Terry McLaurin rumor

[Stosh-67]

anyone hearing any rumors about Terry McLaurin?

Steelers get TM and Wash 2nd....
For Steelers 1st.

Baku
@Mazursky8895
Referring to the rumors that the Terry McLaurin package would be:

Steelers receive:
Terry McLaurin
Round 2 pick (36)

Commanders receive:
Steelers round 1 pick (20)

Why do I like that more than any rumor out there!?!?

You get your WR spot filled with an elite talent via the trade.

All while having two 2nd round picks now to get a guy like Guyton with their pick and Frazier with our pick.

McLaurin, Guyton, Frazier (WR,T,C) three needs being answered > any receiver you can get at 20.
1:27 PM · Mar 20, 2024
·
79.7K
Views

[Stosh-67]

DcrAcrisure
@DAcrisure
Why are the Steelers rumored to get every WR in the league? First it was Tyler Boyd, then it was Tee Higgins, then it was Justin Jefferson, then Brandon Aiyuk, and now it's Terry McLaurin. Where is all this coming from?

[Pabst]

DcrAcrisure
@DAcrisure
Why are the Steelers rumored to get every WR in the league? First it was Tyler Boyd, then it was Tee Higgins, then it was Justin Jefferson, then Brandon Aiyuk, and now it's Terry McLaurin. Where is all this coming from?

As long as we keep taking the bait, the internet rumor mill will keep the content rolling. Its all about those sweet, sweet clicks.


That said, this is intriguing. It'll be less $ to pay out (as opposed to Aiyuk or Jefferson) and all it costs is moving down 18 spots?

[Stosh-67]

Interesting.
played in 80 games in 5 years.
started all 80.

77 or more catches and 1,000 + yards in 4 straight years.
14.0 ypc for career.
25 tds in 5 years.

was a 24 year old rookie.
Be 29 two weeks into the season.

McLaurin
2.36
2.51
3.84
3.98
4.119

[Stosh-67]

whether true or not.
I am at least excited that Omar is leaving no stone unturned.

[Stosh-67]

Any McClaurin tweets?

[K_C_]

DcrAcrisure
@DAcrisure
Why are the Steelers rumored to get every WR in the league? First it was Tyler Boyd, then it was Tee Higgins, then it was Justin Jefferson, then Brandon Aiyuk, and now it's Terry McLaurin. Where is all this coming from?

As long as we keep taking the bait, the internet rumor mill will keep the content rolling. Its all about those sweet, sweet clicks.


That said, this is intriguing. It'll be less $ to pay out (as opposed to Aiyuk or Jefferson) and all it costs is moving down 18 spots?

....and McLaurin is a highly respected, disciplined professional.

Might be exactly the right guy to team up with and mentor Pickens.

[Stosh-67]

https://twitter.com/i/status/1332112326863020037

Thats not Dionte like....trackin down a turnover.

[W&M_Steeler]

I'd be surprised if the Commanders were willing to trade McLaurin for the Steelers' 1st. He's the best player on their team, certainly best on offense. The Commanders don't need the Steelers' 1st to move up, and chances are the player they'd get with the Steelers' 1st wouldn't be as good as McLaurin.

[Jizz Mop]

Does McLaurin resemble Tomlin?

[DP39]

Interesting.
played in 80 games in 5 years.
started all 80.

77 or more catches and 1,000 + yards in 4 straight years.
14.0 ypc for career.
25 tds in 5 years.

was a 24 year old rookie.
Be 29 two weeks into the season.

McLaurin
2.36
2.51
3.84
3.98
4.119

I too like the possibilities. If Frazier at C is their main target, then he should be there at 2.36 (although I know they love that 5th year option from 1st rounders). It could work. Terry-Mc would cost us $17.5M per over the next two years -- not bad for a WR of his talents. He's everything you wanted DJ to be, and would be a nice compliment to GP. I've always liked his game. Trade comp would be = to a late 2nd; that's fair, imo. Hmmmm...

[franco32]

McLaurin is great, but you don't give up a 1st rounder and trade back 18 spots for someone who is soon to be 29.

[bradshaw2ben]

McLaurin is great, but you don't give up a 1st rounder and trade back 18 spots for someone who is soon to be 29.

this

[W&M_Steeler]

McLaurin is great, but you don't give up a 1st rounder and trade back 18 spots for someone who is soon to be 29.

