The Pittsburgh Steelers played in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys to kick off the NFL preseason. We saw plenty of snaps for Chase Claypool and Diontae Johnson, who aim to become the Steelers' top two wide receivers. Pittsburgh has a rather deep receiver group, which has forced James Washington to the fourth spot on the depth chart.
According to Adam Schefter, James Washington has officially requested a trade from the Steelers organization. After being selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, James Washington has found himself in a limited role in Pittsburgh. He didn't hit the field much in Thursday night's game, indicating that Washington is likely not a part of the Steelers game plan moving forward.
Steelers’ WR James Washington, a former 2018 second-round pick, has approached the Steelers and requested a trade based on his limited playtime last season and so far this preseason, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 6, 2021
James Washington has struggled to begin his career, but he has some serious potential to shine elsewhere. Plenty of teams could use his talents, as he could be a strong third option on almost any roster. With the Steelers having the likes of Juju Smith-Schuster, Claypool, and Johnson as their top three pass options, this should be an easy trade to make for the front office.
It's unknown what the return value is for Washington, but the Steelers could persuade another franchise into offering a future third-round selection. Pittsburgh still has a weakness at the offensive line, so another option could be to acquire some depth to help protect Ben Roethlisberger.
Either way, Washington wanting out of Pittsburgh makes sense as a fresh start elsewhere might be what's best for his career. Throughout his three-year career, Washington has recorded 90 receptions, 1,344 yards, and nine touchdowns. At just 25-years old, Washington has plenty of time to put his career back on track. There should be a handful of teams interested in the former second-round pick, including the Tennessee Titans, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, or Atlanta Falcons.
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