Context:

The Pittsburgh Steelers may look to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to fill the void left by trading wide receiver George Pickens to the Cowboys. The Buccaneers boast a formidable wide receiving corps with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and rookie Jalen McMillan, with McMillan showing potential as a key target, especially during the playoff push. Despite Godwin's injury setbacks in 2024, he remains a crucial player for the Buccaneers, who secured him with a lucrative contract extension, making a trade less likely. However, rookie McMillan could become a trade target given the Buccaneers' depth, with Ohio State standout Emeka Egbuka also joining the team. McMillan’s potential as a polished route runner could be better realized with more opportunities in Pittsburgh, making him an attractive option for the Steelers.

Dive Deeper:

• The Buccaneers ended the previous season with a dynamic trio of wide receivers: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and rookie Jalen McMillan, posing a significant challenge for opposing defenses.

• Chris Godwin, despite injuries, was on track for a stellar 2024 season before a knee injury, and the Buccaneers managed to retain him with a three-year, $66 million contract, indicating their commitment to him.

• Rookie Jalen McMillan emerged as a key player during the 2024 season, particularly in the latter part of the year, scoring eight touchdowns, showcasing his potential as a reliable target.

• The Buccaneers further strengthened their receiving lineup by drafting Emeka Egbuka, which adds to their depth and may affect McMillan's playing time, making him a potential trade asset.

• The Steelers, after trading George Pickens, are in need of a wide receiver and could target McMillan, who has shown promise and could benefit from increased opportunities with the team.

• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ended last season with one of the most dynamic wide receiving corps in the NFL. The trio of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and rookie Jalen McMillan can compete with any of the top units in the NFL. 

• Although Godwin was injured for more than half of the season in 2024, McMillan stepped up in a big way and proved he could be a go-to target for Baker Mayfield. 

• McMillian only finished the year with 461 receiving yards, but he had a knack for finding the end zone, particularly during the home stretch of the season as the Bucs were competing for a playoff spot. The rookie WR closed out the year with eight touchdowns. 

• Even at age 31, Mike Evans’ track record speaks for itself. He has six Pro Bowls on his resume and over 12,00 receiving yards with 105 touchdowns. Year after year, Evans continues to prove he’s one of the most dominant receivers in the league. 

• Godwin has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career but when he’s on the field, he’s a force to be reckoned with. He was on pace for career numbers in 2024 with 50 catches for 576 yards and five touchdowns before suffering a gruesome knee injury in Week 7.

• While he was predicted to be one of the top WRs to hit free agency, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers brass was able to keep him in town, inking the speedster to a three-year, $66 million contract with $45 million guaranteed. 

• That trio already kept opposing defensive coordinators up at night. But in the first round of the NFL Draft, the Buccaneers added yet another dynamic weapon at WR when they selected Ohio State standout Emeka Egbuga.

• On paper, it’s hard to see how any defense is going to be able to slow this group down in 2025.

• But with the news on Wednesday hitting the airwaves that the Steelers reached a deal to trade George Pickens to the Cowboys, Pittsburgh suddenly has a massive void at WR and will almost certainly look to add talent opposite of DK Metcalf.

•  Liam Rebellato of Last Word on Sports believes the Steelers will target both Godwin and McMillan from the Buccaneers in a potential trade. It’s hard to see the Bucs parting ways with Godwin after just extending him, but McMillan makes a lot of sense. Here’s what Rebellato had to say: 

• With Tampa Bay drafting Emeka Egbuka in round 1of the 2025 NFL draft, Godwin may be worth making a call for. He’s a physical, reliable option who can play inside or out. 

• McMillan could be a sneaky trade target for the Steelers. With the Buccaneers already loaded at wide receiver—featuring Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, and Trey Palmer, McMillan may see less snaps. He has promising upside as a polished route-runner and could thrive with more opportunity in Pittsburgh.