Tim Benz: Steelers shouldn't feel obligated to trade James Washington, but one city looks like a logical landing spot

On Saturday, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin denied an ESPN report that wide receiver James Washington has requested a trade.

It appears that Washington feels he won’t get much of a chance to show his abilities in the final year of his rookie contract playing behind fellow receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool.

Not to mention the fact that they’ll also be incorporating pass-catching tight end Eric Ebron quite often again this season. Rookies Najee Harris and Pat Freiermuth will likely be worked into the passing game quite a bit as well.

So I get where Washington may be coming from if he feels underutilized in his first three seasons as a Steeler. His 90 catches for 1,344 yards are decent, but not what many expected when he was drafted in the second round back in 2018.

In Washington’s best year — 2019 — he led the Steelers with 735 yards, a 16.7 yards per catch average and 31 first downs (tied with Johnson). But even with those stats, that was the quarterback-depleted season with Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges instead of Ben Roethlisberger.

The team didn’t have to draft Claypool with its top pick in 2020. It could’ve selected running back J.K Dobbins instead. Yet the front office grabbed Claypool anyway.

The team didn’t have to keep JuJu Smith-Schuster this offseason in free agency. It did anyway.

Those decisions cut off paths toward more playing time for Washington, who appears to be a capable reserve worthy of increased snaps.

Yet, if the Steelers decide they do want to trade Washington, one team makes perfect sense as a potential dance partner: the New Orleans Saints.

Multiple outlets have already pointed out that the Saints are likely in the market for a wide receiver. And they seem to think the organization should look into swinging a deal for Washington.

“It’s an open secret that the Saints lack viable options at receiver,” said John Sigler of Saints Wire (USA Today). “With injuries to Michael Thomas and Tre’Quan Smith and a suspension likely on the way for Deonte Harris (DUI charge), second-year pro Marquez Callaway is the only receiver we can say with confidence will be ready for Week 1.

“So Washington makes sense. The 25-year-old would immediately be the most-accomplished receiver under 30, with all due respect to Chris Hogan, and he still hasn’t really scratched his potential in the NFL.”

But just because Washington asked for a trade, the Steelers don’t have to make it happen. In fact, they absolutely shouldn’t do it.

The Steelers run plenty of three-wide receiver sets. At any point, if one of those other three receivers gets hurt, Washington will get plenty of reps. Plus, if Smith-Schuster really does leave via free agency this time around in 2022, Washington could be an affordable keep on the open market on a short-term contract.

Plus, what are the Saints — or anyone else for that matter — going to offer the Steelers that’s a worthwhile return? A mid- to late-round draft pick?

Pfft! Big deal. I’d rather see them retain Washington for his talents — and for his insurance — this year. Then evaluate his standing in the offseason.

No, not everyone in the Steelers family is happy right about now. T.J. Watt wants a new contract. Smith-Schuster clearly wanted more than he got in free agency this spring. Safety Terrell Edmunds didn’t get a fifth-year option. And second-year offensive lineman Kevin Dotson may be en route to being demoted.

But it’s not general manager Kevin Colbert’s job to make everyone happy. It’s his job to enter 2021 with the best roster possible.

Keeping Washington as opposed to giving him away for table scraps is the best possible outcome to this situation.