Getting McLaurin for 4 or 5 years would be worth dropping a few spots. This trade would be lopsided in the Steelers' favor, and I strongly doubt the Commanders would go for it.

[Mick]

Mclaurin is basically diontae production, except older and with a much higher cap hit. I mean, if we could have traded diontae for a 2nd rounder and then traded a 6th for mclaurin, sure, but trading a premium pick to make diontae older with a bigger cap hit would be nutso.

So i assume that’s the plan.

[Pabst]

Mclaurin is basically diontae production, except older and with a much higher cap hit. I mean, if we could have traded diontae for a 2nd rounder and then traded a 6th for mclaurin, sure, but trading a premium pick to make diontae older with a bigger cap hit would be nutso.

So i assume that’s the plan.

If McLaurin were to come over from Washington his cap hit would be $17m for the next 2 seasons (Washington would eat the original signing bonus), which is basically the same cap hit as DJ the last 2 years.

Not sure if that moves the needle or not.

[W&M_Steeler]

Mclaurin is basically diontae production, except older and with a much higher cap hit. I mean, if we could have traded diontae for a 2nd rounder and then traded a 6th for mclaurin, sure, but trading a premium pick to make diontae older with a bigger cap hit would be nutso.

So i assume that’s the plan.

McLaurin is better than DJ. McLaurin earned his production as essentially the only weapon the Commanders had the past few years, and he did it with a collection of QBs that made Mitch and KP look like All Pros.

[Stosh-67]

There were rumors swirling that the Pittsburgh Steelers and other teams might be interested in Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin on Wednesday. But JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington shot down the trade rumors, saying that there is no truth to them.

“Zero truth to him being available,” the source told Finlay.

https://steelersnow.com/pittsburgh-stee ... ade-block/

The Steelers have been connected to potential blockbuster trades at wide receiver, and Tuesday only intensified that. 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk sparked speculation on Tuesday when he sent a message to Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin on X, stating “@CoachTomlin they saying we twins. What you think?”

It was all started by Gerry Dulac on the Rich Eisen Show, who believed that the team could shoot higher than Mike Williams for the next receiver they add to the team.

“Or bigger is all I will tell you Rich and we shall see, but that is another step that they are going to make. Like I said, it might not even be Mike Williams, it might be a bigger catch if you will. No pun intended,” Dulac said.

[Pabst]

There were rumors swirling that the Pittsburgh Steelers and other teams might be interested in Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin on Wednesday. But JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington shot down the trade rumors, saying that there is no truth to them.

“Zero truth to him being available,” the source told Finlay.

https://steelersnow.com/pittsburgh-stee ... ade-block/

The Steelers have been connected to potential blockbuster trades at wide receiver, and Tuesday only intensified that. 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk sparked speculation on Tuesday when he sent a message to Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin on X, stating “@CoachTomlin they saying we twins. What you think?”

It was all started by Gerry Dulac on the Rich Eisen Show, who believed that the team could shoot higher than Mike Williams for the next receiver they add to the team.

“Or bigger is all I will tell you Rich and we shall see, but that is another step that they are going to make. Like I said, it might not even be Mike Williams, it might be a bigger catch if you will. No pun intended,” Dulac said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_asNhzXq72w

[steelmann58]

I have to hope Omar has a plan thinking two WR will be drafted but still think he has some kinda plan is in place he not going into this draft with a major hole

[CKSteeler]

I really question investing heavily into the WR position with Arthur Smith as the OC. They need something behind Pickens, and Pickens insurance because he's a fucking headcase, but if Smith is running his offense it's more TE-centric and the third WR is basically a prop. And we're talking about giving up a first rounder for a 29 year old WR who isn't even top 10 in the league and who will almost certainly want a pay bump when he's brought over.

Also remember - Smith didn't exactly make the most out of one of the best WR's in the league in his time in Tennessee. AJ Brown barely cracked a thousand yards in his offense.

[Scunge]

I really question investing heavily into the WR position with Arthur Smith as the OC. They need something behind Pickens, and Pickens insurance because he's a fucking headcase, but if Smith is running his offense it's more TE-centric and the third WR is basically a prop. And we're talking about giving up a first rounder for a 29 year old WR who isn't even top 10 in the league and who will almost certainly want a pay bump when he's brought over.

