The Steelers are in the kind of spot where the trade deadline could shape the rest of their season. With a strong record and a clear push to get back to the postseason, Pittsburgh may need to get aggressive if it wants to give itself a real shot.
And if enough teams start waving the white flag, the Steelers could have a wide market to explore. There could be as many as 13 clubs around the league willing to take calls when the deadline gets close, which opens the door for Pittsburgh to hunt for help from sellers.
That search could lead the Steelers in a bunch of different directions, but several potential fits stand out.
On offense, the wide receiver options are obvious. Garrett Wilson would be a major swing if the Jets ever made him available, and Chris Godwin Jr. is another familiar name who has been circulating in the rumor mill.
Ladd McConkey would also be a big-time target if the Chargers put him on the block, though he would probably cost a premium. Josh Downs is another intriguing name from Indianapolis, thanks to his ability to get open and stress defenses with his route running.
There are cheaper receiver ideas too. Malik Washington in Miami could give Pittsburgh a small, versatile piece who can also help as a returner. He wouldn’t be the headline move, but he could fill a useful role without requiring much back in return.
Up front, the Steelers have a few possible answers at guard. Kevin Dotson would bring a reunion possibility after leaving Pittsburgh in 2023 and settling in as a reliable piece for the Rams.
Wyatt Teller is another name to watch from Houston, especially with his season trending in the wrong direction. Jackson Powers-Johnson is on the radar as well if the Raiders decide to go shopping, and he has already been connected to Pittsburgh before.
The defense has its own set of targets. Mack Wilson Sr. in Arizona is viewed as a steady option who could help at linebacker without costing much.
Pete Werner of the Saints is another inside linebacker who fits the bill, with a reasonable cap hit and a reputation as a tackling machine. Frankie Luvu would be the bigger-name prize from Washington if he became available, giving the Steelers a rental linebacker who could immediately strengthen the middle of the defense.
The secondary offers a few possibilities, too. Alontae Taylor of Tennessee is a risky but intriguing option if the Titans are willing to move him after giving him a big contract this offseason and then benching him. Riq Woolen could also draw attention if Philadelphia decides to sell, especially since he is on a one-year deal and would bring starting-caliber upside to Pittsburgh.
Not every target would be clean or easy, but the Steelers have enough needs that they should be exploring all of them. If they want to strengthen their roster before the deadline passes, the list is there.
In Other News...
Kurt Warner Just Framed The Steelers' Biggest Problem At 5-2
The Steelers have given themselves a strong early perch at 5-2, but the conversation around them keeps circling back to the same question: is the offense built to hold up when the games get tougher? Kurt Warner recently put that concern in plain terms, pointing to the gap between Pittsburghs defensive strength and the kind of consistent offensive production usually required to hang with the AFCs best teams.
For a team that has found ways to win enough games to stay in the hunt, the issue is less about the record than how those wins have been constructed. Warners skepticism centered on whether Pittsburgh can keep moving the chains and turn enough possessions into touchdowns, especially when the margin tightens against top-level competition. Until that changes, the Steelers will keep hearing the same warning alongside the praise for their defense. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Receiver Search Comes Down To The Wrong Kind Of Target
The Steelers have spent plenty of time looking for help at wide receiver ahead of the NFL trade deadline, and the Los Angeles Chargers have naturally come up in the conversation. When a team is weighing outside additions at that spot, the first name to draw attention is often the flashier one, but fit and price matter just as much as production when the clock is ticking and roster holes still need filling.
Among the Chargers' options, Ladd McConkey would be the more obvious target, but the conversation around Pittsburgh's search has centered on a different kind of receiver. Quentin Johnston is the name that keeps surfacing as the more realistic path, with the sort of lower-cost framework that could make sense for a Steelers front office trying to add speed and size without paying premium draft capital for a deal that may not be there in the end. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Face A Patrick Queen Deadline Decision Fans Didn't Expect
Patrick Queen has become one of the more interesting names to watch as the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaches, even if the idea of the Steelers moving him still feels like a long shot. ESPNs latest deadline chatter put the linebacker in the mix as a possible trade candidate, a nod to the uneven nature of his first season in Pittsburgh, though he also turned in a strong showing in Week 7 that complicates the picture for a team sitting at 5-2.
The Steelers are in a spot where any move has to make football sense first, and thats especially true at a position as important as linebacker. Queens value around the league is not likely to be especially high, so the team would need real confidence in how it would patch the spot if it chose to listen on him. For now, it leaves Pittsburgh with a deadline decision that is more nuanced than anyone probably expected a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]