If Fields continues to progress, do you trade Wilson?

[WindyCitySteel]

Ideally you'd want him to stay to be a very capable backup, but Wilson is in a contract year and I don't think he's going to take very kindly to sitting all year, especially when he was promised a starting job. If he's cleared this week and continues to sit the next couple of weeks, I think we're going to have a hostage situation.

The Steelers have four more games before the trade deadline, Miami seems like the perfect location with those deep threats at receiver and the season slipping away. Tua is out at least three more weeks on IR, if not longer.

Part of me thinks Tomlin is being so coy about his status because this is exactly what they are trying to do.

If they offered Waddle I'd jump at it.

[Northern_Blitz]

In theory, I wouldn't be opposed to it. But there's a huge risk of not having an NFL caliber backup. In CHI, Fields played 12 15 and 13 games in the last 3 seasons.

So I'd want a pretty big return.

Not sure why you bring up Waddle as a return. I'd love to get him. But he is in the first year of an $84.75MM contract with $76MM guaranteed and a $18.87MM signing bonus. Trading guys with contracts like this would often be crippling for the team giving them away. Which I imagine is harder to do in-season than in the offseason (where there's more cap flexibility).


Without going through the entire contract, I think this would would be an amazing deal for us because Miami would be on the hook for the cap hit of the SB. And we'd only have to pick up the rest of the contract.

Hill might be somewhat more available from a cap standpoint, but he also just did a "revised" contract this offseason. It would be like use trading Highsmith after doing the full restructure this offseason.

Unfortunately, it doesn't really look like they have a good WR3. If they had 3 good WRs, it would be better for this scenario IMO.

On our end: Wilson has a no trade clause, so he'd have to agree to it. But maybe he would if he loses the starting job.

I agree that you'd want to get a capable backup somehow. Maybe that would come through Miami, or in some other deal. I don't think we'd just roll the dice with K Allen as backup. And then maybe pick Plumlee (or similar) back up to be QB3. I think you're pretty screwed in case of injury. But I agree with you that WR2 is a big need for us.

[Mr.wizard]

I just don't see the Dolphins giving up Waddle for Wilson. You would be giving up a young guy that you gave a contract too for an old guy that might only play a few games if Tua comes back, If Tua doesn't come back you are most likely drafting a guy.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

In theory, I wouldn't be opposed to it. But there's a huge risk of not having an NFL caliber backup. In CHI, Fields played 12 15 and 13 games in the last 3 seasons.

So I'd want a pretty big return.

Not sure why you bring up Waddle as a return. I'd love to get him. But he is in the first year of an $84.75MM contract with $76MM guaranteed and a $18.87MM signing bonus. Trading guys with contracts like this would often be crippling for the team giving them away. Which I imagine is harder to do in-season than in the offseason (where there's more cap flexibility).


Without going through the entire contract, I think this would would be an amazing deal for us because Miami would be on the hook for the cap hit of the SB. And we'd only have to pick up the rest of the contract.

Hill might be somewhat more available from a cap standpoint, but he also just did a "revised" contract this offseason. It would be like use trading Highsmith after doing the full restructure this offseason.

Unfortunately, it doesn't really look like they have a good WR3. If they had 3 good WRs, it would be better for this scenario IMO.

On our end: Wilson has a no trade clause, so he'd have to agree to it. But maybe he would if he loses the starting job.

I agree that you'd want to get a capable backup somehow. Maybe that would come through Miami, or in some other deal. I don't think we'd just roll the dice with K Allen as backup. And then maybe pick Plumlee (or similar) back up to be QB3. I think you're pretty screwed in case of injury. But I agree with you that WR2 is a big need for us.

At best a trade for Wilson will get a 5th round pick. Maybe if QB1 for a playoff team goes down? He is only signed for 1 year.

What could a good # 2 WR do in this offense? We have Pickens who is the clear cut #1WR, And 'Muth is over the middle #1 . He will be a third wheel. I want to see Roman Wilson before giving up anything for a WR.

[Northern_Blitz]

At best a trade for Wilson will get a 5th round pick. Maybe if QB1 for a playoff team goes down? He is only signed for 1 year.

What could a good # 2 WR do in this offense? We have Pickens who is the clear cut #1WR, And 'Muth is over the middle #1 . He will be a third wheel. I want to see Roman Wilson before giving up anything for a WR.

