Someone lined up Mariah Carey because “Iiiiiii that’s me.” No, not the Christmas season. The Pittsburgh Steelers trade market is active, but so far the stockings are empty, the chimney is intact, and there is no one under the tree receiving gifts. Unfortunately, weeks of window shopping were in vain for the Steelers, leading to some wild trade rumor rabbit holes. Let’s dive into the eye of the storm one last time.

After weeks of tossing around high-profile names like DeAndre Hopkins and Cooper Kupp and raising expectations, the Steelers brought home Mike Williams for a fifth-round pick. Williams has become persona non grata with the Jets in just eight games into the 2023 season, his first season since recovering from an ACL tear. The Steelers are hoping their recent reclamation project maintains Wilson’s value as a big-time deep-threat receiver he can rely on with bombs downfield, but his disappointing half-season in New York feels like a bust.

Rumor season has been a whirlwind, but with hours left until trade season ends, here’s a brief look at Pittsburgh’s possibilities at the deadline, possibilities that probably won’t happen, and why they haven’t and won’t happen, starting with a local beat writer dropping a nuclear bomb into the discourse.

These aren’t the trade rumors you’re looking for. In the five years since the Pittsburgh Steelers traded a first- and fifth-round pick in the 2020 Draft, as well as a sixth-rounder for Minkah Fitzpatrick in 2021, the 28-year-old has established himself as an integral part of one of the NFL’s most lethal defenses. .

In hindsight, the Steelers unquestionably won the deal. The first-round pick Miami acquired in the deal is still the Dolphins’ blindside tackle, but Fitzpatrick has established himself as a perennial All-Pro. But according to Mike DeFabo AthleticThe time may be approaching for Omar Khan to entertain sending Fitzpatrick away in a trade.

“Fitzpatrick is playing much better than his raw turnover numbers suggest,” DeFabo continued. “He’s a reliable tackler and a deterrent when he’s in the middle of the field, which I think is why the rest of the DBs have so many PBUs and INTs. So he’s not playing badly by any means. But I don’t think Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin, Fitzpatrick “Even after making a concerted effort to turn him into a ballhawk by putting him in the middle of the floor more often, I don’t think he’ll hit the salary cap.”

“If I’m the Steelers, I’ll take a hard look at this position group in the offseason. A lot of teams put their money on safety, thinking they’ll be interchangeable most of the time. Look at how much value DeShon Elliott provides for a tiny fraction of that position. Fitzpatrick “If he still has a strong reputation around the league, it’s not a crazy idea to see how much another team will offer in a trade and see if the Steelers can fill the role at more cost.”

In 2022, Fitzpatrick becomes the first safety to win Pittsburgh’s award team MVP Since Troy Polamalu in 2010. He is the only Steeler since 2019 to receive this honor from TJ Watt. However, since that season, Fitzpatrick has not caused a single turnover.

Fitzpatrick hasn’t completely lost his reputation as a formidable midfielder in the middle of Pittsburgh’s defense. But Pittsburgh’s long-term salary cap projection makes this a reasonable assessment. Pittsburgh’s defense is paid more generously than any defense in the league, and Fitzpatrick is owed $46 million in the final two years of his contract. In the meantime, they may have to cash out Russell Wilson, pay George Pickens and lock up the No. 2 receiver in the offseason. The reason that didn’t happen is because Fitzpatrick is too much of a leader on the Steelers’ best defense since 2008. There’s no reason yet to upset the apple cart so dramatically next season.

As the Steelers trade saga approaches the deadline, Seattle Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett has become an extremely hot potential wide receiver floating around on the Steelers trading block. Lockett, 32, is behind Geno Smith in goal share, behind DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. In short, he has become more expendable than at any point in his career.

But the Steelers have more incentive than any potential suitor for Lockett’s services thanks to Russell Wilson. More than a decade into his Seahawks career, Lockett remains a formidable downfield threat and has as much history with Wilson as he did before Davante Adams’ trade to the Jets. Reuniting in Pittsburgh will be a storybook ending, and according to him CBS Sports’ Cody BenjaminHis 30-yard field goal against the Rams before halftime might have been his last score as a Seahawk. Here’s what Benjamin had to say.

Mike Tomlin has leaned fully into the Russell Wilson experience, and so far that move has paid off, expanding Pittsburgh’s downfield passing game above the AFC North. Why not go a little further and reunite Wilson with one of his favorite targets in Seattle? Lockett is unlikely to be in the Seahawks’ long-term plans at age 32 with both DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba in town, and he could be a savvy complement to outfield wideout George Pickens.

Despite having a down year, Lockett would boost the Steelers’ passing offense entering the back half of their schedule. Unfortunately, Lockett’s contract and Lockett’s age decreasing his value make it even less likely that Seattle will trade him. Trading him now would leave $14 million in dead money on the salary cap and they would save $5 million. Although a Russ-Lockett reunion is attractive, Seattle lacks the motivation to make this trade happen.

Darius Slayton is a more likely vertical threat than Tyler Lockett and is still at his athletic peak at 27 years old. The Giants are reportedly making a rough play with Darius Slayton. A week ago, the NFL’s Tony Pauline expressed the Steelers’ interest in Slayton while NFL Network’s Mike Garafalo reported that the Giants should be “blown away” by the roster, but nothing has changed since then.

It defies logic that New York would hold on to Slayton for dear life, but unfortunately the Giants are where they are because of crazy roster decisions. The Steelers are trying to “pluck” Slayton from the Giants’ cold, dead hands, but the Giants are He rejected every offer, according to afternoon car radio host Zachary Smith.

This season, Slayton has excelled on the field despite New York’s abysmal record. He ranks third in targets and receptions for the Giants and has the second-most yards per reception on the team with 14.7 yards per reception. The Steelers’ effort to pursue Slayton intensified after he caught four passes for 108 yards in Week 8 on Monday Night Football. However, with New York’s stubbornness in refusing to trade an impending free agent, it is unlikely he will move barring a last-minute change. Heartfelt by Joe Schoen.