With the NFL trade deadline approaching, the Steelers have a chance to do some real damage if they decide to be buyers. Pittsburgh has $14.5 million in cap space according to Spotrac, and that gives Omar Khan room to work if he wants to patch holes on a roster that still has a few clear pressure points. Because these would be rental moves, the price should be lighter than it would be for players with more contract years attached.
That kind of flexibility opens the door to a handful of possible names. The Steelers have several areas where an added veteran could help right away, and the trade market may offer them a chance to plug more than one issue without making a long-term commitment.
One option is Tariq Woolen of the Philadelphia Eagles. Even with the NFC East still open, the source material says the Eagles have little hope of competing this season, which could push Woolen onto the block.
Pittsburgh could use a proven corner, and Woolen is described as a player who won a Super Bowl last year and can help the secondary. He may fit as a fix for a Pittsburgh defensive backfield that has been too uneven.
At receiver, Jauan Jennings of the Minnesota Vikings is another name to watch. It would not be the splashiest addition, but the idea is simple: the Steelers need more help for Aaron Rodgers in a wide receiver room that does not offer enough. Jennings might not represent the biggest possible upgrade, but he could still bring experience and give the offense another body worth trusting.
Frankie Luvu of the Washington Commanders also fits a clear need. The inside linebacker play has been inconsistent, and Luvu is the kind of tough, physical presence in the middle that could raise the ceiling of the defense. The source points to him as a true Number 1 inside linebacker, especially if Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson do not settle in as reliable anchors.
The offensive line is not labeled a top-tier emergency, but it is close enough to one that the Steelers should keep watching it. Brock Hoffman has been better than Spencer Anderson, yet that still may not be enough comfort for a group that would be in trouble if injuries stack up. Quenton Nelson of the Indianapolis Colts is the big swing here, and while it would take a lot to get a future Hall of Famer, the payoff could be worth the cost.
Jessie Bates III of the Atlanta Falcons rounds out the list. DeShon Elliott’s return from injury pushes safety lower on the priority board, but the Steelers could still use another proven veteran back there. If Jaquan Brisker does not improve with Elliott back, the Black and Gold could look at Bates as the move that steadies the tandem.
Will be sellers whenever the NFL trade deadline arrives.
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Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson have both been part of that disruption, and it has only sharpened the question of whether the Steelers can keep moving the ball consistently without another reliable target. There are already trade ideas circulating as ways to shore up the receiving corps, but the bigger issue is whether Pittsburgh decides to act before the seasons second half starts demanding more from an offense built to play it safe. [Read more 🡒]