In a whirlwind week of wide receiver activity in the NFL, the trade deadline looming on November 5 is set to bring even more excitement and speculation to the market. The Jets wasted no time in securing their top target by officially acquiring Davante Adams early Tuesday morning, while the Bills quickly followed suit in trading for Amari Cooper. But the action is far from over, with rumors swirling that the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers are poised to make big moves before the trade deadline.
The Steelers had their eyes on Brandon Aiyuk back in August, but missed out when he signed an extension with the 49ers. Undeterred, Pittsburgh made a play for Adams, although he ultimately chose to join the Jets and reunite with his former quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.
Pittsburgh is banking on Russell Wilson returning to his peak form from a few years ago, with hopes that he can effectively run Arthur Smith’s offense and open up their vertical passing game. With an improved offense and a strong defense, the Steelers believe they are serious contenders in the AFC this season.
Over in Kansas City, the Chiefs are relying on Travis Kelce and JuJu Smith-Schuster to maintain their recent strong performances. However, with key receivers like Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice sidelined for the rest of the regular season, and minimal production from Skyy Moore, the Chiefs are facing a significant lack of depth at wide receiver.
Although Marquez Valdes-Scantling was available after being released by the Bills, it seems the Chiefs have little interest in acquiring him at this time. Sources indicate that Kansas City is evaluating their options on a week-to-week basis, as they navigate the competition for top receivers in a bid to prevent a potential three-peat as champions.
The Chiefs face additional challenges in integrating a new receiver into their offense, given the complex and volume-heavy nature of Andy Reid’s plays. Patrick Mahomes values trust and chemistry with his receivers, making it a time-consuming process to build rapport with a newcomer.
The Adams trade to the Jets had a domino effect on Mike Williams, who was made expendable after Rodgers publicly criticized him for running the wrong route on a crucial play. Williams had signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Jets in the offseason while recovering from ACL surgery, and is now available for a potential trade at a minimal cost to interested teams.
Amidst the flurry of activity in the wide receiver market, it remains to be seen which teams will make bold moves before the trade deadline passes. Stay tuned as the drama unfolds in the NFL’s quest for dominance in the passing game.
