The Steelers may have the week off, but that doesn’t mean their front office is sitting still. With the 2027 NFL Trade Deadline only days away, Pittsburgh is lining up possible upgrades for a team that has raced to a 6-2 start and put itself in position to push harder for the rest of 2026.
The biggest buzz around Pittsburgh continues to center on wide receiver help, and one name keeps coming up: Indianapolis Colts pass-catcher Josh Downs. The 25-year-old is in the final season of his rookie deal and reportedly wants out of Indianapolis.
The Colts are said to be asking for a third- or fourth-round draft pick, and Week 9 could matter for that asking price. Indianapolis faces a struggling Dallas Cowboys team, and if Downs turns in another quiet outing, Pittsburgh might be able to get him for less.
Over his last five games, his production has dipped, and his high in that span is 47 yards against the Steelers in their earlier meeting.
There are also cheaper receiver options on the board. Hollywood Brown, a former first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens, could be one of them.
An ankle injury cost him four games this season, and he has also been inactive on game days. Since returning, he has caught four passes for 47 yards in two games.
Brown is not the headline name in this market, but he would add depth without forcing Pittsburgh to pay a premium. He has had four seasons with at least 500 receiving yards across three different franchises, and if he stays healthy, his speed and quickness still give him a chance to help.
If the Steelers want to address the secondary instead, Riq Woolen stands out as a straightforward fit. He comes with championship pedigree and is on a one-year deal that pays him just a few million dollars. For a sixth- or seventh-round pick, Pittsburgh could shore up its depth in the back end.
The dream scenario is Ladd McConkey, the kind of receiver who could check nearly every box for the Steelers’ offense. But a more realistic target is Quentin Johnston.
He brings speed, but he has struggled to stay in the lineup and make catches. Even so, he is at least an option if Pittsburgh is left searching late.
The Chargers could also be a source of defensive help. Donte Jackson, a former Steelers cornerback, is one possibility because he fits zone coverage well and has provided steady play at CB2.
Cam Hart is another. He is longer, rangier, and still on his rookie contract, which gives him the kind of upside that could make him a starter for several seasons.
Mike DeFabo of The Athletic also mentioned Amani Hooker as a name Pittsburgh could explore for help in the secondary, and that would be a major swing. Hooker has five interceptions this season, which leads the NFL, and his versatility makes him a potentially perfect fit for a defense looking for a difference-maker.
The Tennessee Titans are off in Week 9 and won’t return until Week 10, which means Hooker could be elsewhere by then. Pittsburgh, as usual, is watching closely.
In Other News...
Steelers Trade Chatter Now Involves A Veteran Defender
The Steelers inside linebacker group has been one of the steadier parts of the roster this season, but the trade market may still bring a surprise before the NFLs Nov. 10 deadline. According to Sports Illustrateds Albert Breer, Pittsburgh is at least considering moving a veteran defender who has had only a limited role this year after joining the team in 2023.
The name in the chatter is Cole Holcomb, whose Steelers tenure has already been shaped by a lost 2024 season because of a knee injury. Even with the position playing well, the possibility of shifting a veteran with experience in the room suggests Pittsburgh is still weighing how to balance depth, health and future roster flexibility as deadline season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Get A Huge AFC North Test After Steelers Bye Week
The Steelers head into their bye week with a little momentum after a 27-6 win over the Browns on Nov. 1, a game that showcased both sides of the ball in a way Mike Tomlins team will want to carry forward. Jaylen Warren powered the offense with 143 rushing yards and a touchdown, while the defense piled up eight sacks and forced two turnovers in one of Pittsburghs most complete outings of the season.
When the Steelers return, the schedule tightens quickly with an AFC North trip that always comes with extra weight. Pittsburgh will be back in prime time on Nov. 15 at Paycor Stadium, where the matchup with Cincinnati arrives as an early measuring stick for a team trying to keep its footing in a division that rarely gives anyone much breathing room. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Trade Deadline Could Reveal How Serious They Are About Winning
The Steelers are again in the familiar spot of weighing whether the trade deadline is the right time to make a real push, and this time the focus is squarely on wide receiver. Injuries and depth concerns have left the position looking thin enough that any move would say as much about the front offices confidence in the roster as it would about the immediate need on the field.
For Omar Khan, the decision carries extra weight because Pittsburgh has not always been eager to part with draft picks in these moments. If the team decides to stay put, it will have to lean on what is already in-house and hope the current group can hold up through the stretch run, a path that would leave the Steelers postseason ambitions feeling a little more precarious than they would like. [Read more 🡒]