The Steelers have already dipped into the market this season, but so far their roster tweaks have come through signings, not trades. Cornerbacks Sean Murphy-Bunting and Terrell Smith joined after being claimed from practice squads, and wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling arrived soon after the Los Angeles Chargers cut him loose.
A deal at the trade deadline still hasn’t happened. That doesn’t mean Pittsburgh is done looking.
If the Steelers do decide to swing, there are four spots that stand out as the clearest areas to strengthen, and each comes with a target that fits the job.
Right guard is one of the quieter concerns on the roster, at least for now. Brock Hoffman has been steady there, and Mason McCormick has brought the kind of consistency and dogged determination teams love on the left side.
Still, the position is worth watching because Hoffman is a dependable veteran, but he has only one season as an NFL starter on his résumé. That means the urgency could change quickly depending on how the next couple of weeks unfold.
If Pittsburgh wants to chase the biggest name available, Quenton Nelson would be the splash. He is one of the most respected interior linemen in the league, and his contract situation makes things complicated. But the upside is obvious: Nelson would make the offensive line look undeniably Super Bowl-caliber.
At cornerback, the Steelers have gotten a lift from Jamel Dean, who turned in an otherworldly game in Week 6 and made the loss of Joey Porter Jr. easier to handle. Asante Samuel Jr. has also held up well in an expanded role, while rookie third-round pick Daylen Everette has logged meaningful snaps early in the year.
Even with that, the secondary still feels like a place where Pittsburgh could use a stronger outside piece if it wants to make a real postseason push. Several veterans fit the bill. Tennessee Titans newcomer Alontae Taylor, Philadelphia Eagles corner and Super Bowl winner Riq Woolen and Tampa Bay Buccaneers corner Zyon McCollum all make sense as immediate options.
Woolen, in particular, checks a lot of boxes. He would give the Steelers a true No. 2 corner with experience and a Super Bowl on his résumé, and he wouldn’t cost much in trade value. Because he signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia for the 2026 season, he profiles as the kind of productive rental Pittsburgh could land without paying a premium.
If the Steelers want a more interesting gamble, Deonte Banks enters the conversation. The New York Giants former first-round pick has had two rough NFL seasons, but he showed flashes of excellence as a rookie and is starting to find his way again in 2026. Since he is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027, he would also be the kind of low-risk move that doesn’t trap Pittsburgh contractually.
Linebacker is another spot that could be in play, especially when looking beyond 2026. Patrick Queen is expected to be elsewhere in 2027, and even this season his play raises the question of whether Pittsburgh should already be searching for a different answer.
Payton Wilson has performed well, but he needs the right partner next to him. Elandon Roberts could be that player, though the better fit may be outside the building.
Pete Werner, the Ohio State product, has the look of a Steelers linebacker. He attacks the ball, moves well enough to handle coverage duties and carries himself like a respected teammate.
The wide receiver room may be where the Steelers take the most measured approach. While they wait on updates involving Roman Wilson and Michael Pittman Jr., the sense is that Pittsburgh is not looking to get reckless there. Valdes-Scantling helps round out the depth chart, but the team still needs someone who can move between a top-three role and a lower spot on the list without forcing the offense to change shape.
Dontayvion Wicks fits that mold. He’s the kind of speedy outside receiver who could help as a deep threat and give the Steelers a clean complement to DK Metcalf and Germie Bernard.
He also offers a practical middle ground between paying up for a veteran and relying on an unproven practice squad type. With a 2027 cap number of a little more than $4 million, Wicks would make a lot of sense for a fifth- or sixth-round pick.
In Other News...
Steelers May Finally Be Seeing Their D-Line Bet Pay Off
Keeanu Bentons recent stretch has given the Steelers something they badly needed along the defensive front: signs that a long-term investment might be starting to pay off. With Derrick Harmon sidelined by a foot injury, Benton was pushed into a bigger role and answered with an active showing in Pittsburghs overtime win over Tampa Bay, the kind of disruptive performance that can change the tone of a defensive line and reinforce why the team committed to him in August.
Patrick Graham said Bentons work against the Buccaneers stood out, and the Steelers have reason to believe theres more to come. The question now is how much of that impact can carry forward once the rotation settles again, because the teams bet on Benton was never just about one good afternoon. It was about finding a linchpin up front, and the early returns suggest the payoff may be coming into view. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers May Need A Bold WR Move Before This Gets Worse
Pittsburghs wide receiver room has already been stretched thin by injuries, and that has pushed the conversation beyond patchwork fixes and into the kind of move that can change the rest of the season. The idea making the rounds is a trade target from Tampa Bay, a proven veteran who has built a strong career while still offering enough current production to make the fit worth considering, even if the price tag would not be simple.
The problem for the Steelers is that any meaningful addition comes with layers of risk, from the financial commitment to the health questions surrounding the players recent seasons. He has dealt with a serious ankle injury and a fibula issue, and the appeal of adding another established pass catcher has to be weighed against how much uncertainty Pittsburgh can afford in a room that is already short on reliable bodies. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Paris Plans Changed As Unrest Starts Affecting Fan Experience
The NFLs first regular-season game in Paris is still on the schedule, with the Steelers and Saints set to play at Stade de France even as civil unrest continues to ripple across the city. For Pittsburgh, the football part of the trip remains intact, and the league is working with local authorities on the operational and security side as it prepares to stage a landmark overseas game.
What has changed is the fan experience around the matchup. Pittsburgh had planned a Steelers House event in Paris to give traveling supporters a central gathering place, but that piece of the week has been pulled back as the situation in the city develops. The game itself is moving forward, yet the atmosphere around it has clearly shifted, and the Steelers are adjusting their footprint accordingly. [Read more 🡒]