3 last-minute trade candidates that could help Steelers make a playoff push

Texans WR Brandin Cooks

I’ve been kicking the tires on this one for a few weeks now. The Texans are one of the worst teams in football this season, and Houston may be willing to part with their 28-year-old receiver for future draft capital. Though acquiring Brandin Cooks via trade may not be cheap, it could give Pittsburgh’s offense a huge boost in the second half of the 2021 season.

Despite playing for four different NFL teams, Cooks has quite the resume and teams have been willing to give up first-round picks on multiple occasions in order to get him. At this stage in his career, Cooks could probably be acquired with a  2nd round pick — which isn’t a ton, considering the quality of player you are getting in return.

The Steelers lost JuJu Smith-Schuster for the season, and Ben Roethlisberger and Chase Claypool have not at all been on the same page this year. Like Diontae Johnson, Cooks would give Pittsburgh another receiver who can get open at the drop of a hat and could become a go-to option for Big Ben down the stretch. For a team trying to make one final Super Bowl run with their aging quarterback, this could be something to consider before the NFL trade deadline.

Time is ticking for Steelers and Kevin Colbert to make a move, and these three players could help Pittsburgh make a serious push this season. At the very least, they should be exploring all of their options before the trade deadline.