LATROBE, Pa. -- Ever since Omar Khan traded Diontae Johnson to the Panthers in March, the Steelers have been in the center of a swirl of trade rumors that have engulfed just about every conversation about this team.
That also carried into the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent College, when Khan fielded multiple questions about possibly trading for an impact receiver to fill Johnson's void.
"There's nothing going on right now," Khan told reporters on Thursday. "When you have 32 GMs, conversations always happen. But there's nothing ongoing right now."
In a vacuum, that comment would tell everyone that this team's "WR2" is likely going to be whoever wins a camp battle between Calvin Austin III and Van Jefferson, both of which split first-team reps on Thursday. However, Khan also answered a follow-up question by saying, "We're always going to have conversations with people. If there's an opportunity to evaluate a situation or player that's out there, that's what we'll do."
Well, there is a situation on the West Coast. Brandon Aiyuk, who has long been connected to the Steelers in trade rumors, recently requested a trade from the 49ers after he and the team have been unable to agree to terms on a contract extension. There are other receivers elsewhere who could also be traded.
Sooner or later, this may all work out in Pittsburgh's favor. Khan has long been in discussions with other teams about receivers that could be traded. And, according to a team source, the Steelers are "convinced" they are going to land Aiyuk, DK Metcalf or Tyreek Hill in a trade at some point.
The only thing that's getting in the way of any of these trades actually happening is, unsurprisingly, the asking price. Khan is very patient. He's more than willing to wait out another team to get the deal that best fits the Steelers, not acquiesce to the demands laid out by anyone fielding calls about trades.
One way or another, this all feels like Aiyuk would be the most likely candidate of these three to land in Pittsburgh. In Aiyuk's case, the 49ers have been unwilling to entertain a trade. But, they have been softening to the idea of trading to an AFC team, per source. They still don't want to trade Aiyuk within the NFC. So, should a trade wind up happening, that gives the Steelers a leg up over the Commanders, who have also been heavily tied to Aiyuk in trade rumors.
Regarding Metcalf, the Steelers have previously reached out about a potential trade. But, the most that can be categorized right now is the exploratory manner in which Khan says that all 32 GMs are always in conversation with each other.
As far as Khan saying things like, "There's nothing going on right now," there are a few things to remember. First, it's still early. It's only July. The Steelers themselves are just now preparing to begin potential extensions with their own players. There is still plenty of time to pull off a deal between now and the start of the season in September.
Also, remember that Khan, Mike Tomlin and Art Rooney II all had "full faith" in Kenny Pickett. Look where he is now. Situations change. Khan could very well be telling the truth that there's nothing ongoing right now. That could also change in a day, week or month. That's one of the reasons why I've been told the team is convinced they'll eventually land one of these receivers.
For now, the Steelers will keep their attention on the 90 players they have at Saint Vincent College. But, if and when a trade coalesces, the Steelers expect to be one of the ones winning the sweepstakes.
MORE STEELERS
• The biggest surprise here is the idea that the Steelers could somehow land Hill in a trade. He's in the second year of a four-year, $120-million contract extension he signed with the Dolphins in 2022. That's the same contract Amon-Ra St. Brown received this spring, and it's the ballpark in which Aiyuk would like to be paid. But, neither are the receiver Hill is. St. Brown and Aiyuk are big-time players, but they're not quite in the same tier as Hill. Perhaps only Justin Jefferson could be considered better than Hill.
Now, Hill is currently in negotiations with the Dolphins about a possible extension to pay him as such. And, Hill told his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, that he'd rather not get traded. But if it comes to the point where Hill is to be traded, the Steelers are sure to be in the mix.
• If Austin has anything to say about a trade, he'd block it. This kid is hungry to win a starting job: "Go watch my college tape. Put anyone up against me, and I'll always bet on myself." Also said he doesn't have a Twitter account, so he doesn't follow the constant trade reports or rumors regarding any receivers.
• I'm getting the feeling more and more that Najee Harris won't be sticking around beyond 2024. Just a hunch. But, there is real concern and pessimism that Harris will be able to fit into Arthur Smith's wide zone system. I'm not exactly sure at what level that concern goes to, but it's obviously enough in which the team opted to not pick up Harris' fifth-year option.
• I've previously fielded questions about DeMarvin Leal and his future with the team. The latest rumblings I've heard regarding his future actually have more to do with when he was initially drafted. Despite being a third-round pick, the Steelers knew they were getting a pretty raw player out of college that would need some development. That obviously has not yet coalesced, so that makes him a more interesting candidate to watch throughout training camp. Maybe this is a year he can turn a corner.
• The Steelers did not practice the new kickoff rule during Thursday's practice. And, I have it on good authority that they won't practice it until the team puts on pads and officials finally make their way to practice. Turns out that this is a learning curve for not just the teams, but even the officials. I've even heard that some officials might not even know where exactly to line up during the drills.
So, if the first kickoff practice takes place during the first padded practice on July 30, it will surely be interesting to see how everyone -- literally everyone -- handles it.
• Tomlin already stated it publicly, but I've had it confirmed that the true crux for the joint practice with the Bills is all about the new kickoff rule. The Steelers want to take advantage of everything they possibly can to gain an edge.
• I can't go too much into this one. But, let me just say that just about every player on the defense who takes pride in rushing the quarterback thinks PFF stats such as Pass Rush Win Rate is a joke -- or at least the weight it appears to have throughout the voting process for key awards. "We all know bringing the quarterback to the ground is most important," one defender told me. Whether or not all of them publicly come out and rebuke them, rest assured that these guys can't stand the way pass rushers are being evaluated nowadays.
• One familiar face I've seen around campus is Troy Polamalu. Some people might have seen him on the field in practice or seen the picture of him kneeling next to Minkah Fitzpatrick during practice. But, I've also seen him in places in which he can't be filmed or seen by the public. He's really around the team more. And that's just awesome.
• Nothing to report on Cam Heyward's contract status, nor anyone else's, including Harris, Jaylen Warren or Pat Freiermuth. As Khan stated Thursday, this is the time in which the team gets busy with contract extensions. But, when I say nothing's close, it's because a lot of the negotiations haven't even started yet.
