Grade the trade: Proposed deal has Steelers disappointing fans before the deadline

Well, the Steelers might not have landed Davante Adams in a trade, but they got the last laugh. They were able to beat Adams and the Jets with a commanding win. Even though Pittsburgh showed a lot of quality things on offense, it seems like they will need to continue to look for upgrades outside their organization. With the trade deadline on November 5, the Steelers are running out of time.

Since Adams is with the Jets, many have speculated Pittsburgh potentially inquiring about Mike Williams. He would be an upgrade over the players they have, but it probably would disappoint the fans. The Steelers must find someone to bring onto the team to add some extra firepower before the trade deadline passes. Omar Khan has plenty of work ahead of him.

According to CBS Sports, they are speculating that multiple trades across the league could flare up sometime soon. They laid out the groundwork in different mock trades that provide different fits around the NFL. They included a scenario where the Steelers add a veteran receiver who would be an upgrade but would not be the level of player many have hoped the Steelers attempt to acquire.

Steelers acquire Panthers Adam Thielen at a modest price in mock trade

Does anyone want the Adam Thielen consolation prize before the trade deadline comes and goes? Well CBS has laid out a mock trade that would have the veteran receiver going to Pittsburgh in a deal from Carolina for a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. It might not be the type of player many had hoped for, but the Steelers could do far worse than adding a veteran presence like Thielen.

He has missed a good chunk of the season with a hamstring injury, which has him currently on injured reserve. He could come off of that list soon, and the Panthers are looking to move "talent" off their rebuilding roster. We will see how many players they are willing to move for draft selections, but Thielen and Diontae Johnson seem like safe bets to potentially be on the move.

Mock trade grade: C

Overall, this mock trade is better than the Steelers sitting on their hands and doing nothing before the deadline. Thielen is an older player, but he could be a nice addition to the Steelers locker room, and he can still get open with his quality route running. It just doesn't seem like much of an upgrade over what they currently have. Thielen is more proven but doesn't move the needle much.

This trade idea should be the last option for Pittsburgh. Thielen would be an upgrade, but it's not like he is leaps and bounds better than some players the black and gold currently employ. Also, acquiring him for a fifth-round pick seems a little high.

If they could somehow talk the Panthers into one of their seventh-round picks in the upcoming draft, then adding Thielen becomes much more palatable.