The Pittsburgh Steelers are 6-2 after their convincing Week 8 win over the Cleveland Browns. But as they sit atop the AFC North with playoff aspirations, their biggest trade need is glaringly obvious: the Steelers need a wide receiver.
Thankfully, there are a few bottom-dwellers who might have what Pittsburgh is looking for... and the Los Angeles Chargers look like the perfect trade partner after Week 8.
With another Chargers loss, Jim Harbaugh's team is currently dead last in the NFL with a 0-7 record approaching the halfway point of the 2026 season. Because of how badly things have gone for Los Angeles, nobody's job should be safe, and like the Indianapolis Colts, most players should be up for grabs.
That might even include wide receiver Ladd McConkey.
The Steelers have been desperate for a receiver who can run a full route tree and create separation out of their breaks with ease. McConkey fits the bill. After Week 8's results, there's even more reason to believe Pittsburgh could make an aggressive wide receiver trade, and the Chargers have no reason not to be sellers at the deadline.
The Pittsburgh Steelers should make the Los Angeles Chargers a sweet offer for Ladd McConkey
McConkey's skill set is exactly what the Steelers need. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers likes to be able to see his players open before making decisions with the football, and Ladd gets open with ease. He would be a terrific complement to what Pittsburgh already has in both DK Metcalf and Germie Bernard.
McConkey still has a year and a half remaining on his rookie deal, so this wouldn't just be a short-term rental for the back half of the 2026 season; it could also be a play for the future. And depending on how he does the rest of the way, the Steelers could consider inking him to an extension next offseason.
The elephant in the room is McConkey's injury history. Though the young receiver hasn't had devastating, season-ending injuries, he's constantly banged up, which sometimes causes a snap reduction as he watches his team from the sidelines. In addition to some soft-tissue injuries, Ladd has recently been dealing with broken ribs.
But this could also drive the price down on a potential trade.
Still, McConkey won't come cheap. The 34th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft is still one of the top five players on the Chargers, and they'll need a strong incentive to part with him. The Steelers should make them a sweet offer.
A fully healthy McConkey might fetch a first-round pick. We recently saw what his 2024 draftmate, Marvin Harrison Jr., went for (a second-rounder plus). This is where Omar Khan should start the discussion.
With a surplus of draft capital over the next two years—including first-, second-, and two third-round picks in 2027—the Steelers have more than enough draft capital to work something out and still have plenty of firepower in the draft.
When it's all said and done, a second-round pick and a fourth-round pick (similar to the Harrison trade) might be enough for the Chargers to move on from a talented, yet injury-prone receiver—especially if they are looking to clean house.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will want to get aggressive at the trade deadline, as the Chargers could look to sell. Ladd McConkey would be the perfect fit with Aaron Rodgers and the offense, and it's time for Khan to pick up the phone.
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