I agree that the return for Russ would probably not be worth the risk of not having a 2nd NFL QB on the roster.

[WindyCitySteel]

All of your points make sense, but they may be moot once Ciara starts Tweeting

[Mr.wizard]

At best a trade for Wilson will get a 5th round pick. Maybe if QB1 for a playoff team goes down? He is only signed for 1 year.

What could a good # 2 WR do in this offense? We have Pickens who is the clear cut #1WR, And 'Muth is over the middle #1 . He will be a third wheel. I want to see Roman Wilson before giving up anything for a WR.

If the Steelers thought Roman Wilson could play outside they wouldn't be hitting the trade market so hard for a wide receiver. Wilson is a slot guy and the reason he hasn't gotten on the field is because Austin has played really well. So the Receiver the Steelers are looking for really isn't impacted by Wilson at all.

[Northern_Blitz]

All of your points make sense, but they may be moot once Ciara starts Tweeting

If it becomes a locker room cancer, you kind of have to trade him.

Miami makes sense from a need stand point.

But I don't think they can trade their WRs because of their contracts.

So we'd probably get a mid round pick. Maybe a late pick if the complaining gets bad enough in this situation.

Maybe if another QB gets hurt and there was a bidding war.

But if Russ is content to cash checks from Denver and hold a clip board (if he isn't starting), I think I'd bet on no trade (which is just chalk in the NFL)

[feltdizz]

If the Steelers thought Roman Wilson could play outside they wouldn't be hitting the trade market so hard for a wide receiver. Wilson is a slot guy and the reason he hasn't gotten on the field is because Austin has played really well. So the Receiver the Steelers are looking for really isn't impacted by Wilson at all.

but are we really hitting the trade market hard for a WR?

[Mr.wizard]

but are we really hitting the trade market hard for a WR?

We were prepared to get Aiyuk and give him a big contractand give up picks, I don't think you can go any harder than that.

[Northern_Blitz]

We were prepared to get Aiyuk and give him a big contractand give up picks, I don't think you can go any harder than that.

For a high quality WR who's age lines up with the age of the team they are trying to build.

Not sure one year of Adams helps too much. But if the price is cheap and it works under the cap, I'd be at least looking hard into it. We need another WR.

[Mr.wizard]

For a high quality WR who's age lines up with the age of the team they are trying to build.

Not sure one year of Adams helps too much. But if the price is cheap and it works under the cap, I'd be at least looking hard into it. We need another WR.

I don't think any team is expecting Adams is going to be a long term signing, probably 1 or 2 years, but that is more than enough time to address that position through the draft. Also if you look at the team this season we might be a good receiver away from making some noise.

[WindyCitySteel]

I don't think any team is expecting Adams is going to be a long term signing, probably 1 or 2 years, but that is more than enough time to address that position through the draft. Also if you look at the team this season we might be a good receiver away from making some noise.

Yup. Are the Steelers in Win Now Mode or not? If they are, they need another WR. Adams could become an instant 3rd down conversion machine, nobody on our team is close to the route-runner he is.

If they just want to slog to 9/10 wins again, they should stand pat.

[Northern_Blitz]

I don't think any team is expecting Adams is going to be a long term signing, probably 1 or 2 years, but that is more than enough time to address that position through the draft. Also if you look at the team this season we might be a good receiver away from making some noise.

Only the rest of this year on the current contract. Salaries jump up almost $20MM next year I think.

The contract was 5 years so they could spread the cap hit of the signing bonus. But this is his last year on this deal for sure.

[Northern_Blitz]

Yup. Are the Steelers in Win Now Mode or not? If they are, they need another WR. Adams could become an instant 3rd down conversion machine, nobody on our team is close to the route-runner he is.

If they just want to slog to 9/10 wins again, they should stand pat.

It depends on what we'd be giving up.

I think we should be in the "grow the team to be competitive in the playoffs" mode. "Win now" to me is a team like Buffalo. Who knows they have a very good QB and they'll be competing for the AFCC. I don't think we're in that mode yet (hopefully soon).

Trading good futures for a guy who's only going to be here until the end of this season doesn't make sense to me. But if the price was cheap (draft capital wise), I think it's worth trying.

If it's a day 1 or day 2 pick, I don't think it's worth it. Even though I think we need a WR2 this year.