The Pittsburgh Steelers were not able to complete a trade for San Francisco 49ers standout wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Foolishly, Steelers general manager Omar Khan seemed to have all his eggs in the Aiyuk basket, and he was left with nothing but egg on his face. While failing to acquire Aiyuk leaves Pittsburgh with a dismal group of wide receivers, there are several players whose stock has risen from the lack of an acquisition.
Steelers Biggest Winners Following Failed Brandon Aiyuk Trade
Van Jefferson Finally Stamps WR2 Position
The most obvious beneficiary from the Steelers not acquiring Brandon Aiyuk is wide receiver Van Jefferson. Throughout training camp and preseason games, Jefferson made it apparent he was the number two receiver on Pittsburgh’s roster. However, it was also obvious that if Aiyuk wound up a Steeler, Jefferson would be the distant WR3 behind an intriguing Aiyuk and George Pickens pairing. With the former out of the picture, it’s now certain that Jefferson is the number two option.
When Pittsburgh signed Jefferson this offseason, they probably didn’t envision him being their WR2 to start the year. He was signed to provided them a reliable veteran option. Though he would not be an every-down receiver on most NFL teams, Jefferson can still be a solid weapon for the Steelers. Pickens will be the focal point for opposing secondaries at all times, so Jefferson will have plenty of opportunities to produce in one-on-one situations. Whether he takes advantage of those opportunities remains to be seen.
Najee Harris Will Run, Run, and Run Some More
Even if the Steelers were able to trade for Brandon Aiyuk, their offense would have prioritized running the ball in 2024. Now, with no Aiyuk and a thin group of wide receivers, running early, often, and effectively will become an even more pressing priority. This will play right into the hands of Najee Harris, who is set to test free agency after the 2024 season. Harris will have ample opportunity to produce and earn himself a respectable contract for 2025 and beyond.
Simply getting more carries isn’t the only thing Harris has working in his favor. Arthur Smith’s offenses typically feature the running game, and they are usually successful at doing so. Harris has also been very durable in his career, playing all 17 games in each of his three seasons while racking up almost 1,000 touches. So, the combination of getting a lot of carries in a rushing-focused offense while continuing to showcase elite durability is the perfect storm for Harris in a contract year.
Can Freiermuth Finally Take the Leap?
Like Harris, Pat Freiermuth’s stock started to rise when Pittsburgh hired Arthur Smith as their offensive coordinator. A coordinator who likes to use his tight ends coupled with an upgrade at quarterback pointed to a potential breakout season for Freiermuth in 2024. Now, with Brandon Aiyuk no longer an option for the Steelers, Freiermuth will really be a breakout player to watch. While Jefferson is the number two wide receiver, don’t be surprised if Freiermuth is the second-most targeted Steelers pass catcher behind Pickens.
Main Image: Charles LeClaire – USA Today Sports