Also remember - Smith didn't exactly make the most out of one of the best WR's in the league in his time in Tennessee. AJ Brown barely cracked a thousand yards in his offense.

I disagree with much of what you say. I have been doing a deep dive into Smith's offense at Tennessee and Atlanta and I find many of the talking points about what Smith's offense is or is not to be dubious.

TE-centric? Sure, I guess, at first blush, but in 2020 Smith had WRs AJ Brown with 1,075 yards AND Corey Davis fall just short with 985 yards. Davis probably goes over 1,000 yards easily but missed two games with Covid that year.

Smith didn't know how to use Brown? Or know how to make the most out of him? AJ Brown plays in 30 games, with 23 starts and has 122 catches for 2,126 yards, 17.4 yards per catch, 19 TDs, and has 3 carries for 60 yards and 1 TD. He goes over 1,000 yards receiving both years with Smith as the OC.

I get that Smith uses the TEs but with his time at Tennessee and Atlanta I have been surprised at just how much he uses slot WRs, and how both of those teams brought in players that were atypical of what we are being told that Smith likes. You know, big, tall, physical WRs that can block and win vertically down the field.

Adam Humphries did not meet that standard. He was a small, slot WR in Tampa that had 219 catches for 2,300 yards and 9 TD. That last season with Tampa he had 76 catches, 800 yards. So, why did Tennessee and Arthur Smith sign him in free agency to play with the Titans?? In 2019-2020, Humphries had 60 catches in that Arthur Smith offense.

Why did they also bring in a Khalif Raymond, who was very Calvin Austin the 3rd-like? True he did not catch many passes for Arthur Smith, but he made the most of them. Again, in that 2019-2020 Arthur Smith offense, Raymond had 18 catches for 357 yards, 19.8 yards per catch and 1 TD.
He was 5'8" and 180 pounds but ran a 4.34 40.

In Atlanta, yes, yes, TE-centric offense, but Arthur Smith had another short slot WR, Olamide Zaccheaus, for 2 seasons and he had 71 catches for 939 yards, 13.2 yards per catch, and 6 TDs before Z left for Philly.

So, two years in Tennessee, Smith had his slot WRs combine for 78 catches 959 yards and 5 TDs.
And his first two years in Atlanta Smith had a slot WR (Zaccheaus) have 71 catches, 939 yards and 6 TDs.

What I found fascinating in watching some of the games was how Smith would have those big WRs clear things out, how those TEs would help with rubs and picks, and how often Zaccheaus was criminally wide open at times. EASY. FREE. YARDS. EASY. FIRST. DOWNS.

I think Smith is secretly smiling to himself at the toys at his disposal. Calvin Austin being one of them.

I see so many making assumptions of Smith and his offense, but it really is deceptive and more sophisticated underneath. At least that is what I have been uncovering.

[CKSteeler]

There's a lot of combining numbers over multiple seasons throughout that post to make the volume seem much higher, but in what you describe as good years his slot WR's are putting up at most 500 yards receiving. And that's happened twice as far as I can tell in Atlanta with a guy who the Falcons let walk.

What kind of production do you think top teams are getting out of their slot WR's? And why the hell should the Steelers give up their top pick to move down in a loaded WR class to grab a slot WR who is 29 years old?

Scratch that - what did the Titans pay Adam Humpries to put up his 300 yards of offense and 3 TD's? Christ, Calvin Austin III probably could do that with a legitimate QB.

You didn't sell me on much.

[Mick]

Mclaurin is basically diontae production, except older and with a much higher cap hit. I mean, if we could have traded diontae for a 2nd rounder and then traded a 6th for mclaurin, sure, but trading a premium pick to make diontae older with a bigger cap hit would be nutso.

So i assume that’s the plan.

McLaurin is better than DJ. McLaurin earned his production as essentially the only weapon the Commanders had the past few years, and he did it with a collection of QBs that made Mitch and KP look like All Pros.

commanders were 1st in the NFL in pass attempts last season, steelers were 29th or something. That should be a huge factor to blow up commander receivers stats relative to steeler receivers. Yet diontae ended up with about the same yards/game, and 1 more TD despite missing 4 games.

We also had Canada vs. Bieniemy for the Commanders. PFF, again whatever, had Diontae as a 77 and McLaurin as a 75.

This against McLaurin being due 70% more cash in 2024, $17M vs $10M. Very grass is greener worldview to think McLaurin would be a notable upgrade.

