There is no shortage of trade rumors surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers as the trade deadline inches closer. One area of need that the club has been speculated to be interested in is at wide receiver. DK Metcalf continues to show he's a mess this year, and the club is still waiting for Roman Wilson and Michael Pittman Jr. to return from injury. They could use another body on the depth chart.
It seems like every year the Steelers claim they are in win-now mode, but when the trade deadline arrives, they fail to fully commit to that mindset. In past years, especially at the wide receiver position, they have failed to add impact players.
General manager Omar Khan has been hesitant to move draft capital, but if Pittsburgh's football team wants any sort of postseason success, they need to be aggressive.
All of that being said, don't be shocked if Khan either makes a small move or no trades at all as the deadline comes and goes. He has been restrictive in giving up draft picks in the past, so it's hard to imagine where this season could be different. Don't forget that Marquez Valdes-Scantling is on the practice squad, and if trade prices are deemed too high for the Steelers, he might be their guy.
Pittsburgh Steelers would show massive signs of failure by skipping the trade deadline
Making no impact trades would show how the Steelers truly feel about this team. If they believe they can reach the playoffs and make some noise in the tournament, then they must complete some trades.
Failure to accomplish that will force their offense to rely on guys like Brandon Smith and Marquez Valdes-Scantling until the team hopefully witnesses Roman Wilson and Michael Pittman Jr. return.
Everyone might scoff at the idea of Valdes-Scantling being the Black and Gold's potential answer to the receiver question mark, but you shouldn't dismiss it. That's something the team rolled with last season, and it could happen again. Both Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy know the veteran well, and that could speak volumes. Valdes-Scantling cannot be their answer, but he might have to be.
Failure to make any deal for a wide receiver should reflect poorly on Omar Khan.
Sitting on your hands while other teams, especially those in the AFC, will likely force the Steelers into a similar scenario if they make the postseason. It could be another year where they squeak into the playoffs only to be obliterated in the first round. That is something this organization should be tired of.
As they sit at their bye week with a 6-2 record and with the trade deadline looming, this is the best position Khan's teams have been in since he took over as general manager. If this club isn't worth investing in before the trade deadline passes, then none will be. Pittsburgh is desperate for a playoff win, but if Khan and the front office can't swing a trade or two, this roster might be cooked.
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