Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk believes New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard is in play for the Pittsburgh Steelers .
The Pittsburgh Steelers are once again in need of a No. 2 wide receiver after trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday. Could they help reunite quarterback Aaron Rodgers with one of his former teammates?
Rodgers must agree to finally join the Steelers, of course. But Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk thinks Pittsburgh could seriously consider trading for New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard.
"Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Jets receiver Allen Lazard is 'in play' to be traded to the Steelers," Florio writes . "Why Lazard? Because Rodgers completely and totally trusts him. And Lazard, for whatever reason, performs much better with Rodgers than he does without him."
The Jets recently reworked Lazard's contract , reducing his salary for the 2025 season. According to Over the Cap, Lazard took an $8.5 million pay cut after being originally set to earn $11 million.
He will now make just $2.25 million in salary, with only $1.75 million of that guaranteed. That would be quite the bargain for Pittsburgh, which would likely only have to give up a late-round pick to acquire him.
It was believed that Lazard made such a move with the hopes of continuing to play with Rodgers in 2025. Rodgers and the Steelers can now make that a reality.
Lazard, 29, finished fifth on the Jets in targets in 2024 and third among wide receivers, behind only Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams . He caught 37 of 60 targets for 530 yards and six touchdowns.
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre tackles New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard in a game on Oct. 20, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Originally an undrafted free agent of the Jacksonville Jaguars out of Iowa State in 2018, Lazard joined the Packers in December of his rookie season. He broke out in 2020, making 35 catches for 477 yards and three touchdowns. He and Rodgers developed a quick rapport, and that carried over in 2023, when he left the Packers to join Rodgers on the Jets.
If Pittsburgh hopes to land Rodgers sooner rather than later, trading for Lazard could entice Rodgers to make his mind up.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Receiver with Connection to Aaron Rodgers 'In Play' for Steelers
