PITTSBURGH — The legal tampering period opens Monday, and Steelers General Manager Omar Khan is already hunting for firepower. One year after stunning the league by trading a second-round pick and handing DK Metcalf a $150 million mega-deal, Pittsburgh is back in the receiver market. They want a veteran presence. They want a reliable target. And most importantly, they want someone to help entice 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers to return for one final run in 2026.
You can already feel the urgency around the facility. The Steelers know their championship window demands immediate answers, not development projects.
Khan needs an impact player without crippling the salary cap. Mike Evans fits the bill perfectly. The towering receiver turns 33 this summer after 12 storied seasons in Tampa Bay. He brings a massive catch radius and unmatched veteran savvy. Sources indicate a two-year deal in the $25-30 million range could secure him. Pairing Evans with Metcalf gives Rodgers a terrifying duo on the outside, filling the void left by Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
If Evans demands too much or stays down South, Green Bay’s Romeo Doubs sits high on the board. Doubs enters free agency after four solid years with the Packers. He projects as a high-end No. 2 right now, eventually sliding to a No. 3 role once a drafted rookie develops. Expect his market value to hover around $12-14 million annually. Doubs does the dirty work over the middle, securing contested catches that consistently move the chains.
The trade market offers a fascinating wild card: Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. After a dazzling rookie campaign, his production plummeted in 2025 under first-year head coach Liam Coen, finishing with just 707 yards and 2 touchdowns. He has two cheap years left on his rookie deal. Khan might just flip a mid-round pick to steal a high-upside talent from Jacksonville, buying low on a player desperate for a change of scenery.
The receiver room isn’t the only question mark. If Kenneth Gainwell chases a bigger payday elsewhere, Pittsburgh needs a reliable third-down back to protect Rodgers. The front office is evaluating Rico Dowdle and Tyler Allgeier.
Dowdle exploded for 1,076 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns last season in Carolina, proving he can handle a heavy workload. Allgeier, meanwhile, spent his first four years trapped behind Bijan Robinson in Atlanta but still managed a career-high 8 touchdowns in 2025. Both backs hit the open market next week, but keeping Gainwell remains the smartest play. He already knows the system, and Rodgers trusts him in pass protection.
“We aren’t looking to rebuild anything. We want guys who know how to win right now, guys who can step onto the grass and immediately elevate the standard. The window is open if you have the right pieces.”
— Omar Khan, General Manager
The AFC North is an absolute arms race. If Pittsburgh lands a premier veteran like Evans, their offense transforms from a playoff participant to a genuine Super Bowl threat. A dominant receiver duo forces defenses into single coverage, opening up the running game and reducing the physical toll on Rodgers. Khan will hit the phones hard on Monday. The Steelers plan to draft at least one receiver next month, but adding a proven veteran first gives them total flexibility on draft night.
