With the NFL Trade Deadline closing in, the Steelers are looking more like buyers than bargain hunters. A 5-2 start and a share of the AFC North lead will do that. But the roster still has holes, and the one at wide receiver is hard to ignore.
That’s where Omar Khan’s attention should go. Pittsburgh needs help on offense, and no spot carries more weight than receiver, especially with Aaron Rodgers needing more reliable options to get the passing game moving and reach the level head coach Mike McCarthy had in mind.
The fit that stands out is Josh Downs.
Indianapolis looks ready to keep dealing after moving offensive guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks for a third-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft and a 2028 fifth-round draft choice. That move made the Colts’ direction plain enough: they’re collecting picks and leaning into a rebuild. For a team in Pittsburgh’s position, that creates an opening.
Downs would bring a specific skill set the Steelers don’t currently have enough of. DK Metcalf and Germie Bernard have their strengths, but the offense has struggled to create separation. That’s been a problem both underneath and downfield, and it’s forced Rodgers into a tough job of threading throws with perfect placement.
Downs changes that equation because he can get free quickly off the line of scrimmage. The 25-year-old has gone over 550 receiving yards in each of his first three NFL seasons, and his work from the slot is what makes him especially attractive for Pittsburgh. He’d give the Steelers a target in the middle of the field and some lineup flexibility, allowing Bernard to move around the line of scrimmage while also opening a path for Roman Wilson on the outside once he returns from Injured Reserve.
Speed is another major part of the appeal. The reports on his ceiling may vary, but his quickness doesn’t. Pittsburgh would benefit from adding that burst to the offense, and this might be the moment the team is willing to spend draft capital to do it.
After the Nelson trade, the message from Indianapolis was loud and clear. The Colts are willing to move talent for picks, and that means they may not ask for an inflated return if another team comes calling about one of their receivers.
Downs is now the top wide receiver available, and he’s not happy with the Colts. He’s not a superstar, but he has produced, and with a bigger role in Pittsburgh, he could help give Rodgers a receiver group he can trust. As the deadline nears, the Steelers should be on the phone.
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