Blockbuster trades are rare in the NFL, but every once in a while, a team pulls off a deal nobody saw coming. The last time this happened with the Pittsburgh Steelers was in 2019 when they shockingly sent their first-round pick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for Minkah Fitzpatrick -- a former blue-chip safety prospect out of Alabama.
Now the iron is hot and the Steelers should be ready to strike. Three of the most important players on the team -- Russell Wilson, T.J. Watt, and Cameron Heyward -- are all in their 30s, and waiting until the offseason to make a move could prove to be too late.
There are a handful of dream targets out there from bottom-dwelling teams. Despite the state of these teams, these franchises may not be willing to part with some of their most valuable assets. Regardless, the Steelers should aim to land one of these dream targets at the NFL trade deadline.
Jaycee Horn, CB, Panthers
Multiple teams have exposed Pittsburgh's weaknesses in the secondary this season. Donte Jackson doesn't look like a fix opposite Joey Porter Jr. and another excellent boundary cornerback could make life very difficult for opposing quarterbacks.
Enter Jaycee Horn, the 8th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Horn has been impressive when on the field, but a lengthy injury history has resulted in the talented cornerback missing 29 games in his first three seasons.
Instead of forking up a big contract to an injury-prone CB next offseason, the Panthers could trade him for high draft capital. Meanwhile, the Steelers would be getting an excellent blue-chip piece in their secondary that could help their defense take the next step.
Chris Olave, WR, Saints
Like the Panthers, the Saints don't have many cornerstone building blocks, so parting with one wouldn't come cheap. Chris Olave has already proven to be a solid and well-rounded young wide receiver.
Unfortunately for New Orleans, the team is expected to be over $62 million in the salary cap hole in 2025, and finding the cap space to pay Olave won't be easy. For Pittsburgh, finding a young receiver like Olave to pair with George Pickens would be a picture-perfect match for their offense.
The Saints need to have the self-awareness to recognize their team needs a rebuild, and they could fetch a first-round pick for their best receiver. I wouldn't blame New Orleans if they don't want to part with one of the most valuable assets on their team, but the Steelers should at least gauge their interest before the NFL trade deadline.
Tyreek Hill, WR, Dolphins
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel will never concede defeat, and now that Tua Tagovailoa is back, McDaniel will want to have every weapon available at his quarterback's disposal. Still, this team is in rough shape and their odds of making the playoffs look grim.
After restructuring Tyreek Hill's contract during the 2024 offseason, the Dolphins would stand to lose a lot of money on the deal if they traded him this year. That's where the Steelers may have to step in and commit to taking on some of his future guarantees Miami would otherwise have to pay.
Because of the sticky finances, landing a trade of this magnitude is highly unlikely, but bolstering the offense with one of the best skill players of this generation would do wonders for the team. Imagine defenses trying to cover George Pickens when Russell Wilson can just launch moonballs to Tyreek Hill on the opposite side.
Jeffery Simmons, DT, Titans
Interior defensive line isn't a significant need for the Steelers, but it's hard not to daydream about what this DL would look like with a player like Jeffery Simmons. Adding the Pro Bowl defensive tackle to a group that already includes Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton, and Larry Ogunjobi almost wouldn't be fair to opposing offenses.
The Titans need a hard reset after swinging and missing on quarterback Will Levis. Simmons could fetch a high draft pick from the Steelers and Tennessee could dump a pricey contract in the process as they set their sights on the future.