The Steelers came out of the trade deadline with the same two soft spots they had going in, and that could end up being a problem.
Pittsburgh was linked to a long list of wide receivers in the days leading up to the deadline, but nothing got done. That left the roster unchanged at a spot that had clearly been the biggest target for improvement. With injuries already stacking up at receiver, the lack of a move stands out even more.
The team also had cornerback on the radar, even if it didn’t draw nearly as much attention. That group has done a solid job covering for Joey Porter Jr. so far, but the concern is whether that level of play can hold up for the rest of the season. An extra body there would have made sense as insurance.
Right now, the Steelers are still sitting at 6-2, and they remain in position to make the playoffs and possibly win the AFC North. But the decision to stand pat leaves them exposed if either of those areas takes a hit. If receiver injuries keep piling up, or if the cornerbacks start to slip, the margin for error gets thin fast.
Receiver was clearly the headline need. The Steelers were mentioned in connection with Brian Thomas Jr., Calvin Ridley, Josh Downs, and others.
Downs ended up with the Chiefs, and Pittsburgh never landed a deal of its own. For now, the team appears to be counting on Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson once they’re back from injury.
Cornerback is a little quieter, but the concern is just as real. Pittsburgh is leaning on Asante Samuel Jr., Jamel Dean, and Daylen Everette, and that group has held up well enough to this point.
The problem is what comes next. The schedule only gets tougher, and there’s a real chance that trio runs into trouble against top-level competition.
The Steelers’ approach says a lot about where they see this team. Staying quiet at the deadline suggests they’re comfortable living in the middle - good enough to stay in the race, but not aggressive enough to chase a bigger swing. If they truly believed this roster could win it all, they likely would have been more willing to spend draft capital to help it now.
As it stands, Pittsburgh is hoping its receiver room improves when Pittman and Wilson return, and that the secondary keeps holding together. But there’s no guarantee either happens, and the cornerback group in particular could be the one that gets exposed when the competition gets better.
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Max Iheanachor emerged as the biggest factor in that evaluation, with his work at tackle drawing the strongest support from the staff. Germie Bernard and Robert Spears-Jennings also drew recognition for their contributions, giving the vote a broader feel than a simple offense-versus-defense argument, but the debate ultimately reflected how much the Steelers have leaned on rookies who have made the offense and defense more dependable. [Read more 🡒]
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Fraziers rise has also put him in the conversation for the leagues Protector of the Year award, which says plenty about how quickly he has grown into the job. NFL Next Gen Stats has him down for only one sack allowed and four pressures, the kind of pass protection profile that can change how a team builds around its quarterback. For a Steelers offense still trying to define itself, having a young center already playing at that level is a significant building block up front. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Suddenly Have A Familiar Chance To Help Their Passing Game
The Steelers stood pat at the NFL trade deadline, choosing to lean on the roster they already have rather than make a move to shake up the passing game. But a familiar type of opportunity has surfaced anyway, with the Philadelphia Eagles waiving wide receiver Marquise Brown and setting up the chance for a receiver-needy team to make a late addition without paying trade-deadline prices.
Pittsburgh has been in this spot before, and the front office has shown it is willing to look for midseason help when the right fit appears. Browns availability gives the Steelers another path to bolster their wide receiver room, and the question now is whether they will act quickly enough to turn a waiver-wire opening into a real boost for the offense. [Read more 🡒]