The Steelers could still make a move before the 2026 NFL Trade Deadline, but there’s also a very real chance they stand pat. With Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson hopefully back in the mix soon, Pittsburgh may decide it doesn’t need to force the issue.
Even so, the wide receiver market has kept the Steelers’ name attached to just about everybody. With the deadline only hours away, a few targets keep surfacing more than the rest.
The two names that seem most appealing are Indianapolis Colts wideout Josh Downs and Dontayvion Wicks of the Philadelphia Eagles. Downs has been connected to Pittsburgh over and over again, and he’s still the one many around the team seem to want most. Wicks, meanwhile, checks a lot of boxes for the Steelers and is under contract through the 2027 season, which makes him an especially logical fit.
There’s also plenty of buzz around Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Some see him as a classic change-of-scenery candidate. I’m not one of those people, but the intrigue around the former first-round pick is still very much there.
Another former first-rounder who could be available is Los Angeles Chargers receiver Quentin Johnston. He doesn’t look like the cleanest fit for what Pittsburgh needs, but he’s on the block and could be moved before the deadline runs out.
If the Steelers end up shopping in the “Plan B” aisle, Hollywood Brown is a name to keep in mind. Also with the Eagles, Brown has produced for multiple teams, and now that he’s healthy, he could bring that same kind of value to a new offense.
Then there are the veteran names that always seem to hover around Pittsburgh. Jauan Jennings and Keenan Allen keep showing up in trade chatter, and the Steelers have been linked to both before. That carousel appears to be spinning again.
Calvin Ridley has also entered the rumor mill recently. The Tennessee Titans veteran has been a multiple-time 1,000-yard receiver, but he’s been pushed to the background in Tennessee’s offense. His pricey contract and a recent off-field incident make it difficult to see Pittsburgh chasing him as an offensive upgrade.
The best names on the board are also the toughest to land. Ladd McConkey and DeVonta Smith both fit the bill for what the Steelers are missing: a reliable top-of-the-depth-chart receiver.
The problem is the price. It would take a hefty package to get either one, and that likely keeps Pittsburgh from making the kind of splash that would really change the room.
In Other News...
Steelers May Already Be Winning The Joey Porter Jr. Trade
The Joey Porter Jr. trade has already become one of those deals that looks different depending on which sideline you stand on. Dallas paid a hefty price to bring him in from Pittsburgh, but the early returns have been uneven as Porter has dealt with health issues and has been limited when he has been available. For the Steelers, the move brought back future draft capital and cleared a path to watch the long-term value of the deal unfold from a distance.
What makes the situation even more interesting is the timing. Porter is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, which only adds to the pressure on Dallas to get something meaningful out of the investment. For Pittsburgh, that looming contract decision is part of why the trade already has the feel of a transaction that could end up favoring the Steelers, even if the final verdict is still waiting to be written. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Head To Cincinnati With First Place Suddenly On The Line
A trip to Cincinnati suddenly carries a lot more weight than it did a few weeks ago. Pittsburgh and the Bengals both arrive at 6-2, both riding four-game winning streaks, and the winner of their Week 10 meeting will leave with a major say in the AFC North race. It is the kind of late-season measuring-stick game that can reshape the division picture in a hurry, especially with the Steelers trying to keep momentum rolling on the road.
The timing only adds to the intrigue around the rest of the division, where Baltimores quarterback situation has taken a sharp turn and the Ravens are now dealing with a very different look under center. For Pittsburgh, the focus is on staying locked in against a familiar rival, while the organization also had to absorb news about Steelers legend Jack Ham, who was hospitalized but reported to be alert while undergoing tests. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Midseason MVP Debate Says Everything About Their 6-2 Start
At the midseason point, the conversation around Pittsburghs most valuable player says plenty about how this 6-2 start has come together. The Steelers sit atop the AFC North, and the internal debate has centered on the kind of contributors who tend to define a winning team before the calendar turns, with the offense getting most of the attention for the right reasons.
Jaylen Warren has drawn the bulk of the support in the discussion, thanks to the way he has driven the attack and piled up scrimmage production. Zach Frazier also got mention for the steadiness he has brought to the middle of the offensive line, a reminder that Pittsburghs best story so far is not just about one standout, but about a unit that has found enough dependable pieces to keep the team in first place. [Read more 🡒]