Pittsburgh Steelers make a big splash at the NFL trade deadline Adding Mike Williams from the New York Jets, but they also had their eye on a few other buyers.

According to The Athletic Joseph PersonThe Steelers called the Carolina Panthers about wide receiver Adam Thielen.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler also reported Tuesday that Pittsburgh has expressed interest in New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton.

Thielen was the Panthers’ top receiver a year ago, throwing for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns, but he spent most of the 2024 season on injured reserve. due to hamstring injury. Even if Thielen was out, Carolina felt it was best to keep a veteran player on the young roster.

Slayton has 469 yards, the Giants’ most receiving yards this season, and ranks just behind rookie Malik Nabers. He also has a goal in nine matches.

While Thielen and Slayton are perhaps the more desirable options for the Steelers’ offense, they still have a solid receiver in Williams. The eighth-year receiver is stuck in a deep wide receiver room highlighted by Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams, leaving him with few targets to show for until this season.

He has just 12 receptions for 166 yards through nine games, but he should see his numbers improve in Pittsburgh. Williams had 1,146 receiving yards and nine touchdowns with the Los Angeles Chargers in his senior season in 2021.

Injuries have plagued the last two seasons, and being in New York hasn’t given him the best chance to find his rhythm.

There’s a good chance he’ll be the Steelers’ second option behind George Pickens, so he could have a strong showing in the second half of the year.