[jewelsongs]

I really question investing heavily into the WR position with Arthur Smith as the OC. They need something behind Pickens, and Pickens insurance because he's a fucking headcase, but if Smith is running his offense it's more TE-centric and the third WR is basically a prop. And we're talking about giving up a first rounder for a 29 year old WR who isn't even top 10 in the league and who will almost certainly want a pay bump when he's brought over.

Also remember - Smith didn't exactly make the most out of one of the best WR's in the league in his time in Tennessee. AJ Brown barely cracked a thousand yards in his offense.

I disagree with much of what you say. I have been doing a deep dive into Smith's offense at Tennessee and Atlanta and I find many of the talking points about what Smith's offense is or is not to be dubious.

TE-centric? Sure, I guess, at first blush, but in 2020 Smith had WRs AJ Brown with 1,075 yards AND Corey Davis fall just short with 985 yards. Davis probably goes over 1,000 yards easily but missed two games with Covid that year.

Smith didn't know how to use Brown? Or know how to make the most out of him? AJ Brown plays in 30 games, with 23 starts and has 122 catches for 2,126 yards, 17.4 yards per catch, 19 TDs, and has 3 carries for 60 yards and 1 TD. He goes over 1,000 yards receiving both years with Smith as the OC.

I get that Smith uses the TEs but with his time at Tennessee and Atlanta I have been surprised at just how much he uses slot WRs, and how both of those teams brought in players that were atypical of what we are being told that Smith likes. You know, big, tall, physical WRs that can block and win vertically down the field.

Adam Humphries did not meet that standard. He was a small, slot WR in Tampa that had 219 catches for 2,300 yards and 9 TD. That last season with Tampa he had 76 catches, 800 yards. So, why did Tennessee and Arthur Smith sign him in free agency to play with the Titans?? In 2019-2020, Humphries had 60 catches in that Arthur Smith offense.

Why did they also bring in a Khalif Raymond, who was very Calvin Austin the 3rd-like? True he did not catch many passes for Arthur Smith, but he made the most of them. Again, in that 2019-2020 Arthur Smith offense, Raymond had 18 catches for 357 yards, 19.8 yards per catch and 1 TD.
He was 5'8" and 180 pounds but ran a 4.34 40.

In Atlanta, yes, yes, TE-centric offense, but Arthur Smith had another short slot WR, Olamide Zaccheaus, for 2 seasons and he had 71 catches for 939 yards, 13.2 yards per catch, and 6 TDs before Z left for Philly.

So, two years in Tennessee, Smith had his slot WRs combine for 78 catches 959 yards and 5 TDs.
And his first two years in Atlanta Smith had a slot WR (Zaccheaus) have 71 catches, 939 yards and 6 TDs.

What I found fascinating in watching some of the games was how Smith would have those big WRs clear things out, how those TEs would help with rubs and picks, and how often Zaccheaus was criminally wide open at times. EASY. FREE. YARDS. EASY. FIRST. DOWNS.

I think Smith is secretly smiling to himself at the toys at his disposal. Calvin Austin being one of them.

I see so many making assumptions of Smith and his offense, but it really is deceptive and more sophisticated underneath. At least that is what I have been uncovering.

Welcome back.

[Scunge]

McLaurin is not a 3rd WR, you trade for him, he is very well your #1 WR. He probably is the high volume WR that George Pickens needs to be his Batman that he can play Robin to. Make no mistake, we are going to miss DJs route running and separation and easy completions to move the chains and sustain drives.

Also, my points on the slot WRs have merit because there is this narrative that is being crafted that Smith only likes tall, big WRs and that he uses more TEs, blah, blah, blah, and that a 3rd WR would be a waste of time, barely used in the offense, etc.

Having an Olamide Zaccheaus averaging over 13 yards a catch in the slot is actually pretty impressive. Our slots over the years were lucky to average 7, 8 yards a catch. Allen Robinson last season averaged 8.2 yards per catch and had 0 TDs. The year before that we had Steve Simms finish the season as the slot WR and he averaged 7.4 yards per catch with 0 TDs. The year before that we had Ray Ray average 7.1 yards per catch and 0 TDs. The production of our 3rd WR, the slot WR might be among the worst in the NFL these past 3 years.

