As Pittsburgh Steelers fans dream of a future that could include Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams, who is likely to be traded at some point, they must also remember the lessons of the past.
That lesson is to never get your heart set on one player. After all, Steelers fans already went through that this year with San Francisco 49ers wideout Brandon Aiyuk, who looked to be coming to Pittsburgh before he wasn't.
So, while the Steelers are in on Adams, according to reports, there is no guarantee he will end up in Pittsburgh. If not, the Steelers have to pivot and at least come away with someone who can beef up the wide receivers room.
And CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin has an idea. He thinks the Steelers will land New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton ahead of the deadline.
"They're reportedly sniffing around Davante Adams after missing on Brandon Aiyuk," Benjamin wrote of the Steelers. "Slayton would be a much milder but likely cheaper alternative, offering solid, if unspectacular, production."
The Steelers should obviously be aiming higher than Slayton, but he wouldn't be a bad consolation prize if general manager Omar Khan fails make a big move. And, Slayton would only cost a late-round pick.
Slayton would immediately be the second-best receiver on Pittsburgh's offense, as he has more 700-yard seasons (four) than the rest of the Steelers' current wide receivers room combined (three).
He also recently showed the kind of impact he's capable of making in Week 5, when he tallied eight catches for 122 yards and a touchdown in Malik Nabers' absence. In all, Slayton had multiple 30-plus yard catches, displaying his explosiveness.
Of course, it takes two to tango and the Giants would have to be willing to deal him. It's certainly possible with Slayton on the final year of his contract, but the Giants have shown a pulse lately after winning two of three games and may not look to trade him if they're in the playoff hunt come Nov. 5.
