Following an embarrassing 35-25 home loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football, the media caught up to Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during his Tuesday press conference. Tomlin offered encouraging injury updates and went to bat for defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.
But the long-time head coach may have also quietly revealed his NFL trade deadline plans.
When asked about the November 4 NFL trade deadline, Tomlin didn't shy away from revealing which direction the Steelers could go.
"We're always open for business," Tomlin said during his Week 9 presser. "Especially as we near the trade deadline. We're always buyers."
The Pittsburgh Steelers should not be buyers at the 2025 NFL trade deadline
It's hardly surprising to hear Coach Tomlin say that the Steelers are 'buyers' or that they are always in the market to add talent. But if we're objectively evaluating this team and what we've seen through their first seven games, there might not be a good enough reason to mortgage valuable draft capital this year.
Buying at the deadline sounds good in theory. The Steelers still sit on a winning record (4-3) entering Week 9 and currently hold the lead in an otherwise unspectacular division. Likewise, they've got a 41-year-old quarterback and an aging defense. Theoretically, the window of opportunity to win should be now.
But quite frankly, this team doesn't remotely resemble a contender.
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Nearly halfway through the season, the Steelers are +0 in point differential while possessing one of the league's worst defenses on paper (despite being the most expensive unit in the NFL). And things could go from bad to worse.
The Steelers have more daunting matchups ahead. They will host the 7-1 Indianapolis Colts this week before facing teams like the Chargers, Bills, and Lions down the stretch. The Ravens will also be getting Lamar Jackson back soon, and Pittsburgh still has two games against Baltimore.
Had the Pittsburgh Steelers looked much stronger ahead of the deadline, I would be all for making win-now moves. Though this is clearly the direction Mike Tomlin wants to take, it would not be wise for the front office to part with valuable draft capital for a team that appears to be nothing more than a pretender in 2025.