Tre Tucker & the WR Situation

[NoThanksSir]

There is a situation developing with Tre Tucker that is going under the radar. Tucker is a FA this offseason, and while he leaves a lot to be desired in a #1WR after Bowers, he unfortunately is our best WR. I'm not his biggest fan by any means, but even if we take a WR with our 1st pick in 2027 we're still in a precarious situation if he were to walk in free agency. Rookie receivers, especially those taken outside of the top 10, are rarely immediate contributors. I'm skeptical that a Rookie+Nailor/Bech/etc. will produce better results than what we have now. This is even more pressing of an issue because Mendoza will be playing next year, and that is a god awful situation for our prized QB prospect to be walking into. I think even if we assume that first pick is a receiver, we need to consider that another move at WR will need to accompany that selection. That could be re-signing Tucker, going after a more expensive #1, or seeking out a veteran bandaid while a rookie receiver develops. Of course there is option D, none of the above. Which I personally think would be a recipe for disaster, as the other talent on this roster hasn't shown enough potential.

2027 FA WRs

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These are the options other than Tucker in 2027. One important thing to note, is that the only players on the list younger than Tucker are Marvin Mims and George Pickens (By 4 days). My theory is that Tucker is going to have a lot more interest than any of us realize, and might be more coveted by another team than he is by us. Right now Tucker is on pace for a career year. If he continues his average of 59 yards a game, he can reasonably finish the season around 1K yards. While I feel like he leaves a lot to be desired as a player, if we compare him to someone who recently signed a contract with similar career numbers, what could we learn about Tucker's value?

Control Group: Tre Tucker

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Ex 1: Michael Wilson, Cardinals, 26 Yrs old

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Last offseason Wilson signed a 3yr, $75 mill extension at an APY of $25mill a year. His age and numbers are very similar to Tucker's. On top of that, both players are having very similar years in 2026, you could argue Tucker is playing quite a bit better. But let's assume Wilson's contract is a product of a poor Cardinal's org. Let's move on to another example.

Ex 2. Christian Watson, Packers, 27 Yrs old

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Watson also signed an extension last year, this one at an APY of $23mill a year. His career production is similar to Tucker, he seems to be a better red zone player than Tucker is.

Ex. 3 Jakobi Meyers, Jaguars, 30 Yrs old

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This last comp is more of a stretch, but valid because he was in the building and we moved on from him due to a perceived lack of value when it came to a contract extension. I would argue Jakobi Meyers's $20 mill APY is Tucker's floor. I was one of the loudest when it came to Jakobi not being worth what he was going to get paid, and I think the greater conclusion to make here is that mid level WR's are being paid handsomely across the board for very little on field production. Tucker is currently outperforming Meyers in 2026.

So now we have established the general range for Tucker's comps are between $20-25 mill a year. If we decide the juice isn't worth the squeeze, it's worth taking a look at more expensive options while we're at it.

Ex. JSN, Drake London, & Zay Flowers

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All three of these players recently signed contracts at the following APYs ($42.2, 35.2, 35). The main two high end receiver targets for this upcoming offseason (If they hit the open market) will be Nacua and Pickens.

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London and Zay aren't remotely on the same level as Nacua or Pickens. I think JSN is the rare example of a guy setting the market and then defending his position as the #1, as he's clearly still the best WR in the league. Those other guys set the floor at $35.2 mill, but both Nacua and Pickens will probably be more in line with JSN's $42.2. So a roughly $18 mill price difference from Tucker's group.


There are some guys in between those two groups who might be worth a look as budgetary options, especially those older than Tucker. But I thought this would be an interesting enough way to kick off the discussion by showing what the WR market is looking like right now, so that we could reasonably put into context what it will cost us to improve the position next year. Is simply drafting a WR a good enough plan in 2027? Do you want to keep Tucker? Or maybe sign someone else?

