The Pittsburgh Steelers seem destined to make a move at the trade deadline this season. All signs indicate that it will be necessary to add another wide receiver to the mix to boost the offense. It’s not lost on Steelers fans that this is the same spot the team was in a year ago.
Last year, the Steelers made two trades at the deadline, bringing in edge rusher Preston Smith for the defense and wide receiver Mike Williams for the offense. Neither trade worked out beyond the one game-winning catch Williams hauled in to beat the Washington Commanders.
Both players were cheaply acquired on the trade market. Pittsburgh only gave up a seventh-round pick for Smith and a fifth for Williams. Still, for the lack of production that Pittsburgh got out of both players and the fact that neither was worth bringing back, Pittsburgh basically overpaid for two rental players. It’s not a mistake the franchise can afford to make again.
Pittsburgh Steelers can’t afford to chase another short-term fix at the trade deadline
Fans expect the Steelers to be aggressive at the deadline, but they know there’s a cap to the aggression. Omar Khan has amassed a wealth of picks in next year’s draft, which will be held in Pittsburgh. As frustrating as Pittsburgh’s on-field product is, it’s highly unlikely the team will be picking in the top 10. Likely needing a quarterback, Khan needs all the ammunition he can spare to move up.
As such, the lofty idea of giving the Miami Dolphins a deal they can’t refuse for Jaylen Waddle seems more like a fantasy. The same can be said for the pursuit of Brian Thomas, Jr.
But at the same time, the Steelers can’t afford to take a swing and whiff as badly as they did last year. Settling for a largely unproven player like Rashid Shaheed because he’s a cheaper get might be flirting too much with what happened a year ago.
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The safest bet might just be Jakobi Meyers from the Las Vegas Raiders, though the team wants “strong value in return.” Is that a third-round pick? Is that too high for a nearly 29-year-old wide receiver with one 1,000-yard season under his belt?
Pittsburgh can’t feel comfortable letting its offense ride out the rest of the season with such a glaring weakness at wide receiver unless it anticipates Roman Wilson and Calvin Austin III will build on their Sunday night performance. But that’s a lot to decide in the span of a single week.
Pittsburgh may have to be willing to part with a bit more to secure a viable threat to suit and improve their offense. Khan can always get some picks back after the season by shipping off players who aren’t meeting expectations - and there might be a few suitable options, particularly on the overly expensive defense, by the time the 2025 season comes to a close.