breaking: Michael Thomas, a talented wide receiver, has finally joined the Steelers. The main reason for this is

The Pittsburgh Steelers continue to lurk around the market for a wide receiver, so everyone who is considered intriguing will be thrown around as a possibility. That is no different for free agents, and while a trade seems like the likeliest scenario, Pittsburgh has made preliminary contact with a few free agents. Bleacher Report named the Steelers one of the top landing spots for former New Orleans Saints star receiver Michael Thomas.

Earlier this month, Steelers Now revealed that the team had gotten in touch with Michael Thomas early on. But it was unclear what the conversations covered and how in-depth they were. Thomas might be the Steelers’ backup plan later in the summer, and it could be a way to monitor how he’s doing.

Thomas was among the NFL’s top wide receivers prior to a run of injuries. However, a serious ankle injury kept him out of the game for several seasons, requiring multiple surgery. He made a comeback last season, but other ailments kept him out of action for a while. Put another way, Thomas is a talented player with a long history as an All-Pro, but his output and longevity at this point in his career have to be questioned.The Steelers are lured to high-profile players in the trade market, such as Brandon Aiyuk and Courtland Sutton. At this time of year, there is no assurance that either player will be traded. It is more likely that they would have made a trade before or during the NFL Draft. In order to help bolster the receiving depth, Pittsburgh signed Van Jefferson, Quez Watkins, and Scotty Miller in addition to drafting Roman Wilson. Nevertheless, they are still interested in additional players outside of the system.

Although Thomas has a lot of upside, the Steelers are not entirely convinced that he can be the genuine number two wide receiver at this stage of his career. However, it could make sense to add Thomas if a deal cannot be completed.