[raider_kin]

george picken is a true wr1 he has proven he can dominate as a featured wr on a team, dude last yr was top 5 when ceedee lamb was injured just plain unstoppable, adding him and trading for josh downs before the trade deadline pretty much revamps our reciever group (picken,bowers,down) we would have a top te, top 5 wr and great wr2 (slot guy)

josh downs is a great slot guy whose value has been suppressed thanks to keenan allen (splitting slot duties) so his cost to us will be less then trying to resign tre tucker ...no way is tre tucker worth over 20 million a yr dudes a pure wr3

At what cost in draft picks?

We will not be buyers at the deadline

[Dr Death]

Are you having PTSD flashbacks to frozen feet and helicopters?

I know I am.

... and hot air balloons.

[NoThanksSir]

I don't believe Pickens is a good fit for our team, but he is an elite receiver and needs to be mentioned as he will set the market. Coleman in the draft is a similar player who I think we can take off the board as he isn't a fit for Kubiak's system.

[Jeevo]

I don't believe Pickens is a good fit for our team, but he is an elite receiver and needs to be mentioned as he will set the market. Coleman in the draft is a similar player who I think we can take off the board as he isn't a fit for Kubiak's system.

He should definitely be on the list for his skill alone, but there's a reason the Steelers were willing to let a WR1 leave and apparently they have no regrets.

[NoThanksSir]

He should definitely be on the list for his skill alone, but there's a reason the Steelers were willing to let a WR1 leave and apparently they have no regrets.

I like him a lot as a player. When he's on, I think he's the most intimidating receiver in the league to line up across. But he's not a good fit for us. I'd much rather Nacua if he ends up on another team

[mstrbass2000]

At what cost in draft picks?

We will not be buyers at the deadline

we could get josh downs for a 5th rd pick or less, pickens we can wait and go after him in free agency or trade madmax for him plus recieve a 3rd rd pick

[mstrbass2000]

You're not playing if you don't bother blocking at wr in Kubiak's offense. Period

so the alternative is draft a wr in the first and hope he can block/catch and dominate.....id rather go get me the for sure stud wr who is a proven dominant wr and use the first rd pick to grab help for the oline or dline

[chucker]

Seriously? The checklist when looking at wide receivers includes #1, did the steelers get rid of him? If yes, cross him off the list.

In related news:

[mstrbass2000]

I like him a lot as a player. When he's on, I think he's the most intimidating receiver in the league to line up across. But he's not a good fit for us. I'd much rather Nacua if he ends up on another team

yeah, thats not gonna happen...the rams do not let stud walk, they resign em, actually no team in teh n.f.l would ever let a top 10 wr walk

[NoThanksSir]

no team in teh n.f.l would ever let a top 10 wr walk

Last year's WR1 that you were just gushing over and advocating for us to sign was traded lol.You might need to give up something for Nacua but Pickens only commanded a 3rd and a 5th...

[NoThanksSir]

In related news:

Could have been the next Jerry Rice if he wasn't absolutely batshit crazy.

[Hellbound]

so the alternative is draft a wr in the first and hope he can block/catch and dominate.....id rather go get me the for sure stud wr who is a proven dominant wr and use the first rd pick to grab help for the oline or dline

Huh?? Yeah, that's exactly what a front office does when they draft a player. Nevermind all the time the scouts put in before the gm and coaches start scouting and watching tape of the prospect. They all just "hope"

[mstrbass2000]

Huh?? Yeah, that's exactly what a front office does when they draft a player. Nevermind all the time the scouts put in before the gm and coaches start scouting and watching tape of the prospect. They all just "hope"

its also not a guaranteed wr1 your getting in teh draft too, like i said before id trade off a 1st rd pick to get a proven stud player whom has proven he is dominant already

would you trade a top 10 1st rd pick for puka,jsn,amon ra,jamar chase ...hell yeah, you would cause the 1st rd pick could turn into crap while the all pro type is still an all pro type...stop holding on to prospect draft picks if you have a chance to for sure upgrade a position

[mstrbass2000]

Last year's WR1 that you were just gushing over and advocating for us to sign was traded lol.You might need to give up something for Nacua but Pickens only commanded a 3rd and a 5th...

dallas came out of that trade looking smart ...steelers need a wr1

[NoThanksSir]

dallas came out of that trade looking smart ...steelers need a wr1

They're 3-5 while the Steelers are 6-2. I beg to differ lol.