The Pittsburgh Steelers have started the 2024 NFL season strong, currently sitting at 6-2 and leading the AFC North even with quarterback Russell Wilson sidelined in the early weeks.
Wilson is back healthy and has actually looked pretty good. We have seen signs of life from his famous deep ball that we hadn’t during his dark days in Denver.
This impressive start has fans speculating about a potential trade deadline move, hoping the team might acquire another top-tier wide receiver to strengthen their playoff chances.
Legendary Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has one elite target in mind: Rams star wide receiver Cooper Kupp.
However, in the latest episode of his Footbahlin podcast, Roethlisberger admitted he has a hard time seeing Pittsburgh actually working out a deal for the Super Bowl LVI MVP.
“It would be a dream come true, but I don’t think it’s realistic,” Big Ben said. “You’re not gonna bring a No. 1 into this situation. I don’t think Cooper Kupp would want to come here. He’s only played three games, but through three games, 23 catches, almost 200 yards, two touchdowns.”
Roethlisberger further explained that he believes Kupp wouldn’t find Pittsburgh’s offensive setup appealing, where he might not see as many opportunities to shine.
“Right now, we’ve played eight, and he’d be No. 4 on our team in receiving in less than half the games,” Big Ben added. “George Pickens has got 35 catches, he’s only 12 behind, he doesn’t want to come here and catch the ball three or four times a game.”
While Roethlisberger may be correct about the current structure of Pittsburgh’s offense, some fans argue the team could adjust if Kupp were to join, potentially giving him a more prominent role.
It’s also possible Kupp might be drawn to the prospect of a playoff run with the Steelers, but for now, a trade seems unlikely.
Kupp has been loyal to Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and the two are desperately trying to get Los Angeles back in playoff contention.
LA’s enormous win over the Minnesota Vikings last Thursday kept them alive in the postseason picture, thus making a Kupp trade seem very unlikely.
On the other side of the ball, Pittsburgh linebacker Alex Highsmith acknowledged the Steelers’ defensive success but underscored the need for improvement following their Week 8 victory over the New York Giants.
Highsmith was cautious about the team getting too comfortable, especially as they look ahead to a tough stretch of games.
“We still have areas we can grow in, and we’ve just got to continue to get better. We can’t be complacent, we can’t get comfortable because we’ve got a lot of tough games, a lot of tough ball ahead of us,” Highsmith said.
Pittsburgh’s defense had some notable struggles against the Giants, allowing rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. to rack up 145 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Additionally, Giants quarterback Daniel Jones found consistent success connecting with Malik Nabers and his fellow receivers in the passing game.
Highsmith emphasized that despite their early wins, the defense needs to tighten up to maintain their competitive edge going forward.
Following this week’s bye, the Steelers will head to Washington to take on the Commanders on November 10.
What are your thoughts on Big Ben’s comments? … Do you think the Steelers will do anything at the trade deadline???
