The Steelers are 4-2 after Sunday’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the calendar is turning fast toward the NFL trade deadline, and Pittsburgh’s wide receiver depth is suddenly a real concern.
Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson are both on injured reserve, which has left the room thinned out in a hurry. DK Metcalf still hasn’t consistently become the WR1 presence Pittsburgh expected when it traded for him, while rookie Germie Bernard has been one of the offense’s most-used options over the past two weeks. The Steelers also recently brought back Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the practice squad after a brief stint with the team last season.
That makes the next stretch important. Pittsburgh faces the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, then the Cleveland Browns the following week before its bye, and the offense could be in trouble if Metcalf or Bernard gets hurt. With the trade deadline set for Tuesday, November 10, the Steelers have a chance to add another receiver to the mix.
One potential target is Marquise Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles. A former first-round pick taken by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2019 NFL Draft, Brown signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia this offseason, but he has barely been on the field.
He has no catches this season while dealing with an ankle issue, and that limited production could make him a relatively cheap option. For Pittsburgh, the appeal would be obvious: a low-risk addition to a depleted receiver group, without taking on a big contract or giving up significant draft capital.
A late Day 3 pick could be enough to get something done if Philadelphia is willing to move him.
Quentin Johnston is another former first-rounder who could make sense. The Los Angeles Chargers wideout is in the final year of his rookie contract and has not come close to matching the expectations attached to his draft slot.
With the Chargers sitting at 0-6, they could be open to moving pieces and looking ahead. Johnston has just eight catches for 165 yards this season, but he’s only 24 and would bring a younger profile than some of the veterans Pittsburgh has leaned on in recent years.
The price would likely land in the late Day 2 to early Day 3 range, depending on how Los Angeles values him.
Jauan Jennings offers a different kind of fit. Now with the Minnesota Vikings after spending his first five seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, Jennings has barely been used, finishing with only two catches for nine yards.
The appeal for Pittsburgh is more about steadiness and style than flash. He’s a veteran with physicality, and his familiarity with a similar offensive system could help him settle in quickly to Mike McCarthy’s scheme.
If the Vikings are willing to deal him, a Day 3 pick could be enough to make him available.
The biggest name on the board is Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jacksonville is leading the AFC South, but its receiver room has become crowded with the emergence of Parker Washington, the addition of Jakobi Meyers, and the possibility of Travis Hunter taking on a larger role.
Thomas Jr. had a strong rookie season, but since Liam Coen took over as head coach, he has seemingly fallen out of favor. His talent and rookie contract still make him a valuable asset, and a move would almost certainly require a serious offer.
A first-round pick could be the asking price, though a Day 2 pick might be enough to draw meaningful interest.
Pittsburgh has the draft capital to chase a deal, but the real question is how much it wants to spend. With significant money already tied up in DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr., the Steelers would need to balance the long-term upside of another receiver against the cost of bringing one in. Thomas Jr. would be the biggest swing of the group, but he would also come with the steepest price tag.
In Other News...
Steelers Could Have A Trade Deadline Opening They Rarely Get
With the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaching, the Steelers may be looking at a market they do not often get to shop in while sitting at 4-2. Around the league, a handful of struggling teams are shaping up as possible sellers, which matters in Pittsburgh because it could open a path to add help without having to wait for the offseason.
The teams most worth watching are the Chargers, Dolphins, Buccaneers and Titans, all of whom could be forced to listen if their seasons keep going the wrong way. For the Steelers, that creates an unusual opportunity to look at available talent across multiple positions, from wide receiver to the secondary, and see whether a move is there to be made before the deadline closes. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Fans Just Got Painful Validation On George Pickens
George Pickens has a familiar kind of spotlight on him again, and this time it comes with a direct public critique from Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer after Week 6. Schottenheimer took aim at Pickens effort as both a receiver and a run-game participant, a familiar complaint for anyone who watched his last chapter in Pittsburgh, where the talent was never really in question but the consistency and engagement sometimes were.
For Steelers fans, the validation stings because it points back to a theme they know well from Pickens time here: the flashes were obvious, but so were the stretches that left everyone wanting more. Pittsburgh saw enough of those uneven days to understand why the discussion keeps circling back to effort, and Schottenheimers public comments only reopen the question of whether the same issues will keep following Pickens wherever he goes. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Backfield Suddenly Puts More On Jaylen Warren In Paris
The Steelers headed into the week with a healthier look on one side of the ball, as T.J. Watt was back at full practice after initially popping up with a calf issue. His return is a good sign for Pittsburghs defense, especially with the game shifting to Paris and the team trying to settle in for a strange week of preparation overseas.
The bigger offensive wrinkle is in the backfield, where Rico Dowdle is listed as questionable because of a knee injury after already missing time with a toe issue. If he cannot go or is only part of the plan, the burden figures to land on Jaylen Warren, who would be asked to handle a much larger share of the work than usual in a game that could demand a lot from Pittsburghs run game. [Read more 🡒]