The Steelers may not wait around to make their move.
At 5-2, Pittsburgh has a chance to take control of the AFC North by beating the 5-2 Cleveland Browns in Pittsburgh on Nov. 1.
But even if that game goes the wrong way, the expectation is the same: the Steelers are likely to be active before the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline.
One name floated in that conversation is Chargers receiver Ladd McConkey. In a Casino.org piece published Tuesday, league insider Jason La Canfora suggested Pittsburgh could check in with Los Angeles or Jacksonville about help at wideout.
“With second-round pick Germie Bernard looking like Pittsburgh’s latest draft gem - and someone who can do the most damage in the slot...adding a piece on the outside who can work crossers and the middle of the field could fortify another playoff run," La Canfora wrote. "After decades of operating as a conservative front office, the Steelers are wheeler-dealers now.
One scout suggested to me that someone like Chargers wideout Ladd McConkey might be the kind of target [quarterback Aaron Rodgers] would enjoy throwing to to help sustain drives. Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jaguars is another name to keep an eye on."
That fits the broader picture around Rodgers, who turns 43 in December and is a major reason Pittsburgh is being viewed as a win-now team. The wide receiver chatter has been attached to the Steelers since before the 2026 NFL Draft even began.
The numbers also help explain why. ESPN had Rodgers ranked 24th among qualified players on Tuesday with a 49.8 adjusted QBR. Pro-Football-Reference had him finishing Week 7 at 21st with an 88.9 passer rating and 24th with a 61.6 percent completion percentage.
As for the two teams mentioned, the Chargers’ situation makes them worth watching. Los Angeles is 0-6 coming out of its bye, and a franchise reset could be coming.
Jacksonville presents a different case, but Brian Thomas Jr. hasn’t exactly looked untouchable. In the Jaguars’ 34-31 loss to the Houston Texans on Oct. 18, he appeared to be the third- or fourth-choice option at the position.
Still, Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said Monday that Thomas is "gonna be able to help us make plays this week." It remained unclear by Tuesday whether that would actually be the case when 4-2 Jacksonville hosts the 2-5 Indianapolis Colts on Nov.
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