Smith's offense from what I have researched, likes to spread it around. He gets not only his top tier playmakers the ball, but also let us say the second unit as well. AND that pisses off fantasy football minded fans. How dare Arthur Smith not throw the ball more to AJ Brown? Or Kyle Pitts? Or Drake London? Or give the ball more to Bijon Robinson?

Those that think Najee Harris, Pat Freiermuth and George Pickens are going to have monster fantasy football seasons, I don't think so. Smith's history is that yes, those players will have good/great seasons but the ball is going to be spread around. Go back to those two seasons in Tennessee, 2019-2020, how many catches did their fullback have, Anthony Firkser? 53 catches for 591 yards, 11.1 yards per catch and 2 TDs. Firkser was a FB/quasi-TE, he was 6'2 240-245. Even in that great 2020 season that the Titans had with Henry going over 2,000 yards rushing, and nearly have two 1,000 yard WRs, Smith still had a FB like Firkser catch 39 passes for 387 yards and 1 TD.

Is Connor Heyward going to play the role of Anthony Firkser in Smith's Pittsburgh offense?? I can see it now, fans losing their shit because Heyward catching 35-40 balls is taking away balls from Pat, or George.

I think the thing that I admire the most about Smith's offense is the holistic nature of it, of getting everybody involved, using all of your chess pieces. And ultimately it comes down to scoring points. It is hard to really compare the Atlanta offenses with the Titan offenses because Smith, while overseeing the offense in Atlanta, DID have an offensive coordinator, he probably couldn't be as involved to the extent he was in Tennessee because you are the Head Coach and have to juggle way more stuff. Bottom line, as the OC in Tennessee, they were 10th in points scored and then 4th in points scored. As the HC in Atlanta his offense was 26th, then 15th, then 26th in points scored. The QB situation was really in a constant state of chaos going from Ryan, to Mariota to Ridder.

Back to the topic of what WRs the Steelers may target, I think Arthur Smith does not have a big, tall WR preference, I think he likes playmakers, period. They can be big and tall, or they can be short and fast. Raymond was 5'8 180 pounds and ran a 4.34, Olamide Zaccheaus was 5' 9" 190.

And in these weeks leading up to the draft, I see reports of the Steelers having Malachi Corley come in for a pre-draft visit. He is a Deebo Samuel yards after the catch, slot WR. Of them going to Texas to check out Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy and they seem to be enamored with Worthy. Yeah, he is in that 165-170 pound range but that 4.21 speed is mighty tempting if we are going to have a long ball passing game. Again, don't these two players shatter the 'only big, tall WRs that can block' Smith myth???

DJ wasn't traded away because he was small, couldn't block and did not fit the offense, there were other factors involved. Don't be surprised to see WRs and prospects at other spots, TE, RB that break this or other perceived molds.

If this off-season has taught us anything, it is this, we don't know shit anymore about the Pittsburgh Steelers. From the front office down to the coaches, to the water boy, we don't know shit. And that makes it all the more exciting. The past two, three years was worth it for this joy ride we are now all in on.

[lifelongsteel]

Great post Scunge!

As a long proponent of the Steelers way (conservative, build through the draft, don't overpay guys etc. etc.) I find my self excited by the changes that are happening, and I look forward to the next surprise.

[Thrillsseeker]

McLaurin is not a 3rd WR, you trade for him, he is very well your #1 WR. He probably is the high volume WR that George Pickens needs to be his Batman that he can play Robin to. Make no mistake, we are going to miss DJs route running and separation and easy completions to move the chains and sustain drives.

Also, my points on the slot WRs have merit because there is this narrative that is being crafted that Smith only likes tall, big WRs and that he uses more TEs, blah, blah, blah, and that a 3rd WR would be a waste of time, barely used in the offense, etc.

Having an Olamide Zaccheaus averaging over 13 yards a catch in the slot is actually pretty impressive. Our slots over the years were lucky to average 7, 8 yards a catch. Allen Robinson last season averaged 8.2 yards per catch and had 0 TDs. The year before that we had Steve Simms finish the season as the slot WR and he averaged 7.4 yards per catch with 0 TDs. The year before that we had Ray Ray average 7.1 yards per catch and 0 TDs. The production of our 3rd WR, the slot WR might be among the worst in the NFL these past 3 years.

