The Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason have identified certain wide receivers they planned to target depending on which quarterback they sign. Are the Steelers more attractive to free agents and trade candidates dictating their next destination with Justin Fields or Russell Wilson? The answer is pretty obvious.

On the free agent market there has been concerns in team circles that they could run into a problem of receivers being lukewarm on wanting to play with Fields due to how involved they’d be in the passing game. There’s no question Russell Wilson would be a stronger recruiter, and the quarterback question is one any receiver with a pulse is going to want an answer on.

Despite OC Arthur Smith leaking to all his media friends the Steelers are trying to sign Justin Fields this week and is the priority, there continues to be a To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”! from team officials who have felt Mike Tomlin could be pulling a Malik Willis type 2022 draft smokescreen To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

Among the QB/WR Target chatter:

Justin Fields resigning has been strongly tied to a pursuit of wide receiver Cooper Kupp via trade. There is expected to be less interest in trading for Kupp if Wilson is brought in; Others are ahead of the pecking order in the way the Steelers plan to scheme next season depending on which QB is under center.

Pittsburgh has tabbed Christian Kirk whom they had a deal with prior to the trade deadline as an excellent fit in a Fields led offense. Giants WR Darius Slayton is also on the Steelers board regardless of which QB is under center. After that group, who is the quarterback figures to be a situation of who gets you in the game or not:

Elsewhere on the trade front Seahawks WR DK Metcalf who had a career high 1,303 receiving yards in 202 with Russell Wilson as his QB, officially demanded a trade via ESPN’s Adam Schefter and prefers to join a contender per Schefter. Is Metcalf who is seeking one last big contract next season going to push for a trade to a team with a running QB? Barring a sign/trade, Fields resigning likely takes Metcalf off the table, whereas Wilson could at least put the Steelers in the discussion as Wilson/Metcalf remain close.

Davante Adams has gone public in the past of his love for Mike Tomlin but this is another one where Adams at his age would likely be more inclined to sign with the Steelers if Wilson was the quarterback than Fields. Players saw how miserable George Pickens was when the Steelers had a minimal passing game early in the season.

Tyler Lockett, To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailLatest Draft Chatter: Steelers not confident top target OLB Jarvis Jones will be there at No. 17 Steelers send Diontae Johnson to Carolina after ‘soft target request’ Latest Steelers Buzz: Sneaky good signing? Surprise target at No. 30 Default ThumbnailLatest Steelers Draft Chatter: Will Steelers find dominant guard to put next to Pouncey in round 1?