConkey could land a second-round pick, just as Claypool did when the Steelers sent him to the Chicago Bears at the 2022 trade deadline.
Pittsburgh has a clear need at the position. Michael Pittman Jr. was placed on the reserve/injured list in Week 5 with a foot injury, and his status for the rest of the season is now a concern. Roman Wilson is also on IR with a finger injury and cannot return until Week 11 at the earliest, while Ben Skowronek has missed two straight games with a calf issue.
DK Metcalf and Germie Bernard give the Steelers a usable starting pair right now, but the lack of depth behind them has shown up. Pittsburgh also needs more explosive plays through the air if it wants to reach its ceiling, and McConkey fits that need.
His season has been uneven, partly because of the Chargers’ collapse and partly because of his own foot injury and concussion. Even so, when he’s been available, he has still shown the ability to create separation and make plays for a struggling offense.
At his best, McConkey brings exactly the kind of versatility that can matter in Pittsburgh. He can work outside or in the slot, and his route-running and quickness allow him to beat defenders in different ways at all three levels.
He also profiles as a steady target in the short and intermediate passing game, which could be especially useful for Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers offense.
Pittsburgh has the draft capital to make a serious offer, including an extra second-round pick in the 2028 NFL Draft from the Joey Porter Jr. trade and 18 total selections over the next two years. If the Chargers are truly willing to deal McConkey, the Steelers have the assets to get involved. With the extra year of control attached to him, he could be the kind of missing piece they should chase hard.
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The Steelers have spent plenty of time looking for help at wide receiver ahead of the NFL trade deadline, and the Los Angeles Chargers have naturally come up in the conversation. When a team is weighing outside additions at that spot, the first name to draw attention is often the flashier one, but fit and price matter just as much as production when the clock is ticking and roster holes still need filling.
Among the Chargers' options, Ladd McConkey would be the more obvious target, but the conversation around Pittsburgh's search has centered on a different kind of receiver. Quentin Johnston is the name that keeps surfacing as the more realistic path, with the sort of lower-cost framework that could make sense for a Steelers front office trying to add speed and size without paying premium draft capital for a deal that may not be there in the end. [Read more 🡒]