Kozora: What WR options do the Steelers still have?

No Brandon Aiyuk. No Davante Adams. Is there anywhere else the Pittsburgh Steelers can turn? With the Steelers selecting the top two names to enter and exit the trade market, their options are dwindling as their WR search continues. The team can put on a good face, address their group and say they are happy with the status quo. But we know this is not the case. If they could have made Adams a cheap offer, they would have done so in a heartbeat.

So what's left? Who could the team focus on in the next three weeks before the November 5th deadline? Here are some options to consider.

Mike Williams – New York Jets

The most discussed and probably most likely name at the moment. With Adams in New York along with Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard, there is no home or role for Williams. With 10 catches in six games before Adams is on board and it's hard to believe he'll stay with the team until the end of the season. Immediately after the deal, it was reported that it was on the line.

These dots are easy to connect. Pittsburgh had interest in Williams shortly after trading WR Diontae Johnson and planned to visit. With Williams coming off a torn ACL in 2023, who knows if a deal would have been made or if the intention was to focus on his health, but we were never able to find out. Williams first visited the Jets, signing a one-year contract without ever boarding a plane to Pittsburgh.

Now the Steelers don't have to figure out if he's healthy. This is him and he could step in immediately. You'll like his size and jump ball skills downfield. I have serious concerns about how much I think it will help, Williams isn't a great separator and the Steelers' receivers have had trouble getting open, but he's a veteran they like and would be a really cheap acquisition. I bet the Jets would basically give him away. Something like trading a sixth-round pick for Williams and a seventh-round pick. It won't take much.

DeAndre Hopkins – Tennessee Titans

Name on my radar for a while. Mike Tomlin has always talked about him a lot, including last season.

“D-Hop is always open,” Tomlin said before last year’s Week 9 game. “His catch radius, his strong hands and his ability to spike the ball make that a real statement. “Of course we have to be aware of the personal circumstances with him.”

And Pittsburgh assigned CB Joey Porter Jr. to accompany him throughout the game. It was Porter's breakout play that forced Hopkins into the Steelers' win in the second half.

At 1-4 in the AFC South, Tennessee won't be a contender this year and could look to sell and upgrade. At 32, Hopkins will not be part of her future plans and he is barely involved in her current plans. He caught just 14 passes for 175 yards in five games and played less than 50 percent of the offense's snaps in four of them. In the final year of his contract, he is a prime candidate for a deadline deal.

Like Williams, he's not much of a separator, although analytics suggest he's not completely incompetent. ESPN gives him an open score of 62, 29th out of 73 qualifiers, while NextGenStats has him in the middle of the yardage range and far better than Williams (3.2 vs. 2.1 yards). These numbers are out of context, but suggest he still has some juice left. And He would be a strong option on the other end of those Russell Wilson moonballs.

To me, it's the most logical and likely name that Pittsburgh should continue to pursue. The costs? I would go for a fifth round pick.

Also worth mentioning is Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, another Titans wideout who has fallen into a deep reserve role with just one reception (at least it was for a touchdown) this season. Arthur Smith coached him in 2020 and he has performed well against the Steelers in the past. There's size and blocking ability here at a ridiculous price.

Christian Kirk-Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars are in free fall and are already selling and have already completed a deal with the Seattle Seahawks. All in all, Kirk's had a serviceable season with 24 receptions, 239 yards and a score against the last-place Jacksonville team. His contract runs until 2025 and isn't cheap, with a base salary of more than $15 million due next year.

But he is younger than the above options and better too and would be a high-end target for the team that wouldn't send them back to the well in the offseason.

Courtland Sutton-Denver Broncos

Why not try dancing with Sutton again? Denver made it clear in the offseason that they were unwilling to sign Sutton, rejecting a proposal from the 49ers that would have sent Brandon Aiyuk to Pittsburgh. It's worth at least calling to see if Sean Payton has changed his mind.

My guess is no, Bo Nix has enough to contend with as it is, but if you make too good an offer, Denver might bite. Sutton is as consistent as ever, averaging between 13.0 and 13.4 yards per catch every year since 2021.

David Moore-Carolina Panthers

We've ruled out the team even trading for WR Diontae Johnson, but there is another Panther worth considering. This is Moore, a veteran who hasn't played much this season. He only has five receptions on nine targets. The interesting thing about him is his relationship with QB Russell Wilson, who could be the starter from here on out.

Moore was drafted by the Seahawks in 2017 and played a real role in the passing game from 2018-2020. During that time, he completed 78 passes for 1,163 yards and 13 touchdowns. Wilson even changed a play call in 2020 to give Moore his 35th catch, triggering a $100,000 incentive bonus.

Obviously, this wouldn't be a high-profile move and it's fair to question how much it could help the offense. But knowing Wilson could help accelerate the learning curve that any outside hire would have is the biggest problem with adding someone in the middle of the season.

Cedrick Wilson Jr. – New Orleans Saints

Wilson is a size/speed guy and the son of former Pittsburgh Steelers Cedrick Wilson Sr. It was difficult to find a role in New Orleans this season as he caught just three passes and zero touchdowns. But it's still a year away, he'll catch three touchdowns for the Miami Dolphins in 2023, and he'll pass the 600-yard mark in 2021. Because of his size and speed, he's a different body type than many of the receivers in this room that Pittsburgh might find attractive.