We are just days away from the NFL trade deadline. The Pittsburgh Steelers either need to get aggressive and bolster their roster for a playoff push or forever hold their piece. While a blockbuster trade could move the needle for this team, it's more likely they end up with a quality role-player who won't steal the show.
Omar Khan and company have been looking to upgrade the wide receiver position since the 2024 offseason, but quality options are running thin. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh's depth has been decimated at times in the first half of the season, and they could use some insurance policies if their starters go down.
These trades won't vault the Steelers to being Super Bowl favorites, but they would add depth and security to the roster. Here are four realistic trade candidates Pittsburgh could nab before the deadline.
Jonathan Jones, CB, Patriots
There aren't many cornerbacks who can still play at a high level into their early 30s, but Jonathan Jones is still going strong. The long-time defensive back played the majority of his defensive snaps at boundary CB in the first half of the season, but he also has the ability to line up at slot cornerback and free safety.
Jones is rumored to be a player on the NFL trade block, and the Steelers could come knocking. In coverage, Jones has been far more consistent than Donte Jackson on a down-to-down basis. Jones would offer a veteran presence and depth in the secondary.
Sebastian Joseph-Day, DT, Titans
The Titans are an absolute train wreck this year and they could be looking to unload players who won't be part of the future plan in Tennessee. Sebastian Joseph-Day has an expiring contract and will turn 30 years old during the 2025 offseason.
While defensive tackle is hardly Pittsburgh's biggest need, Montravius Adams is on IR and they could use another depth piece at the position. At 6'4'' and 310 pounds, Joseph-Day could be a solid depth piece for the Steelers and it probably wouldn't take much more than a late-round pick-swap to land him via trade.
Tre'Davious White, CB, Rams
Once a First-Team All-Pro cornerback, Tre'Davious White hasn't been a threatening player in years. Unfortunately, the injuries he has accumulated since 2020 have zapped most of his athletic traits, and White was demoted on the Rams.
However, we do know that White has permission to seek a trade. Pittsburgh can't rely on the health of Cory Trice Jr. and they are one injury away from deploying James Pierre as a boundary cornerback. White may be a shade of his former self, but he has loads of experience and ball production over the years. This would be a low-upside trade to solidify the depth at CB.
K.J. Osborn, WR, Patriots
If it looks like we are scraping the barrel by naming a backup receiver on a bad Patriots team, that's because we are. Unfortunately, most of the top wide receiver trade options have already found new homes or are no longer available (like Cooper Kupp and Mike Williams).
K.J. Osborn has never been a difference-maker at receiver, but he's a reliable depth piece with a well-rounded skill set. The Steelers could acquire Osborn with a late-round pick swap and he could supplant Scotty Miller. He's not a great option, but it's something.
Chase Young, EDGE, Saints
Chase Young is only a good player by name recognition only at this point. There's a reason he inked a one-year, $13 million contract during the 2024 offseason. Unfortunately for the Saints, Young has been a complete non-factor this year.
With the Saints being a long shot to compete and Young having an expiring contract in 2025, New Orleans could look to unload him before the deadline for a draft pick. With Pittsburgh's pass rushers finally getting healthy, a trade for a starting edge rusher seems like overkill, but this team lives and dies by the health of T.J. Watt and the impact their edge defenders provide.
Young would help keep Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig fresh and healthy from now until the playoffs and he would be the ultimate insurance policy if one of Pittsburgh's edge rushers goes down for the season.