Smith's offense from what I have researched, likes to spread it around. He gets not only his top tier playmakers the ball, but also let us say the second unit as well. AND that pisses off fantasy football minded fans. How dare Arthur Smith not throw the ball more to AJ Brown? Or Kyle Pitts? Or Drake London? Or give the ball more to Bijon Robinson?

Those that think Najee Harris, Pat Freiermuth and George Pickens are going to have monster fantasy football seasons, I don't think so. Smith's history is that yes, those players will have good/great seasons but the ball is going to be spread around. Go back to those two seasons in Tennessee, 2019-2020, how many catches did their fullback have, Anthony Firkser? 53 catches for 591 yards, 11.1 yards per catch and 2 TDs. Firkser was a FB/quasi-TE, he was 6'2 240-245. Even in that great 2020 season that the Titans had with Henry going over 2,000 yards rushing, and nearly have two 1,000 yard WRs, Smith still had a FB like Firkser catch 39 passes for 387 yards and 1 TD.

Is Connor Heyward going to play the role of Anthony Firkser in Smith's Pittsburgh offense?? I can see it now, fans losing their shit because Heyward catching 35-40 balls is taking away balls from Pat, or George.

I think the thing that I admire the most about Smith's offense is the holistic nature of it, of getting everybody involved, using all of your chess pieces. And ultimately it comes down to scoring points. It is hard to really compare the Atlanta offenses with the Titan offenses because Smith, while overseeing the offense in Atlanta, DID have an offensive coordinator, he probably couldn't be as involved to the extent he was in Tennessee because you are the Head Coach and have to juggle way more stuff. Bottom line, as the OC in Tennessee, they were 10th in points scored and then 4th in points scored. As the HC in Atlanta his offense was 26th, then 15th, then 26th in points scored. The QB situation was really in a constant state of chaos going from Ryan, to Mariota to Ridder.

Back to the topic of what WRs the Steelers may target, I think Arthur Smith does not have a big, tall WR preference, I think he likes playmakers, period. They can be big and tall, or they can be short and fast. Raymond was 5'8 180 pounds and ran a 4.34, Olamide Zaccheaus was 5' 9" 190.

And in these weeks leading up to the draft, I see reports of the Steelers having Malachi Corley come in for a pre-draft visit. He is a Deebo Samuel yards after the catch, slot WR. Of them going to Texas to check out Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy and they seem to be enamored with Worthy. Yeah, he is in that 165-170 pound range but that 4.21 speed is mighty tempting if we are going to have a long ball passing game. Again, don't these two players shatter the 'only big, tall WRs that can block' Smith myth???

DJ wasn't traded away because he was small, couldn't block and did not fit the offense, there were other factors involved. Don't be surprised to see WRs and prospects at other spots, TE, RB that break this or other perceived molds.

If this off-season has taught us anything, it is this, we don't know shit anymore about the Pittsburgh Steelers. From the front office down to the coaches, to the water boy, we don't know shit. And that makes it all the more exciting. The past two, three years was worth it for this joy ride we are now all in on.

Scunge. Fantastic post. Thank you for being here, we’re blessed to have you on this board.

Spot on to the bolded. I enthusiastically tell my wife how crazy these times are as she just stares at me. Good times for sure!

[CKSteeler]

McLaurin is not a 3rd WR, you trade for him, he is very well your #1 WR. He probably is the high volume WR that George Pickens needs to be his Batman that he can play Robin to. Make no mistake, we are going to miss DJs route running and separation and easy completions to move the chains and sustain drives.

You can spin it however you want. I'm not seeing a modern #1 WR in McLaurin. Just like Johnson was never a #1 and wasn't paid like one. These are fringe top 20 WR's in the NFL at best if we're being generous. A lot of teams will trot out two WR's better than McLaurin. So unless your QB is Patrick Mahomes, that's not a guy you want as the engine of your offense.

Steelers need a WR who can make their QB's look good. Not the other way around.

You also talk out of both sides of your mouth. McLaurin is a slot guy. You can give him whatever number you want to give him, but he's most effective working out of the slot. Arthur Smith prefers his WR"s to stretch the field vertically, however that's done. Your own numbers show that. I'm sure any OC worth a damn can find use for a legitimate NFL WR, but he's not the prototype for what Smith looks for. He's more of the same as what the Steelers have had.

If you want a guy like DJ without the lockerroom headaches, then I guess you go get a guy like McLaurin. If you are aiming for something more, which the Steelers should be, you have better options and ways to use those resources.