Advertisement

Mike Tomlin's trade deadline remark leaves Steelers fans on edge of their seat

The Steelers' coach left everything on the table as the deadline approaches.
Shayne Kubas
Shayne Kubas

Still Curtain

Pittsburgh Steelers HC Mike Tomlin / Joe Sargent/GettyImages

The NFL's trade deadline is just hours away from passing, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have yet to make any new moves since their trade for safety Kyle Dugger from the New England Patriots. With rumors about possible big swings for help at receiver following them all season, it seemed likely something was coming from Omar Khan and company before the 4 pm deadline arrived.

One of the bigger names that the Steelers were rumored to be after has already been dealt, with Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers on the move to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a fourth and sixth-round pick.

That doesn't mean that nothing more will happen, however, as head coach Mike Tomlin made a not-so-subtle remark at his weekly press conference this afternoon.

Pittsburgh Steelers' coach Mike Tomlin alludes to potential for another trade before deadline passes

In response to a question about whether the Steelers would be shopping around for a bit more before the trade deadline, Tomlin had this to say. "We'll see what happens. I like shopping."

That may not sound like anything concrete in terms of the Steelers' plans for the rest of the deadline, but watching it live painted a different picture. He was grinning ear to ear when answering the question, something the typically stoic coach rarely does when speaking to the media.

Could it be nothing? Sure, but there is a reason why the Steelers have continuously been named as potential suitors for some of the top trade candidates available this deadline. Khan and Tomlin both feel like this team is built to win now, and their most recent victory over the powerhouse Indianapolis Colts did nothing but reinforce that belief.

Adding more firepower to the offense with a receiver trade, or maybe even more importantly, adding another defensive back, could be what keeps Pittsburgh on top of the AFC North.

Even with Meyers off the board, players like the Saints' Chris Olave, the Dolphins' Jaylen Waddle, and perhaps even the Jaguars' Brian Thomas Jr. may be available for the right price.

Do I expect a big move at this point? Probably not, and that may be for the best given this team's turbulent style of play. They can call themselves contenders all they want, but it's unlikely that any potential trade would do enough to make them a real playoff threat in the AFC. But Tomlin's comments should keep Steelers fans glued to their phones until the deadline comes and goes.

Shayne Kubas

Shayne Kubas

Shayne Kubas is a Copy Specialist and Contributor at Still Curtain and Phin Phanatic, and Co-Host of the Still Curtain podcast. He is a lover of all things sports, especially Football and Basketball. Steelers and Grizzlies fan for over a decade, but really a fan of the sports as a whole. He has been writing/podcasting about sports for over eight years with a focus on the NFL.