Five trade destinations for Pittsburgh Steelers WR James Washington

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver James Washington has been the subject of trade rumors over the past week, despite denial from the team. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Friday that the former second round pick requested a trade after being unhappy with his playing time over the past year.

Washington was the No. 4 wide receiver on the Steelers roster in 2020 and played just 27 snaps in Thursdays Hall of Fame game.

Despite reports, coach Mike Tomlin claims that all is well with the fourth-year player.

“He has not (requested a trade),” said Tomlin. “Those unnamed sources, we don’t react to or respond to. James has been great here, working, and having a good camp.”

The market for under-utilized wide receivers has already kicked off with a series of moves that sent former Bears wide receiver Anthony Miller to the Texans and former Texans wide receiver Randall Cobb to the Packers. If the reports turn out to be true, there are still a number of teams looking for contributors on offense.

Here five potential landing spots for James Washington according to Pro Football Focus.

Here are five potential landing spots:

New Orleans Saints

New Orleans is going through a transitional phase on offense as Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston battle to be the heir to Drew Brees’ thrown. With No. 1 wide receiver Michael Thomas recovering from offseason surgery, there is plenty of space to produce and earn a spot in the regular rotation moving forward.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs have a deep core of receivers, which includes tight end Travis Kelce and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire who regularly contribute. However, Washington fits the mold of a Chiefs players and could play a role on a winning team with a trade.

Detroit Lions

Detroit is in the middle of a rebuilding effort with former Rams quarterback Jared Goff at the helm. New wide receiver Breshad Perriman is the team’s No. 1 option with a wide-open depth chart behind him. This could be a high-volume option for Washington to prove his worth in the NFL.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings have a clear No. 1 and No. 2 with Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson, but the rest of the depth chart is wide open. Olabisi Johnson was lost to injury, leaving free agent signee DeDe Westbrook as the favorite to play the No. 3 role. It is not a high-volume role, but another injury could thrust Washington into the spotlight here.

Seattle Seahawks

Seattle has a history of athletic wide receivers who can push down the field. Behind DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, the only wide receiver of note is rookie D’Wayne Eskridge. This option would not open up playing time for Washington immediately but could lead to the best long-term results.

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