On the eve of NFL free agency, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler provided updates in a lot of different areas around the league. With the wide receiver trade market, there are possibly more players available, including former first-rounder Quentin Johnston.
“[A.J.] Brown isn’t the only receiver potentially available. Baltimore’s Rashod Bateman, Los Angeles’ Quentin Johnston and Green Bay’s Dontayvion Wicks have come up in my talks,” Fowler wrote Sunday. “Teams have interest in Green Bay’s Jayden Reed, but I don’t sense the Packers would trade him at this point.”
Fowler didn’t mention which teams might have engaged in trade discussions involving those three wideouts. But given the need the Pittsburgh Steelers have at receiver, it would not be surprising if the Steelers were one of them.
The Chargers drafted Johnston at No. 21 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Johnston has one year remaining on his rookie contract. The receiver also has a fifth-year option in the deal, but that has to be exercised by May 1.
In 2025, Johnston posted 51 catches for 735 receiving yards with eight touchdowns.
Could Steelers Pursue Trade for WR Quentin Johnston?
Of the three receivers Fowler mentioned, it would make sense if Johnston was Pittsburgh’s top choice. The Chargers wideout has posted back-to-back seasons with 700-plus receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
Steelers Depot’s Ross McCorkle argued Johnston would be his preference over Dontayvion Wicks or Rashod Bateman.
“Johnston is the only one of the three with the arrow firmly pointing up. He had his best season in 2025,” wrote McCorkle.
“At just 24 years old, and as a former first-round pick, he could make an intriguing option for the Pittsburgh Steelers. As a 2023 first-round pick, Johnston would come with a fifth-year option decision due May 1st.
“That would give the Steelers an opportunity to trade for him, pick up the option, and put off a long-term deal decision for one more year.”
Johnston received slightly fewer targets during 2025 than the previous season. As a result, he had fewer catches as well.
But he averaged 1.5 additional yards per catch last season — 14.4 versus 12.9. His yards per catch average has increased every year.
Could the Steelers Inquire on Rashod Bateman, Dontayvion Wicks?
Bateman playing with the Baltimore Ravens makes a Steelers trade for him far-fetched. The AFC North rivals have conducted trades together in the past, but it’s rare.
It’s highly unlikely the Ravens would be interested in helping the Steelers receiver woes.
Wicks could be a possibility. But he’s seen his production drop every season of his career. In 2025, Wicks had 30 receptions for 332 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
The Packers drafted two receivers in 2025. Those rookies were part of why he had 30 fewer targets in 2025. Wicks also missed three games because of injuries.
The Steelers don’t need a reclamation project at receiver. They need a capable WR2 opposite D.K. Metcalf to take attention away from the team’s No. 1 wideout.
Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson weren’t able to do that very effectively last season. Austin is now set to leave in free agency. Wilson remains on the roster, but he’s essentially a reclamation projection himself, at this point.
In conclusion, Johnston is probably the only viable Steelers option of the three new wideouts potentially on the trade market according to Fowler.
New Former 1st-Round WR Potentially on Trade Market for Steelers: Report